Trevor Savory

The Black Eyed PeasMonkey Business(A & M)When Elephunk broke through huge into the mainstream, it was a breath of fresh air. Fast-forward two years, and Monkey Business is the awaited follow-up. The lead single “Don’t Phunk With My Heart” (“phunk” (funk) is on par with Chingy’s “hurr” (here) for annoyance) has become the musical equivalent […]

Joel PlaskettLa De Da(Maple)All we knew going into Joel Plaskett’s La De Da was that it was an acoustic album, sans Emergency. We didn’t know it would be as jaw-dropping as it is. Truthfully, Truthfully put Plaskett on the national map with his brand of witty retro-rock; that keen wit, multi- instrumentation and a stripped […]

Idle SonsSixteen Seasons(Virgin)For every Our Lady Peace or Nickelback, there are 10 bands like Idle Sons waiting in the wings to strike it big. Unfortun- ately for those Sixteen Seasons in which their debut album was being prepped, it was not time well wasted—it was just wasted. There is no imprint left once the album […]

GhettosocksGet Some Friends(Independent)Ghettosocks is the real deal, an MC with an ear for old school tearing up anyone or anything that gets in front of him. He takes hip-hop back to the streets and makes it fun again. Get Some Friends is pure ear candy, throwing the calendar back to the days of hip-hop’s infancy, […]

Robert Plant and the Strange SensationsMighty Rearranger(Sanctuary)Robert Plant will long be remembered as the charismatic front man of the legendary rock outfit Led Zepplin, but in that mighty shadow Robert Plant, the solo artist, resides. Mighty Rearranger (his second outing with The Strange Sensation, comprised of members of Portishead and Massive Attack) Plant has taken […]

Sum 41Chuck(Aquarius)Sum 41 has finally dislodged that tongue from their cheek. No longer mired in the juvenile mall-punk antics that made them stars, on Chuck—the follow up to Does This Look Infected?—a matured Sum 41 emerges. They’ve seriously incorporated metal, previously spoofed on “Pain for Pleasure,” into the mix. Their violent visit to the Congo […]

Tom PettyHighway Companion(Warner)Folks might be surprised to learn Tom Petty has released just three solo records over his incredible 30-year career. Even more astounding is the fact that Petty has never reinvented himself or his folk-rock sound to remain relevant. After the controversial Wildflowers and Petty’s lacklustre reunion with the Heartbreakers on Last DJ, Highway […]

MetricGrow Up & Blow Away(Last Gang)There’s no slowing down Emily Haines. After Metric’s debut album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, the follow-up Live it Out broke through and put Metric on the indie rock map. Opting to ride the wave further, Haines put forth her solo debut this spring, Knives Don’t Have Your […]

The DonnasGold Medal(Atlantic)Indie darlings the Donnas (none of whom are actually named Donna) have released their most accessible album to date in the form of Gold Medal. Longtime followers of the band might be hesitant to embrace the new poppier sound (think more Veruca Salt, less L7) and see this album as a sellout. But […]

The Icarus LinePenance Soiree (V2)If you’ve ever wondered how to snarl properly, look no further than The Icarus Line’s Penance Soiree. After cutting their teeth with a handful of EPs, Penance Soiree marks Icarus Line’s first full-length release. Their relentless hardcore sound is what you would get if you took Marilyn Manson, The White Stripes […]