Junior Boys
Last Exit (Domino/Outside)
One of the most hyped Canadian bands last season finally sees their album get a proper North American release. Now ditch those U.K.-sourced MP3s you surely have on your iPod and grab a copy of this understated electro-pop effort by Hamilton, Ontario's Junior Boys (with a bonus disc that includes remixes by Fennesz and Manitoba). Despite their rather underwhelming live performance at this year's Mutek, on Last Exit Junior Boys delivers a rather flawless slice of laid-back synth pop that bring to mind Human League, OMD and Hall & Oates but with a rhythmic backbone of skitterish R&B and U.K. grime. 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak) With Mouse on Mars and Ratatat at Cabaret, Tues., Oct. 26, 9 p.m., $16.50

Duran Duran
Astronaut (Epic/Sony)
Nostalgia is on! It's Duran Duran's first album since '83 to feature their original cast, and instead of aping the hits or latching onto the underground revival, they've adopted a mainstream, modernized '80s sound, and it's only half bad. Strings, guitars and techno flutters are applied to their semi-funky synthpop base, thanks to a team of producers including Nile Rodgers and Don Gilmore (Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park, other crap). The lyrics are as profound as ever (remember "I smell like I sound"?), but you know the world is in the shit when even Duran Duran get political ("Finest Hour"). 6.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

The Delgados
Universal Audio (Chemikal Underground)
After the orchestral malaise of the Delgados' last LP Hate, this disc's guitar-pop levity might lead listeners to believe that clouds have parted over Glasgow. But neither album is strictly black or white, and just as Hate had its brilliant silver lining, Universal Audio's rays are often ultraviolet. Singers Emma Pollock and Alun Woodward alternate songs, offering hearty hooks, stinging lyrics, joyous choruses and melancholy verse, all arranged, recorded and mixed with a lush, light touch. The record has its dull textures and dreary melodies, but such uninspired moments are few and fleeting. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Crooked Fingers at Cabaret, Fri., Oct. 22, 8:30 p.m., $17.50

Sarah Slean
Day One (Warner)
In the midst of a "'20s explosion" (absinthe dementia?), Slean fled Toronto last year to write her fourth record in a remote Ontario cabin. Surprisingly, the singer-songwriter emerged from a near-meltdown in the woods with her most accessible work to date, retaining her rich, showy cabaret streak while aiming for the mainstream. With producers Peter Prilesnik (Sarah Harmer) and Dan Kurtz (of the New Deal), Slean balances her bold and beautiful concoctions of piano, strings, guitars and vocals with a few stabs at tepid AOR electronica and pop-rock. Maybe she'll score a hit and finally write that stage musical. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush
Real Live (Just a Minute/Fusion III)
After a lengthy break, Marino is back and is pretty much picking up where he left off. This two-CD set documents a 2001 show in Montreal and clocks in at almost three hours, but you wouldn't expect anything less if you have had the privilege of seeing his psychedelic jam band live. Probably one of rock's greatest unsung guitarists, the live setting is a perfect match for this master of improvisation. From his 10-minute version of "Voodoo Chile" to the amazing 20-minute "Poppy," Marino is able to move from Hendrix to Wes Montgomery in a single measure while still injecting his own sound into the mix. Kick out the jams, indeed. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Gov't Mule
Deja Voodoo (ATO/BMG)
Warren Haynes may be the busiest guitarist in rock, being the hired gun for the Allman Brothers and more recently the Dead, but Gov't Mule is where he usually shines. Unfortunately, it seems Haynes has been burning the candle at both ends and his usual high-quality material gets a little thin here. The recent inclusion of Danny Louis on keyboards seems to elbow against Haynes' soulful riffs while songs get condensed and concentrated instead of soaring - even the moments of improvisation in "Silent Scream" sound strained and laborious. There are some shining moments here, like "Bad Man Walking" and "Slackjaw Jezebel," but more often than not the Mule just comes across as another bar band about to launch into "Mustang Sally." 6.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Rich Robinson
Paper (Keyhole)
Robinson is best known as the foil to his brother Chris in the Black Crowes, but now that the corpse of one of America's greatest rock bands has finally grown cold, these solo records are inevitable. Of course, without his brother by his side, Rich is mediocre at best - but at least slightly better than his brother's hippie drivel New Earth Mud. The songs all start off with great expectations but Rich's singing style is so lifeless and stunted it just stops all songs dead in their tracks. This is a real heartbreaker as the brothers are truly magical together, so why don't you guys just bury the hatchet? You need each other more than ever. 6/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Tim Hecker
Mirages (Alien8)
Anyone who's seen Hecker in his latest performance guise (he's the impish dungeon troll who opened up for les Georges Leningrad, engulfed in strobe lights and surrounded by two stuffed ravens and a stuffed wolf) will not be surprised at the darkly gothic turn his music has taken with Mirages. The bittersweet melancholy of his previous effort Radio Amor on the now defunct Mille Plateaux label has given way to more sinister brooding clouds of sound that only sometimes break apart for golden rays of melody. But, as always, Hecker's strength lies in drawing the listener into his moody world of dense, distorted guitar and crackly synth pads, ready to mine the melodic morsels hidden within. 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

The Alchemist
1st Infantry (ALC/Koch)
Let's hear it for the Alchemist. After years of producing underground gems, and coupling gritty, dramatic beats with some great MCs, he's decided to come with the full-length. ALC's history of hitting the nail on the head as far as complementing a wicked flow continues - 1st Infantry is packed with laudable guests who aren't there for show but because they know they'll be rapping on heat. ALC has an open ear, playing close attention to the MCs featured, giving way to his versatility and creative appeal as a producer. I'm loving "Tick Tock" with Nas and Prodigy, as well as "Where Can We Go?" with Devin the Dude. Lloyd Banks, Dilated Peoples, the Lox, B-Real, Chinky, Styles P and Noyd also guest. 8.5/10 (Scott C)

Wu-Tang Clan
Disciples of the 36 Chambers: Chapter 1 (Wu-Tang/BMG)
While the Wu has struggled over the years to maintain its fleeting grasp on hip hop relevance, the group that defined the successful extended crew has been plagued with complacency, neglected alliances and of course jail time. Somehow, this past summer at the San Bernadino, California, Rock the Bells Festival, somebody was able to do the impossible and round up every original Wu-Tang member for a live show. This is that show, complete with 26 tracks of Shaolin's finest doing what they do best. Don't front on live versions of "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," "Shame on a Nigga," "Method Man" and "Triumph." Wu-Tang 4 ever... 8/10 (Scott C)

Glen Washington
Wanna Be Loved (VP/Virgin)
I was once told that the secret to a successful dance is to get the women dancing because no one wants a bull party. So, if you're looking for a little somethin' for the ladies to nice up your dance, this is probably a good bet. Not only does Glen Washington throw in a couple of tunes on Bob Marley riddims, but his "Roller Coaster Ride" on the Peanut Vendor riddim is almost as good as George Nook's "Top Ten." Wanna Be Loved is the perfect combination of sweetness and conscious lyrics that I'm a sucker for. Beres Hammond better watch his back. 9/10 (Erin MacLeod)

Joss Stone
Mind Body & Soul (S-Curve/EMI)
Stone's '03 debut The Soul Sessions revealed a British teenager who boldly took on soul classics and made them her own. A combination of stellar production and the singer's emotive vocals made that set a winner. On her latest, Stone opts for original material, with mixed results. Her voice is still a marvel that defies the limits of culture and experience. Not surprisingly, she soars on songs that most closely resemble '70s staples, especially slow burners like "Jet Lag" and "Spoiled." But her affected vocals make more contemporary-sounding tracks like "You Had Me" and "Don't Cha Wanna Ride" sound forced. The potential is still there, it's just not all there yet. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Bill Carrothers
Armistice 1918 (Sketch/Fusion III)
You may know this Minneapolis-based pianist from Montreal appearances with Bill Stewart and with Yannick Rieu. This wonderful two-CD set comes with a beauty of a bilingual booklet of photos, poetry and prose. A basic trio of Carrothers, Stewart and Drew Gress is joined here and there by other instruments and the Knob Hill Creek Choir. Songs like "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning" are juxtaposed with memorable originals by Carrothers and some wonderful trio interplay. Thirty tracks that will hold your attention - this one's on my top 10 list for 2004. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

Kevin Dean Organ Band Live at Upstairs (independent) A wild and wooly outing from a year ago this week, the fire stoked by the twin tenors of Mike Murley and John Nugent. PARTY TIME! 9.5 (LD)

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Timeless (Real/Hightone) Brown can still perfectly merge jump blues, Cajun and country. Not an easy task. 8 (JC)

Various Kung Fu! Reggae vs. the Martial Arts (Trojan) Yes, it's a whole record of kung fu tunes. Who's making the decisions at Trojan? Why can't I work there? 8 (EM)

FP Crew Olympic Rap Mixtape (LapDance) This tape is getting more play than the FP LP in my house. 7.5 (SC)

The Thrills Let's Bottle Bohemia (Virgin/EMI) This Irish band revels in Americana (and accidental Canadiana) with horn-rimmed vocals, a slack pop twang and a song about Corey Haim. 6.5 (LC)

4 Strings Turn It Around (Ultra) The only thing worse than 16 tracks of commercial pop schlock with a trance beat is giving them names like "Dolphins Cry" and "Euphoric Eyes." Burn! 2 (RK)

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