Idols of Exile

"At his most direct, he fully holds his own against the likes of Ryan Adams or Ron Sexsmith, and for his compositional skill, 'Idols Of Exile' is perhaps a more consistent album than either of those two has released."
- Slant magazine (8/10)

"There are 12 distinct songs on 'Idols Of Exile', united by Collett's light touch and sense of snap."
- The Onion

Most singer/songwriters are lonely souls with heart-worn sleeves - not Jason Collett. Sure, the Broken Social Scene guitarist has a stack of intimate tales to tell, but his new solo album 'Idols Of Exile' sounds more like a packed house party.

Jotted down on notepads while on tour over the past 2 years, every song found on the majestic 'Idols Of Exile' reflects Collett's life, in a vital body of work that has drawn critical comparisons to Tom Petty and Paul Westerberg. His heartfelt music mixes the wide opens spaces of alt-country and intimacy of acoustic folk with the densely layered sad-eyed optimism of the best indie pop.

This is best reflected on lead single 'We All Lose One Another', a violin-boosted western-flavoured epic picking up early plays on bNet stations, National Radio and Radio Live; the group jangle of 'I'll Bring The Sun' and the Sparklehorse-frail ballad 'Parry Sound'.

Citing Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Nick Lowe as influences, Collett's sound is a more roots-based one that his "other" band Broken Social Scene, but he's still invited a host of friends along for the ride, including the likes of Howie Beck, who also produced the album, with members of Apostle Of Hustle, Do Make Say Think and Stars, and other notables such as Amy Millan, Leslie Feist, Andrew Cash, Chris Brown and Emily Haines, whose inimitable vocals to the road-song duet 'Hangover Days'.

A gorgeous collection of affecting and engaging songs, Jason Collett has given us one to worship with his beautiful 'Idols Of Exile'.

"Collett dispenses with the mundane conventions of the singer/songwriter genre as he forges portraits both intimate and worldly over engaging arrangements and lyrics."
- Paste magazine (8/10)

"Such a delight!"
- NOW magazine (8/10)

"One of the greatest singer/songwriter albums to come out of Canada in the last 10 years."
- Under The Radar