30. August 2025
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Media Review

Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Ron Sexsmith - Hangover Terrace

Ron Sexsmith - Hangover Terrace
3.7

Rating

 3.7/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Nice storytelling
  • Good arrangements

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Not that catching
  • Similar songs

Hangover Terrace is already the second Ron Sexsmith album I am reviewing. My first experience in 2023 was really interesting, so that I looked forward to his 17th studio album overall, which has been released on 29th August 2025.

 

Ron Sexsmith – About The Artist

Ronald Edlon Sexsmith is a Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter. He was born on 8th January 1964 in St. Catherines in Ontario. He had his first band in teenage years and released his first two solo albums in the mid-1980’s as cassette self-releases. Hangover Terrace is his 18th studio album overall. I reviewed his most recent one, the 2023 The Vivian Lane.

 

Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace – Track by Track

The fourteen song album lasts 44 minutes.

1. Don’t Lose Sight

After a slow start, Don’t Lose Sight is opening the Hangover Terrace album. The song comes with a slow, gently flowing melody. Especially in the second half of the track, there are some rock sprinkles as well. A nice listen.

2. Cigarette and Cocktail

Like the opener, Cigarette and Cocktail has been one of the previously released songs. The dreaming, playful style continues in here. The song does have some surprising elements of other Americana genres. An interesting song, even though it is not that striking.

3. Damn Well Please

It takes a while getting into Damn Well Please. At the beginning, I could not really find too many interesting features about this one. However, the rhythmic and melodic chorus has a nice appeal, presented by a relatively rich setting on the instrumental side. There is a nostalgic touch in here as well.

4. Easy For You To Say

In the press kit to the album, Sexsmith names Bob Dylan’s Positively Fourth Street as a reference to this song. The song feels very harmonic, with string elements in the background. A fine melody leads to a rather deep and thoughtful song.

5. Camelot Towers

About this song, Sexsmith states It was inspired by these low-income apartment buildings that they build sometimes
and are given these grandiose names but become eyesores over time. While I wrote about Damn Well Please that it is a bit of difficult to get into it, Camelot Towers feels like the opposite. From the very beginning, it feels special and you easily get into it. Finally, the song is definitely one of the most striking ones of the album.

6. It’s Been A While

It’s Been A While is another song, which quickly stays in your mind. There are slight synth elements and a touch of indie-pop-rock. The connecting element of Hangover Terrace is that beautiful flow Ron Sexsmith is creating in his songs so far.

7. House of Love

In this seventh track, the album turns into a very melancholic route. The instruments are very much in the background, the music is damped and slowly strumming to the not at all vocals of the Canadian artist. This leads to a very intimate atmosphere.

8. Rose Town

I’m living in Rose Town, Sexsmith states in his eighth song. The song is a rather fast and rhythmic folk song with pop and rock elements. The guitar parts add a lot to the listen. The song spreads some really nice, warm vibes.

9. Please Don’t Tell Me Why

The ninth track of Hangover Terrace feels like a filler to me. It is not bad as such. However, especially in context of the other songs of the album, the warm, harmonic style of the track simply does not feel to add too much to the profile of the album. You have to say, though, that you do keep the main theme in mind.

10. Outside Looking In

I initially had similar thoughts about Outside Looking In. However, the chorus has a really nice touch. The song does have its character and a certain signature. Additionally, there are some sudden breaks in this one which keep it interesting.

11. Angel On My Shoulder

The strumming guitar and vocal song Angel On My Shoulder feels like a lullaby to me. This also means that it does spread a certain level of intimacy. You feel being close to the artist. Later some more instruments like violins are joining in.

12. When Will The Morning Come

The third already released song of the album is When Will The Morning Come. The nostalgic, melodic song has a nice folk-rock style. Even though the brief song presents some different moods, the main theme feels very present. Quite a nice one.

13. Burgoyne Woods

Hangover Terrace stays in its comfort zone. Even songs like Burguyne Woods, which feel to have the potential to jump outside of a certain melodic box, simply don’t do it. Or not far enough. That’s really a shame, as especially this penultimate one feels to have way more potential.

14. Must Be Something Wrong With Her

And then, the story of Hangover Terrace is already coming to an end. The song initially feels like being a slow, intimate ballad-style song with a limited arrangement. However, the role of the instruments is increasing over time and they add a nice touch to this chucker-out

 

Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Ron Sexsmith – Hangover Terrace – My View

I feel that Hangover Terrace has the potential to be a really good album. However, Ron Sexsmith is just a bit too brave, feels to aim for the safe space only, instead of daring to think a bit outside the box. His storytelling is nice, the songs have a nice atmosphere. But especially as a set of 14 songs as a whole, the album lacks striking and surprising elements. Bad luck.

Favorite Song: Camelot Towers

 

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