k.d. lang – Hymns of the 49th Parallel (2004, Canada)
Our next spotlight is on number 522 on The List, submitted by swordgeek.
k.d. lang is a Canadian icon from my very own hometown (Edmonton, Alberta) whose varied discography includes country, pop, soft rock, jazz, blues, rockabilly, and folk. If you know anything about Alberta, it will likely come as no surprise that lang, even after having gained international recognition, Grammy awards, a sign in the town where she grew up (Consort), etc., was banned on local radio after her 1990 “Meat Stinks” PETA campaign, if not also after coming out as a lesbian in 1992. The province has since at least started to atone for their sins, as in 2013 the Edmonton-based Alberta Ballet put on “Balletlujah!”, a production honouring lang via an artistic-take on her upbringing in the province, complete with a gay love story. A documentary of the same name by the CBC was also released in 2015, celebrating both the artist and the ballet. Perhaps there’s hope for this province yet.
The album we’re looking at here, lang’s 6th solo LP, is primarily composed of covers. lang had a couple previous covers albums (her 1988 debut Shadowland and the 1997 Drag), but this one is a loving tribute to Canada, the title referring to the latitude line that essentially makes up the Canada/US border and the songs all written by Canadians (Bruce Cockburn, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Ron Sexsmith, Jane Siberry, Neil Young, plus one by lang herself). So, I may have picked this one to spotlight right now for, uh, reasons.
If you like what you hear and want to check out lang’s other work, fun fact is that both Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (i.e., of The Revolution and Wendy & Lisa) are on Drag (1997), and Wendy is also on Invincible Summer (2000)!
Happy listening.
1001 Other Albums
