Album Review: Guitare Seule by Claude Sirois (1977)
Alright, let’s talk about Guitare Seule for a sec. This gem from Claude Sirois dropped back in '77 and honestly? It feels like a warm hug from Canada itself. The album sits snugly in the Folk, World, & Country section with a little pop twist, but it's really all about that chanson vibe—storytelling vibes with guitar strings that just pull at your soul.
Now, I gotta shout out two tracks that stuck with me: "La Danse" and "La Complainte Du Phoque En Alaska." Don’t ask me why these two—they just hit different.
"La Danse" is one of those tunes where you can almost picture Claude sitting on a porch somewhere in Quebec, strumming away while the sun sets. It’s simple, sure, but there’s something hypnotic about how the melody loops around you. Like, it’s not trying too hard to impress anyone—it just is. And sometimes, that’s all you need.
Then there’s "La Complainte Du Phoque En Alaska," which… okay, first off, what a title, right? Translation: “The Seal’s Lament in Alaska.” If you’re into quirky storytelling through music, this is your jam. The track has this haunting yet playful feel to it, like the seal is both sad and kinda making fun of you for caring so much. I dunno, maybe I’m reading too much into it, but hey, isn’t that what good music does? Makes you overthink random stuff?
The production creds are solid—André Perreault on engineering duties kept things crisp without overdoing it, and props to BK for mastering because this thing still sounds smooth even today. Shoutout to Robert Deschênes for the cover photo too; it’s got that grainy ‘70s charm that makes you wanna frame it and hang it up.
One thing that surprised me? How timeless this record feels. You’d think an album made in 1977 would sound dated now, but nah. Maybe it’s the stripped-down vibe or just Claude’s knack for writing songs that stick, but listening to Guitare Seule feels like flipping through an old family album—you recognize the faces, but they tell stories you never heard before.
So yeah, if you’re looking for some laid-back tunes to throw on during a lazy Sunday or while sipping coffee and pretending you understand French poetry, give this one a spin. Oh, and here’s the kicker—I bet Claude had no idea people would still be talking about his solo guitar jams nearly 50 years later. Kinda makes you wonder what we’ll remember from today’s music decades down the line, huh?
