Minor Dedications

By (author): JF ROBITAILLE

Minor Dedications is the first collection of songs and poems of Montreal singer-song writer J.F. Robitaille. Brimming with the fullness of his language, these texts are interspersed with playful line drawings by Robitaille and responses to his lyrics by 11 contemporary photographers that illuminate the soulfulness of his verse in provocative ways. Together with a copy of Robitaille’s newest album Palace Blues that comes with the book, Minor Dedications will give fans and new listeners alike the opportunity to experience an orchestration of J.F. Robitaille’s artistry that affirms him as a master of desire with a perceptive eye and ear powerfully attuned to his generation.

AUTHOR

JF ROBITAILLE

Montreal-bred songwriter JF Robitaille is no stranger to lofty expectations. Yes, he’s long been celebrated as one of the most engaging songwriters North of the 49–a fact evident even in his earliest days, when he fronted indierock outfit the Social Register in the aughts–but with 2013’s Rival Hearts, the world began to take notice. After the album charted in Germany, he found himself playing for large crowds at Hamburg’s fabled Reeperbahn Festival along with several other gigs throughout that country. Robitaille’s international rep began to resemble his accolades in Canada. Here, a troubadour cut from the same cloth as Leonard Cohen. Or Nick Drake. Or Bob Dylan.

Those hat-tips were undoubtedly flattering–as was the appearance of Rival Hearts on plenty of year-end lists, including his hometown newspaper, the Montreal Gazette–but they also set an imposing precedent. Thankfully, with his third full-length, entitled “Palace Blues”, Robitaille has delivered on those expectations–just not in the way you’d expect. Robitaille’s literary penchant and sophisticated song craft may still get him Cohen comparisons, but unlike Leonard’s Songs of Love and Hate, you’d never find him sipping scotch in the basement of theMatador. Because, as Robitaille has admitted, this is certainly not a folk album.

His whispery vocals still guide the affairs, but with this album, he lets his arrangements do much of the storytelling. Take, for instance, the melancholic “Dece

Reviews

PRAISE FOR JF ROBITAILLE:

“…we see that this young bard has been compared to Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen…but JF Robitaille’s songs are so original that no comparisons are necessary!” Der Spiegel Magazine(Germany)

“…honest stories inspired by human experiences.” Filter Magazine

“…Robitaille’s music can evoke Lou Reed in it’s detachment and Leonard Cohen in it’s dark lyricism.” Montreal Gazette

“…he wears his heart on his sleeve.” National Post

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Details

Dimensions:

64 Pages
7.00in * 7.00in * .20in
180.00gr
200.00lb

Published:

June 17, 2016

Publisher:

Book*hug Press

ISBN:

9780995159303

Book Subjects:

MUSIC / Lyrics

Language:

eng

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