Album Review: Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen – The Way We Roll

Robert Thomas is a name that’s long been synonymous with the craft of songwriting, albeit one often working in the background, far from the spotlight. A writer for some of the most iconic names in music — Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, and the Dixie Chicks — Thomas has spent decades penning memorable songs that resonate with fans across generations.

As a staff writer in the competitive world of music publishing, Thomas learned the art of creating hits, but his heart has always been in crafting songs that speak to the soul. His songs are memorable, the kind of tunes that you find yourself humming long after they’ve ended, filled with lyrics that feel as if they were written just for you.

It’s this very gift that has earned him the accolades and recognition of the 2025 International Acoustic Music Award, and with his new album The Way We Roll, he’s once again ready to make his mark.

A brilliant mix of Folk, Americana, and a touch of Bluegrass, The Way We Roll is an album that speaks to the power of collaboration, the joy of songwriting, and the magic of musical alchemy. With the legendary Ray Legere on fiddle and mandolin, and the multi-talented Jon Arsenault on guitar and keyboards, Thomas is accompanied by musicians whose own credits include the likes of Alison Krauss, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and The Chieftains. Together, they’ve created an album that showcases their unparalleled chemistry and musicianship.

From the opening track “Kick the Can” to the final notes of “Labour of Love,” The Way We Roll is a celebration of life, love, loss, and the human experience. What stands out throughout the album is Thomas’s ability to tell stories that draw listeners in with their relatability and wit. Much like the great storytellers of our time — Mark Twain, Garrison Keillor, and Stuart Maclean — Thomas has a knack for weaving humour, heart, and universal truths into every song. And while the album is rich in storytelling, it’s also filled with an infectious energy that will have you tapping your feet and singing along.

The title track, “The Way We Roll,” is a prime example of Thomas’s songwriting mastery. Co-written with Arsenault, it’s a rollicking tune with a story that feels right out of the dusty roads of South Texas — a pair of outlaws in a stolen Mustang, trying to outrun the law. The song’s infectious rhythm, driven by Legere’s scorching fiddle and Ivan Rosenberg’s dobro, sets the stage for a track that is both gritty and full of life. It’s a song that embodies the spirit of adventure, of living life on your own terms. The video for “The Way We Roll,” directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Brenda Malley, was recently selected for screening at the Folkstone Film Festival in the U.K., cementing the song’s place as a standout track on the album.

Another standout track is “A River Runs Through,” which is both poignant and reflective. Written about the passage of time and the inevitable march of life, the song finds Thomas pondering the years gone by as he walks beside the river near his home in Waterford, New Brunswick. “There’s something about flowing water that makes a man ponder where he’s been and where he’s going,” Thomas says. The dobro part, beautifully played by Ivan Rosenberg, adds an extra layer of emotion, complementing the haunting lyrics. This song, which went on to win an International Acoustic Music Award, is a beautiful meditation on life’s impermanence and the moments that define us.

But it’s not all introspective and serious. “Kick the Can,” inspired by a childhood memory of playing the game with new friends in Ohio, is an upbeat, feel-good track that will have you smiling from start to finish. It’s a song about the simplicity of friendship and the joy of being in the moment — qualities that are often missing in today’s fast-paced world.

Similarly, “Cast a Line,” with its playful rhythm and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, takes us back to a time when dating was compared to fishing, with a nod to Thomas’s own life lessons shared by his father.

“Just Passing Through” is another track that demonstrates Thomas’s ability to collaborate with others. The song was born out of a connection he made with Yancy Yates, a homeless musician who lives in his Subaru and busks in the U.S. Southwest. Through a series of online messages and collaborative efforts, Thomas and Yates crafted a song that captures the essence of life on the road and the resilience of the human spirit. It’s a heartfelt and honest track, one that showcases Thomas’s willingness to help others and share their stories.

The album also features the deeply emotional “Springhill,” a song that took 20 years to come to fruition. Inspired by the tragic history of the Springhill Mine disaster in Nova Scotia, the song tells the story of the men lost in the mine in 1958. Rosenberg’s haunting clawhammer banjo adds an eerie atmosphere to the track, while the lyrics convey the anguish and loss experienced by those who perished. It’s a song that feels both personal and universal, a tribute to those who have been forgotten by history.

“Judge and Jury,” written in the early hours of the morning in a McDonald's drive-thru, is another standout. With its quirky melody and clever lyrics, the song takes us on a journey through the mind of someone caught up in a small-town legal system. The song’s playful yet dark humor gives it a unique charm, while Kevin Krieg’s guitar work adds the perfect touch.

As a whole, The Way We Roll is a testament to the power of collaboration and the magic that happens when talented musicians come together to create something special. The album has already garnered acclaim, with over 135,000 Spotify streams, 105,000 YouTube views, and an ECMA nomination for Entertainer of the Year. It’s clear that Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen are a force to be reckoned with, and with their upcoming North American and European tour, they are poised to take the music world by storm.

In a sentence, Rodney Crowell sums up the artistry of Robert Thomas and the Sessionmen perfectly: “These boys know what they’re doing.”

With The Way We Roll, Thomas and his bandmates have once again proven that they not only know what they’re doing — they’re doing it better than ever.

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