Album Review: Ian Davies, The King of Bedroom Country

On the cover of The King of Bedroom Country, Montreal’s Ian Davies has become one with his bedroom. It’s hard to see him at first glance but he’s at the bottom right corner of the photograph lying facedown on his bed and surrounded by instruments and dirty dishes. To borrow a popular internet phrase, Davies is a mood in this picture, mirroring my daily lack of motivation. But the image is also the perfect snapshot of the wry despair that fills Davies’ release.

The King of Bedroom Country is an anthemic release for those who spend the majority of their energy worrying. Davies is bogged down by his thoughts and he has a lot of them. Mostly Davies thinks about what he should have said or done to keep a relationship intact. “Where should I start? Things have been difficult since you’ve been gone but ain’t that just typical,” he moans on “On My Mind.” And then on the closing track “More Than Ever,” he admits what we already know: “I think about it everyday and I wish there was another way.”

With a similar lo-fi warmth, Davies’ songs are the alt-country cousin of bedroom-pop. They feel contained and pleasingly simple but they are full band affairs with Davies playing guitars and bass, Marshall Vaillancourt on drums and Margaret Lapp and Mischa Greig as backing vocalists. Together they ensure that each track has a steady groove and they never let The King of Bedroom Country feel too dour. Davies knows perfectly well that he’s being a bummer but the songs still feel light and he’s not against poking fun at himself. On “What if I’m Right,” Davies’ funny side is on full display when he delivers a laugh-out-loud line that anybody who has ever tried to stay positive has uttered: “What if I’m wrong? Then everything will work out and I guess I’ll have a whole lot less to complain about.”

The King of Bedroom Country was released December 18, 2020.
Listen to it here.