Dave Quanbury - No Vacancy, 2003
- No Vacancy
- Wrapped Around Your Finger
- Impatient Love
- Honest Man
- The Critic
- Say
- Four and a Half
- Fireflies
- Morning Love
- Red Wine and Candlelight
- Loolay
Recorded September 2002-2003
Released in November 2003.
Reviews
“One of the top 10 Canadian releases of 2003.” - John Prentice, UMFM
Former Tequila Mockingbird guitarist Dave Quanbury has set himself along the singer/ songwriter path with this introductory set of quietly seductive acoustic based tunes. The title cut is perhaps the best song here (a road tune that wins points for namechecking Rushing Ricer and Vermillion Bay), but earnestly heartfelt tracks such as ‘Fireflies’ and ‘Morning Love’ also give rise to a comfortably warm, worn feeling. - Uptown Magazine November 27th 2003
The title of Dave Quanbury’s album is appropriate for the obvious reason that it’s anything but vacant. No Vacancy is a conceptual album of sorts, the songs are the songs of a man in constant motion, searching for love but rarely finding a place to hang his hat. Quanbury, a well-respected musician in the esteemed Winnipeg music scene, has a voice a million Canadian Idol contests could never unearth. Cutting across genres, through alt country, blues, folk and the slightest flavour of reggae, Quanbury’s songs are vivid snapshots of love on the prairies. Some sweet, some bitter. Although the lyrics are at times predictable, Quanbury’s voice hoists No Vacancy well above mediocre. With a smooth bass line and a bluesy tempo, “Honest Man” is one of the album’s best tracks. The distorted microphone in the first half of the song yields to a more refined and mature voice that runs love off the front porch and up a tree like a prairie raccoon. “Oh love bark up another tree/If you’re looking for a guy who’s going to give it a try then you’re wasting your time with me.” “Honest Man” is followed by another worthwhile track, “The Critic,” using a reggae flavour to showcase Quanbury’s intense vocal talents and skillful songwriting. There is no doubt Quanbury is wearing his heart on his sleeve with No Vacancy, and anyone who appreciates honest music should try and get themselves a piece, there is certainly enough to go around. - Colin Smith, The Gauntlet, Calgary University