British Columbia duo Pharis and Jason Romero follow-up their 2016 Juno Award-winning album A Wanderer I’ll Stay with Sweet Old Religion. The Romero’s have endured a couple of years of hardship, losing their instrument workshop filled with all of their tools, building supplies, and musical instruments (including a rare 1943 Gibson J-45 gifted by Alice Gerrard) to a fire in the summer of 2016. With the support of their tight-knit community of family, friends, and fans, the husband and wife duo have rebuilt, and in the aftermath began working on songs that eventually comprised Sweet Old Religion. While the Romero’s continue with trademark old-timey Americana/roots vibe accompanied by polished songwriting and tightly interwoven vocal harmonies alongside gentle banjo and acoustic guitar, this time their record has a broader, more mainstream appeal. Album highlights include: the title-track that laments simpler times; the toe-tapper “Stitch in Time”; the gentle “Old World Style”; the gold miner’s tale “Age Old Dream”; the more modern Americana/Root track “The Salesman”; and the lovely closing track “Babes, Mothers and Fathers.” Sweet Old Religion is a warm, honest and feel-good album that is both beautifully crafted and performed musicianship. – Written by JFelton
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