Brian Wilson
Smile (Nonesuch/Warner)
Up there with the Holy Grail and Hitler's brain in terms of mystery-shrouded legend, this was supposed to be the Beach Boys' 1966 preemptive strike against the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's. But the band's resident miracle worker, the troubled Brian Wilson (almost solely responsible for Smile), abandoned his "teenage symphony to God" just shy of completion and release. Lo these four decades later, he's gathered his original lyricist, the celebrated Van Dyke Parks, and a gaggle of young Wilsonian acolytes to reconstruct Smile from scratch as faithfully as possible, all weirdness, wonder and livestock intact. The myth is merited - Smile is a sprawling, richly emotive and marvellously inventive three-part epic of naïve, idiosyncratic opulence, as fresh today as ever (or rather, never). 10/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
The Illuminati
On Borrowed Time (Indiestructable/ Universal)
These three longhairs hinted at greatness on their first EP, but with this new joint they are clearly the ones to beat on the Canadian underground rock scene. Good-time anthems like "Black Russian Blues" and the title track have the Illuminati boogie-van chugging down the heaviosity highway, but keep the spirit up with stellar vocal harmonies. The Illuminati have created a very challenging listen rife with a definitive signature sound. If you foolishly discard this as just another '70s retro trip then you just weren't listening. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins) With Poxy, Bionic and C'mon at El Salon, Fri., Oct. 1, 9 p.m., $10
The Waking Eyes
Video Sound (Warner)
Sprung from Prairie pop masters the Pets and Novillero, the Waking Eyes have previously shown a knack for dreamy psych-pop. Their major-label debut may have its brass flourishes and moments of chiming mod charm, but the prime directive here is big damn rawk - song title "Takin' the Hard Way" sums that up. The six-string fireworks and grand, raw-throated harmonies amount to classic beers-bongs-and-bonfires FM anthems. If that's your bag, by all means dig in. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg) With Billy Talent, Money Money and Death From Above 1979 at le Spectrum tonight, Thurs., Sept. 30, sold out
Gentleman Reg
Darby & Joan (Three Gut)
The third solo album from the Hidden Cameras' frighteningly blonde guitarist is his best yet. Not only is his pop- and folk-inflected songwriting stronger than ever, but his sound has been infiltrated and fleshed out by members of the Constantines, Royal City, Kepler etc. But Reg's hushed, nuanced tendencies haven't been forfeited in favour of beefy guitars. The record is simply more adventurous in its tempos and arrangements, with electric as well as acoustic guitars, synths as well as pianos, topped by Reg's lovely vocals, all recorded and mixed into a fine mesh by Dave Draves. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With the Constantines, Jim Guthrie and Sea Snakes at the Main Hall, Fri., Oct. 1, 9 p.m., $12
Hope of the States
The Lost Riots (Sony)
Sony describes this British band's debut album as "triumphantly epic," overcoming today's "sallow easy listening" and "lyrically bankrupt songwriting" with heavy orchestration and heavier lyrics. Too bad the singing is dreadful and half the songs drown in ornamentation. All the classical structures and insightful lyrics in the world can't excuse such a dropout from the Liam Gallagher school of whining, and the occasional instrumental doesn't sufficiently relieve the ache. This band clearly has its strengths, but it would benefit from a truly retro approach - classical instrumentals and poetry in print. 5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Inouk at la Sala Rossa, Wed., Oct. 6, 9 p.m., $12.50
Poorfolk
self-titled (White Whale)
Remember the Marato? Montreal's short-lived, high-strung math rock band? A few years after their split, singer/guitarist Jonathan Pearce returned from a "self-imposed acoustic exile" (teaching in South Korea) with a stack of unplugged songs, subsequently bolstered by drums, electric guitars and keys courtesy of Animal Town's David Maurakis. Extra organ and vocal harmonies grace the duo's debut LP, an inspired merger of modern folk and indie-rock aesthetics. Lyrically, Pearce alternates easily between the personal/universal and topical/political, proving that ex-girlfriends, terrorists and the U.S. government can co-exist peacefully, at least in song. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With the Mohawk Lodge and Kids These Days at Miami, Sat., Oct. 2., 10 p.m., $6
Greenfield Main
Barnburners & Heartchurners (Kelp)
Another demented, country-tinged effort from Ottawa's Greenfield Main. On this second CD, the yuks and yee-haws of the debut are chucked as Jon Bartlett, Greenfield's main man, crystallizes his vision and wears his heart on his sleeve. The usual suspects - Flying Burrito Bros., Zuma-era Neil Young - get nods, but occasionally, on songs like "Matilda" and "Under the Gun," the Main get down to some southern-fried cow-punk twang. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins) With the Recoilers, the Frontier Index, Andrew Vincent & the Pirates and the Telepathic Butteflies at The Green Room, Sat., Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m., $8
Various
Versatile Mixtape (Versatile)
DJ Gilb'r pulls strange tracks from the entire audio spectrum for this great, hazy-afternoon mix. Kicking it off with the Prince-inspired techno funk of I:Cube and the Detroit electro of Elektroids, Gilb'r then introduces the symphonic nostalgia of Sebastien Tellier and the brilliant BBC Radiophonic Workshop cross-collab White Noise (aka Delia Derbyshire of Dr. Who theme fame and some British pop songwriters) with the pulsing alien dub-pop of "Love Without Sound." Add a little of Brigitte Fontaine (the '60s French Björk), some gorgeous Kirk DeGiorgio and an Ego Express mix of Mitte Karaoke's "Panda Bar" and suddenly it gets right back up there. 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)
Dizzee Rascal
Showtime (XL/Select)
Upstart young British MC Dizzee's debut of last year, Boy in da Corner, earned him the Top 20 U.K. hit "Fix Up Look Sharp," quarter-mil sales figures and outta-nowhere Mercury Prize. If the title Showtime is to suggest that Boy was just a warm-up, well, it was. The London grime scene's leading light, DR's focused the sputter, surge and bite of his flow, likewise his fierce and asymmetrical beats. Moreover, the denser, more confident tunes are graced with melodious flavours absent in round one. As for the lead single "Stand Up Tall" - wow. The whole thing's tough, smart, silly and a bit scary. On with the show. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
The Isley Brothers
Taken to the Next Phase (Legacy/Sony)
One of the most underrated groups in the history of soul music, the Isley Brothers enjoyed much success later on thanks to sampling hip hop producers blazing the best bits of songs like "Between the Sheets" into the minds of music lovers and DJs alike. Here, new-school producers rework their favorite Isley tracks in a formula that we've seen go sour before. Fortunately, there's some heat here that outshines the stinkers, like Will I Am's version of "Tell of Tales" and Raphael Saadiq's "Harvest for the World." De La Soul almost nail "It's Your Thing" and Mos Def should've rapped instead of singing on "Beauty in the Dark," but it works. 7/10 (Scott C)
Roy Ayers
Mahogany Vibe (Rapster/Fusion III)
With the release of Virgin Ubiquity: Unreleased Recordings 1976–1978 back in early 2004, legendary vibraphonist Roy Ayers has enjoyed a rejuvenated interest from fans new and old around the world. Mahogany Vibe includes new and reworked material that places Ayers in the present, still bringing that Brooklyn soul to the forefront with help from people like Erykah Badu and Betty Wright. I still prefer the original "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" to the Ayers/Badu redo here, but it's good to see that people who have contributed so much to music over so many years still have something fresh to offer. 7.5/10 (Scott C)
Anita Baker
My Everything (Blue Note/EMI)
It's been 10 years since Baker graced fans with her signature brand of jazz-soul fusion. Now the singer/songwriter/producer returns in resplendent form with a classic collection that sounds fresh and new. After years of personal drama, Baker's latest feels like a joyful release aimed squarely at life and love, especially on lead single "You're My Everything" and her family dedication "Men in My Life." Almost the entire set was recorded with a live rhythm section, giving it a full-bodied flavour that couples well with Baker's still-vibrant vocal prowess - a combination that blissfully reveals itself throughout this long-overdue return. 9/10 (Gerard Dee)
Judi Silvano
Let Yourself Go (Zoho)
Zoho, a relatively new label, comes up with one of the best vocal releases of the year. Ms. Silvano is a superb vocalist and this is a very accessible and musical outing, 11 tracks from the American songbook by the likes of Porter, Gershwin, Berlin, Kern, Arlen and Jenkins with just-right charts by Mike Abene and a wonderful ensemble that includes Ingrid Jensen, Dick Oatts, Roger Rosenberg and Abene himself. Try "Let's Fall in Love" for starters. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)
Mini CD Reviews
The Clash London Calling 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition (Legacy/Sony) Punk's White Album remastered, plus a full disc of rehearsal-session rarities and a making-of DVD by Don Letts. Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust… 10 (RB)
Tony Kofi Plays Monk (Specific/SRI) A new label from the people at Proper Box and, in reedman Kofi, a new name to North American listeners, a loving tribute by this quartet plus. 9 (LD)
DJ Killa Jewel The Official Misstape (UnderPressure/UNT) KJ, aka Edible Incredible, always comes with skills and the weight! State to state... 8.5 (SC)
Fifty Watt Head Rock 'n' Roll Killer (Death By Stereo/Sonic Unyon) Who would win the Canadian Heavyweight Riff-Rock Battle Royale? Sons of Otis? Shallow, N.D.? These rookie southpaws? Discuss. 8.5 (JC)
Elizabeth Cotton Shake Sugaree (Smithsonian Folkways) Cotton's fingerpicking style is unbelievable, but when she croons "Ruben," it's guaranteed to bring a smile to even the most callous. 8 (JC)
The Unireverse Plays the Music of Quebec and Other Planets (Total Zero) "Gens du Pays" comes back to the future in style, with a few original mega-Moog jams in tow. 8 (LC) With Mixel Pixel etc. at Casa del Popolo, Fri., Oct. 1, 9:30 p.m., $8
Various Peace Not War (Peace Not War Music Project) Heavy on hip hop and bands like Le Tigre, Sonic Youth and Anti-Flag, this British comp is a protest record for hipsters. 7.5 (LC)
Neotropic White Rabbits (Mush) Producer/composer Riz Maslen chases white rabbits down a dreary hole of post-rock muddiness that's sonically interesting but often emotionally distant. 6 (RK)
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