Continuing on his quest to infuse country music with his love for the literary world, Justin Rutledge returns with his third album, Man Descending; a collection of songs that focus on the quieter, darker spaces in between our everyday lives. Inspired by the 1982 book by Guy Vanderhaeghe, Man Descending follows ten characters down certain half-deserted avenues of their lives where they encounter alternate sides of themselves of which they are relatively unfamiliar. As each character reevaluates their lot in life, the songs tend to function as questions rather than answers. Rutledge’s debut album, No Never Alone (2005), was released to critical acclaim in the UK and Canada. Tastemakers like the UK’s NME called the album “an incredible breakthrough,” while on this side of the pond it was garnished with 4 star ratings. Rutledge’s sophomore release, The Devil On A Bench In Stanley Park (2006), was released to equal acclaim, including a Juno nomination, the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Edmonton Folk Festival, and a tip of the hat from Toronto’s NOW Magazine, who hailed Rutledge as the best Toronto songwriter of 2006. ----------------------------- QUOTES “Rutledge's sound has improved and evolved on each release. His third album is no exception. Its subtle and understated arrangements are some of the most beautiful he's written. This is his best album yet. CCCC.” -- Chartattack “For anyone following the folk/roots scene in Toronto, the serene work of Justin Rutledge is no secret, but it’s easy to forget just how engaging and talented this gentle singer/songwriter is...infectious country folk hooks and lush harmonies. NNNN.” -- Now Magazine “...sparse, smooth-edged production...Rutledge’s contemplative, low-key voice on “Alberta Breeze” and “A Penny for the Band” ensures that this is a fine record for making Sunday mornings hurt a little less.” -- eye weekly “Rutledge approaches the words as though they are poems, refusing to highlight their meanings. Instead, the songs demand that listeners find those lines that stand out, turning them over and investigating the nooks and crannies around them until they begin to take on a larger, grander shape.” -- Vue Weekly