Tears You Hide

Since dropping his 2019 debut, *Hard Time*, Ontario roots rebel Jeremie Albino has been digging his heels deeper into the dust, cutting a country-leaning set of originals and standards with indie-folk singer Cat Clyde (2021’s *Blue Blue Blue*) and a low-key EP (2022’s *Past Dawn*) that showcased his fulsome voice in more intimate, acoustic-oriented environs. But while *Tears You Hide*’s 31-second opener, “Dance With Me,” instantly sets a sepia-toned scene with its porch-blues strums and scratchy-record patina, it’s a savvy misdirection that ensures its follow-up, “Angeline,” hits with maximal rock ’n’ soul swagger. From there, *Tears You Hide* finds Albino fully embracing his matinee-idol potential, as he leads a joyous, E Street-worthy revue powered by organ grooves and hip-shaking moves. This is a record where nearly every song makes you feel like you’ve been dropped right in the middle of the floor in a sweat-soaked club on a Saturday night as the clock strikes 12, where even the ballads (like the anthemic title track) are delivered with the sort of gravitas and grit that will have sloshed crowds locking arms to sing along in unison.