The Guess Who - Plein D'Amour - 2023 gdmonline.info

My last look at The Guess Who was 1995’s rather AORish ‘Liberty’, but surely it would be too much of an ask to expect something similar nearly twenty years later?

Written by: gdmonline

ARTIST: The Guess Who
ALBUM: Plein D’Amour
LABEL: Deko
SERIAL: DEKO1111-2
YEAR: 2023
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

LINEUP: Derek Sharp – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards * Michael Staertow – guitar, vocals * Michael Devin – bass, vocals * Leonard Shaw – keyboards, flute, sax, vocals * Garry Peterson – drums, vocals

Additional Musicians: Jason Charboneau – cello * Tony Krempa – violin

TRACK LISTING: 01 The King * 02 Across The Line * 03 People Around Me * 04 Headline * 05 Pursuit Of No Regret * 06 Spaces * 07 Free * 08 Plein D’Amour

RATING: 65/100

WEBLINKS: Site Link

Table of Contents

The Guess Who Background

Canadian veterans The Guess Who are still out there doing their thing, nearly sixty years later. Their initial formation began in 1958 but it wasn’t until 1965 that they took on The Guess Who moniker. These days, only Leonard Shaw and Garry Peterson remain from yesteryear, Shaw has been with the band since 1990 while Peterson has been there from the start, about 1965/1966. Singer Derek Sharp appeared on TGW’s last studio album: 2018’s ‘The Future Is What It Used To Be’.

GDM has reviewed several TGW albums over the bands extensive back catalogue, but it was out of the blue that their new effort ‘Plein D’ Amour’ (translated as Full of Love) appeared across my desk the other day, so it seemed like a good opportunity to see where this Canadian institution were at in 2023. My last look at The Guess Who was 1995’s rather AORish ‘Liberty’, but surely it would be too much of an ask to expect something similar nearly twenty years later?

The Songs

It would actually. ‘Plein D’ Amour’ sits deep in the classic rock zone, though to be fair, The Guess Who do mix it up quite well. Check out the opener ‘The King’ which has definite Queen and Klaatu references if the multi harmonized vocals, guitars and piano parts are anything to go by. I kid you not.

‘Across The Line’ takes the melancholy path, with jangly flanger sounding passages which invokes a swinging 60’s vibe which will please fans of The Beatles. Keeping it rustic is ‘People Around Me’, though it does sound like a TGW tune from years gone by. ‘Headline’ takes an acoustic guitar/cowpoke direction. Kinda country, kinda folky, I could toss out comparisons like Poco or CSNY but that would be too obvious.

‘Pursuit Of No Regret’ is an inoffensive classic rock affair with a definite 70’s vibe, while ‘Spaces’ is equally mild mannered though with a few quirky elements to make it interesting. ‘Free’ with its guitar and piano interplay keeps things smooth and polished. The closing title track ‘Plein D’Amour’ has multiple identities. There’s mandolin, violin and flute work, then the band shift into hard rock territory not unlike John Schlitt era Head East. A very interesting turn of events indeed.

In Summary

‘Plein D’Amour’ is a well produced effort, which highlights the band’s strengths. In saying that though, it does come across as safe and occasionally unadventurous with the exception of the opening and closing songs, but considering this lot have been in action for nearly sixty years I’ll cut them some slack. The Guess Who are out on the road on a regular basis, so for those lucky Canadians, you will probably hear material from this album. Enjoy them and the occasion while you can.