Exclaim! review: Joel Plaskett’s Quadruple Album ’44’ Is an Impressive Retrospective of His Life and Work
When Joel Plaskett gathered 12 other musicians into his studio in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, preparing to track some songs for his latest project, 44, he had one request: “No matter what happens, keep going.”
This mentality not only defines his latest release — a 44-song retrospective spectacle — but his entire prolific career as the East Coast’s beloved musician-for-everyone. This is a man who hit the road immediately after high school and never stopped; who has released records solo, with his band and with his dad; and who built his own studio in order to produce records for artists like Steve Poltz and David Myles.
“JUST PASSING THROUGH”, NEW BOX SET 44, OUT APRIL 17
(Toronto, ON – February 21, 2020) – 44, an imaginative and visionary four album project by Joel Plaskett, continues to reveal itself with the release of a second single and video, “Just Passing Through”.
The title track from 44‘s second album, “Just Passing Through” is a travelling rock song weaving guitar riffs and smoky chorus across a driving 4/4 beat. The new video was put together by Jeff Miller, using footage shot on Joel’s phone camera over the years to create a dream-like backdrop.
44, FOUR 11-SONG RECORDS
(Toronto, ON – January 24, 2020) – On April 17, 2020, the day before his 45th birthday, Joel Plaskett will release 44.
A conceptual follow-up to his JUNO-award winning triple record, Three, 44 is a visionary project comprised of four, 11-song records, packaged together and connected thematically. Four years in the making, the songs were recorded in Dartmouth, Memphis, Nashville and Toronto with 33 different musicians.
The first single from the first album, “Head Over Heels Into Heaven” was co-written by Joel and Mo Kenney and features The Emergency (Dave Marsh &