Sue Carter Flinn

Jim CuddyThe Light That Guides You Home(Warner)Sounds of birds chirping are the sweet greeting to Jim Cuddy’s new solo album, his first in eight years. Even the damn birds want to work with one of Canada’s best-known songwriters: Sarah Harmer appeared on his first solo album, All in Time, and this time around Cuddy swings […]

Jens LekmanNight Falls Over KortedalaSecretly CanadianFunny that Lekman is on Secretly Canadian, because Sweden’s where it’s at, as far as inventive, catchy pop goes (even Britney Spears should thank her Swedish producers for saving her latest). Named after a Gothenburg neighbourhood, imagine Frank Valli interpreted by a kinder, gentler, more delicate Morrissey, floating on Belle […]

BeckGuerolito(Interscope)It’s hard to understand why Beck, a genuine creative machine, needs Scientology. Although he’s not jumping over couches (yet), L Ron really isn’t helping out Beck in the music ingenuity department either. Guerolito, a remix of Guero, is just fine, perhaps more a goodie bag for hardcore fans that doesn’t push any boundaries. All of […]

Pop LeviThe Return To Form Black Magick Party(Counter)If Pop Levi changes his name or vanishes into obscurity, don’t be surprised—there’s something cadet-like about this dude, he claims an angel named Zeron helps him musically—but man, it’s dirty, soulful glam rock, picking up from when Ziggy played guitar. A mix of glam, blues, psychedelia, soul, garage […]

BeckThe Information(Interscope)Leave it to Mr. Hansen to turn a commercial product into a scrappy DIY project, perhaps inspired by his grandfather, a well-known Fluxus artist. But peel back those make-it-sweet stickers for the blank cover and under all the cell-phone blips and beeps you’ll find some pretty dark stuff. Beck’s distinctive sing-talk is still there, […]

M.I.A.KalaXLWhen the Sri Lankan-British rapper’s debut Arular blasted onto the scene with a giant “Galang,” we all stood at attention. This time, her message is heavier and less poppy, hurling dance-hall, Bollywood beats and deep didgeridoos into the mix. Still militant, still inventive, still best when turned up freakin’ loud. Sue Carter Flinncategories: Best of […]

MIAArular (XL)There’s nothing missing from this debut, including all the deserved hype for the London artist. Speculation over the Sri Lankan-born MC’s political messages shouldn’t overshadow the fact that this is the freshest pop album out there. “I’ve got the bombs to make you blow/ I’ve got the beats to make you bang,” MIA commands—singing […]

The PostmarksThe Postmarks(Unfiltered)Miami offers up a pleasant surprise in this Florida trio’s debut album, which should be listened to wearing an oversized floppy sun hat and dark eyeliner. Far from a cheesy Horatio Caine quip, this album conjures up airy ’60s French pop—stick it on a soundtrack with Serge Gainsbourg, or even better, with his […]

VariousMarie Antoinette OST(Verve)The union of new wave and royal courts fits like a pair of worn-in Chuck Taylors. Turns out that the 1980s were as vapid and vain, but just as much decadent fun, as Versailles, thanks to the candy-sweet soundtrack to Sofia Coppola’s movie Marie Antoinette. Wisely dodging familiar retro night material, the songs […]

Laura Peek and the Winning HeartsFrom the PhotographsJust FriendsKittens dancing with perfect choreography. Dance hall promenades. Tea parties serving cake with thick pink icing. Old people with juicy secrets. That’s what I think of when I listen to Laura Peek’s first full-length release. First-time producer Mike O’Neill shows his sensitive side, allowing all of Peek’s […]