Sweet, sincere, perfect. Those three words describe the flowing LP, The Waiting, by Toronto singer/songwriter Royal Wood. His ease of voice and piano playing make this album a worthwhile listen and definite must-have for your indie rock collection.

Beginning the album with an engaging You Can't Go Back, Royal Wood draws you into the room with a warm tone. The third track, Waiting, crashes with intensity and power. The words spoken in the song ask a question we can all relate to: "I know you carry him/ That blanket still remembered/ A kiss upon your skin/ Of which you did surrender/ An embrace upon a page/ A man remains defended/ So where do I begin?"

Born in the lakeside city of Peterborough, Ontario, Royal Wood was surrounded with music. He began playing piano by the age of four and started lessons by age eight. By his teenage years, he was showing aptitude for guitar, bass guitar, drums, clarinet and trumpet. After high school, he studied at McGill University, and continued with guitar playing while drawing upon his songwriting skills. When Wood released his first EP in 2002, entitled The Milkweed EP, a likeness to Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits emerged.

With The Waiting, we are introduced to a talent full of poise and character. Vocals, piano, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer and more instruments frame the album and make it calming and relaxing to suit an evening spent by the fire. In addition to his four earlier albums: The Milkweed EP (2002), Tall Tales (2004), A Good Enough Day (2007) and The Lost and Found EP (2009), Royal Wood proves he's coming out from the comparisons to Rufus Wainwright and Hawksley Workman and showing more comfort with his own voice.

Having collaborated as a backup vocalist to many talented Canadian female artists (Emm Gryner, Sarah Harmer, Sarah Slean, Kathleen Edwards and Valery Gore), Wood is no stranger playing the man in the wings.

"(The Waiting) is about the duality of life and how, at times, I seemingly waited for the mirrored experience to return," said Wood. "I went through so many severe shifts personally and all of that turbulence led to serious thought and reflection. That is why these songs were born and why they are my most personal and introspective to date."

Wood's songs have landed on shows such as Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, TMN/Movie Central's Regenesis, the CBC series This is Wonderland and the CTV movie Playing House. For more information, visit www.royalwood.ca.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars