Twenty-two years is a long time to wait. When Amanda Marshall released Everybody’s Got A Story in 2001 — her third consecutive platinum record — few could have predicted it would be her last for over two decades. The intervening years involved difficult battles with the music industry, and Marshall has been open about the toll that took. So when Heavy Lifting finally arrived on June 9, 2023, it carried the weight of more than just fan anticipation — it carried hers too.
The good news is that the voice hasn’t aged a day.
The album opens with “I Hope She Cheats,” a cover of “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)” by Marsha Ambrosius, originally of British neo-soul duo Floetry. It’s a bold, cheeky choice for a first impression, and it sets the tone immediately: this is not a cautious comeback record. Marshall’s 11-track album functions as a lyrical diary of sorts — passionate, far from figurative, with storylines that place the listener directly inside a kind of musical memoir.
Much of Heavy Lifting is drenched in a funky feel, almost dabbling in the late 1970s Philadelphia sound. “I’m Not Drunk,” with its lush horn arrangements, is one of the album’s most playful moments — funky and funny in equal measure, while also containing some painful examination of losing love and trying to pretend nothing’s wrong. It’s a combination Marshall pulls off with ease.
The album shifts gear with “I Built This House,” a showcase of Marshall’s gritty, passionate vocals, before the focus track “Rainbows in Gasoline” arrives and delivers exactly what long-time fans were hoping for — that raspy, breathy, full-throttle instrument that made her a household name in the ’90s. “God Forbid” kicks in with a southern-rock harmonica and hard-hitting drum beat, a song that certainly takes a stance. “Not a Love Song” leans into pop-rock territory, while “Halfway Love” pushes further into hard rock.
Marshall has always carried a thread of social consciousness through her work — willing to address growing up mixed-race in Canada and domestic abuse. On Heavy Lifting, that thread becomes a much louder voice: scathingly, satisfyingly pissed off. It gives the album a backbone that a lot of comeback records lack.
The back half brings “Serves You Right,” a funky-soul track with warm backing harmonies and groovy guitar riffs, before the bluesy “Special” and the deeply personal closing track “Honest,” which opens on drums and voice alone — a quietly stunning ending to a record that earns its emotions throughout.
The release was celebrated with a sold-out homecoming concert at Toronto’s Massey Hall on June 16, 2023 — a fitting venue for an artist of her stature, and a reminder that the connection between Marshall and her Canadian fanbase was never really broken. Just paused.
Heavy Lifting isn’t a perfect record — the early tracks take a moment to find their footing, and listeners coming in cold may need a song or two before the full picture emerges. But for anyone who wondered whether one of Canada’s most distinctive voices still had something to say: she absolutely does, and she’s saying it louder than ever.
Recommended tracks: “Rainbows in Gasoline,” “I’m Not Drunk,” “Honest,” “God Forbid”
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
