DENNIS ELLSWORTH shares “I Can’t Impress You” from Hardcore Freewheelin’ coming early 2025 on Tonic Records!
Following the success of his 2023 album Modern Hope – nominated for Solo Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards – Canadian singer/songwriter Dennis Ellsworth is set to officially return in February 2025 on Tonic Records with Hardcore Freewheelin’, another stunning collection of his trademark blend of folk and power pop.
He offers a first taste of the album today with “I Can’t Impress You,” a breezy yet bittersweet observation of adulthood that once again displays Ellsworth’s effortless melodic gifts.
Hardcore Freewheelin’ finds Ellsworth teamed up with producer Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, The Tragically Hip), a collaboration that seems long overdue considering their shared passion for exploring the emotional depths of pop songwriting. On its 11 songs, Hardcore Freewheelin’ sounds carefree on its surface, but along with “I Can’t Impress You,” standout tracks such as “Count To Ten” and “Keep My Joy” expand upon the themes that made Modern Hope a quiet masterpiece.
Like the recent work of Wilco and Teenage Fanclub, Ellsworth has reached a new level of creative maturity, as he takes in life’s wonder and complexity through the lens of fatherhood, wrapping it all up in a sophisticated package that provides Bryson with the stage on which to perform his sonic magic.
It may be tempting to describe Dennis Ellsworth as “a songwriter’s songwriter,” but there’s never been any question about his music’s accessibility. Hardcore Freewheelin’ will surely resonate with anyone possessing an open heart and the capacity to find joy in life’s simple pleasures.