Cody Canada
By Mike O’Cull
Former Cross Canadian Ragweed guitarist and vocalist Cody Canada finally gets to do things his way on his reboot of CCR’s enormously popular album Soul Gravy. Set to drop July 1st, 2022 on Departed Music, the record finds Cody and his current band The Departed upgrading the original recordings, which were tracked in a hurry back in 2004 when Cross Canadian Ragweed was spending nearly all of its time on the road, from the floor up.
The first version of Soul Gravy rose to number five on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and contained the Lee Ann Womack-enhanced hit single “Sick And Tired” as well as the much-loved “Alabama” but Canada always thought that the record could have been done better. Thanks to the pandemic, he was able to do exactly that. Cody Canada and The Departed re-recorded the entire album in their private studio on their own schedule. Womack appears once again, as do special guests Ray Wiley Hubbard and Randy Rogers. Gone are the digital guitar sounds and rushed decisions, replaced by new, organic performances with real tube amps and new perspectives on these road-tested songs. What’s even cooler is that he actually owns these recordings now and will finally be able to put them out on vinyl later this year.
Cody Canada is one of the most familiar names in Oklahoma music. He’s a master of the Red Dirt/Americana/alt-country style and spent 15 years fronting country-rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed. The band built a huge following and was a dominant touring act until its breakup in 2010. In 2011, Canada, bassist Jeremy Plato, and drummer Eric Hansen formed The Departed, a power trio that carried on pumping out tough, lyrically-intense roots music. Covid gave them the block of time required to take on the Soul Gravy project and bring the album back to its essence.
The new Soul Gravy is big, bold, and full of wonderful moments that begin with the opening song “Again.” It’s a perfect demonstration of the concept of country-rock, intertwining down-home melodies with dirty, nasty guitars. Plato and Hansen put down a strong pocket that never falters and Canada sounds electrified and alive. If you’re new to this record, be prepared to quickly turn this one up loud.
“Alabama” remains tuneful and still holds up well in 2022. Canada’s guitar playing and tone are especially sweet and tasty and he sounds like he’s right in your listening room with you. You can tell getting these tones was a labor of much love for Cody and their truth adds a certain grace here and throughout the album. The slinky country tune “Down” is also a low-key tone safari, using a boxy, cocked-wah-pedal guitar sound as its prime mover. It’s unusual for this kind of song and gives it a stand-alone vibe that will attract guitar fans and dancers alike.
Lee Ann Womack adds her glowing vocal presence to the emotional “Sick And Tired” once again and does herself proud. The sound of her, Canada, and the rest of the studio ensemble giving this heartbreak song such an honest reading is something you need to hear and will remind you that the old ways of singing and playing are still as valid as they ever were, even in this electronic world.
All in all, Cody Canada and The Departed do fine work giving Soul Gravy the 2.0 treatment. It was a great record before but has become more personal and meaningful through this re-examining. Be sure not to miss a second of it, especially “Cold Hearted Woman” and the closer “Too Far Gone.” Cody Canada has more music in him now than he ever did and he makes every beat of this set shine. Listen to it every day.
Cody Canada and the Departed website
Listen to “Again”
I ran across their cd a few years ago and really liked it. Glad to see what Cody has been up to! e
Enjoyed the review and love the sample. I’ll be looking for it the new album by Cody Canada and the Departed!