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Inspired by the stories of Canadian World War I vets, Elliott BROOD digs deep into its own emotional imagination on its third full-length Days Into Years. The Toronto trio could easily go over the top with sentimentality with such a concept, but its unpretentious rock/folk keeps the proceedings on an even keel. The banjo-kissed “West End Sky,” the folk-popping “Lines” and the two-stepping “Will They Bury Us?” evoke the down-home warmth of front-porch picking. Meanwhile, the bracingly electric “My Mother’s Side,” “Their Will” and “If I Get Old” reach for anthem status with as much attention paid to melody as presentation. There are no gimmicks here, no cleverness for its own sake (unless you count the way the band writes its name). As embodied in guitarist Mark Sasso‘s raspy croon, the record simply finds and holds a perfect balance between head and heart, letting careful consideration hold hands with heartfelt artistry. Records like Days Into Years are what mature rock & roll is about.
