Intergalactic Rock Stars
Planet: Fame
Sextant/EMI
Don't
let the make-up and feathery get-ups fool you into thinking this is wussy-rock.
How could it be with co-producers Moe Berg, Canada's original androgen
from The Pursuit of Happiness, and GGGarth Richardson (Red Hot Chili
Peppers, Rage Against The Machine) at the helm? This is some straight-up,
unforgiving, barrel-to-the-brain rock 'n' roll. The music is both melodic
and trashy; the lyrics hilarious and clever. Check "Some of You Boys
(And Most of you Girls)," and "More Effeminate Than You."Capricornian
Liquid 8/BMG
These
Australian rock icons, who broke internationally in the '80s with their
anthemic rock messages about the appalling abuses of the Aboriginal
peoples, continue to be an outspoken voice for justice. On the band's 14th
studio album, inimitable vocalist Peter Garrett stirs up images of a
country's flora and fauna - jacaranda, dingo, crocodile, fields and
mountains. Whether there are political messages behind the songs is hard
for the North American to figure out, but overall, the mood is lighter.EXIT
EMI
It's
rare that a Canadian artist comes along with heart and conscience resolute
enough to make the listener think about the state of the world and
ourselves. The singer and MC will be termed "hip hop" because
his debut album features rapping and beats, but it also has elements of
folk, R&B, pop, rock, and even East Indian and reggae vibes. The
stirring "Patience" could be a killer international single and
"Superstarr Part 2 (Babylon Girl)" could entice those who are
scared off by "rap" to open their ears to this major talent.
No Pads, No Helmets...
Just Balls
Atlantic
The
Montreal power punk band, managed by the same camp which handles Our Lady
Peace, already has a following from performing at festivals like the
Warped Tour and Snowjam. And if the album is any indication, they will be
huge. The first single, "I'm Just A Kid," and "The Worst
Day Ever," like many of the cuts, are pure anthems. While the lyrics
might be bleak, the songs - produced by Arnold Lanni (OLP, Finger Eleven)
- are pounding pop. blink-182's Mark Hoppus contributes vocals to
"I'd Do Anything," and Good Charlotte's Joel Madden to "You
Don't Mean Anything."Cake And Pie
A&M
The
cute, bespectacled acoustic-pop singer became the first unsigned artist to
have a No.1 single ("Stay") after her friend Ethan Hawke asked
her to contribute a song to the film Reality Bites in 1993. Her 1995 debut
album, Tails, went gold, and the follow-up Firecracker, yielded the top 20
single "I Do" in '97, but her popularity has since waned. Still,
she's a consistent writer and, with Cake And Pie, returns with an easy to
swallow album, sweetly and softly sung with bitter curves such as
"Underdog", "Too Fast Driving" and
"Payback." Simple And Effective.
7 Bill$/BMG
Da
Album is worth picking up for the single "Rest In Peace" alone.
The moving tribute to those who have died at the hands of violent crimes
could be a U.S. smash given the op. As a whole, this is a worldclass
hip-hop offering from one of Canada's finest and underrated - "Still
Too Much" for this tame industry, as the song lyric outlines. Props
to BMG for picking up this crew of Kwajo and Dolo, and their vision to
assemble and utilize the all stars - Maestro, Snow, Rascalz' Red One,
Kardinal Offishall, Ironside, and 7 Bill$'s Angel Duss and Ray Smoove.
Hard truths are sometimes hard to swallow.
- Karen Bliss