Doug Taylor

Now 33, the Australian Lee was christened a whiz kid half his life ago, then drifted. Deeper Into Dream suggests there’s plenty more to his story. Clips of people describing their bizarre dreams invite the listener’s subconscious to the party. Xylophone and trumpets grace the contemplative, hearty “Indian Myna.” Warbling guitars introduce “Pointless Beauty,” a […]

This Nova Scotian, also a stage actor, has a sweet voice with a more formal approach than many of her peers. Producer Don Kerr (Rheostatics, Ron Sexsmith) treats this as a distinguishing feature, encouraging syllable extension to take advantage of her superb breath control. James McKie’s fiddle pushes for improvisation, opening the door for some […]

For its third album, Toronto-based Ohbijou enlisted producer Jace Lasek (Besnard Lakes), ensuring a denser, more orchestral impact. Throughout, Casey Mecija’s pixie-like vocals play off a cascade of throbbing strings and keys. Melody and lyric can be overwhelmed. Metallic metaphors keep turning up, especially on “Iron and Ore,” where feelings are “wrought iron,” a heart […]

“Let’s start a war for the kids”, the opening line of “Post-War Blues”, is a good example of Dan Mangan’s subversive wit. The link between economics and conflict is a secret topic for boardrooms and here a young singer’s sarcasm blurts it out. Oh Fortune,/em> lets ragged beginnings set up contemplative, nearly acoustic, numbers that […]

Sounds from nature
—songbirds, rain, lava—enrich Akron/Family’s music. In other cases, it has signalled a dearth of musical ideas. Here, it stokes imagination. An eruption blasts after the ringing guitars of “Fuji I (Global Dub),” which works as a climax to some cataclysm where avoiding lava flow is Job One. The narrative style and vigorous thrust […]

If ever there were a doubt that bookworms are ready to rock out, Library Voices live to dissolve it.“Reluctant Readers make Reluctant Lovers” brandishes Yeats and Hemingway as symbols of youthful virility superior to, say, a Camaro. The Regina septet have the Besnard Lakes’ Jace Lasek producing a more luminous rhythm on this sophomore album […]

Davis shares his inspiration in the blues here, following a couple of folksy albums celebrating life in Nova Scotia. Two strong Robert Johnson covers (including one done in a dorm room in 1973) and a Jimmy Reed tribute, “Thank You, Mr. Reed,” set up his originals nicely. “Anticipation” has wisdom and wit regarding desire, reward […]

Ripping at the constraints of the “roots-rock” niche, The Felice Brothers deliver a multi-flavoured, sometimes bewildering set of songs. Opener “Fire at the Pageant,” with its cries of “Calm down!” and “Call 911!” while an undead patriarch meanders back into town, sets the table for absurdity. More frenzy ensues on “Honda Civic” around accordion, brass […]

On a second album before finishing high school, this precocious Nova Scotian holds little back. Her vocal style is free-range, in the manner of a young Van Morrison. Following a couple of exuberant opening numbers, “Amsterdam” is soothed by Ruth Minnikin’s accordion. Thomason’s lovely voice is allowed to soar, warble and moan in a nurturing […]

If there were a chart for being popular in the UK and non-entities in North America, the Welsh band Super Furry Animals might be number one. Frontman Gruff Rhys steps out, leaving SFA’s rock conventions behind and bringing his vintage keyboards like the Moog and Korg, ideal for injecting serendipity into sweet pop. The compositions […]

On its second album, this PEI quartet adds more layers, which tend to obscure the lyrics somebody spent so much time dreaming up. When the words do cut through—like on “Get Off”—there are shards of engaging scenario and story. “I like that you’ve got intellect not ruined by too much internet” is a sharp line […]

Hip-hop albums are big, of course, on guests and cameos. With an institution like Snoop Dogg, it’s getting to be like the freakin’ Bob Hope Christmas Special. Willie Nelson strums and trades verses on “Superman,” about learning your limitations. A clip from Snoop’s interview with Larry King turns up on “Gangbang Rookie.” R. Kelly, Kanye […]