Music » North America Music

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, Warner Bros / Wea

Sacred Spirit: Chants and Dances of the Native Americans is an 11-song journey bridging the gap between ancient and contemporary history, tradition and modern instrumentation. While it is impossible to fully realize such scope on a single disc, Sacred Spirit makes the choice to represent all indigenous Americans rather than become mired in the potentially divisive bog of politics and tribal allegiance. All but two melodies are entirely traditional, bringing together flute, drums, and vocals with a cello and keyboard wash. This marriage is most effective on the lovely bowing of "The Cradlesong," and the looping electro-acoustic beauty of "Wishes of Happiness & Prosperity." Elsewhere, synthetic elements are overwhelming, detracting from a song's essence, as with the spongy nervosity of "Elevation." An uneven offering, Sacred Spirit doesn't quite live up to its promise. A better choice is Earthbeat's Tribal Waters. --Paige La Grone

On this, their debut recording for a major label, Canada's quirkiest musical troupe introduced the world to their unique blend of scathing humor, skillful musicianship, and flat-out fun. Packed with songs that have become anthems to their adoring fans, Gordon is practically a collection of Barenaked Ladies' greatest hits. This CD features "Brian Wilson," an homage to the biggest Beach Boy and an exploration of the relationship between art and neurosis; "Be My Yoko Ono," a musician's entreaty to his winsome muse; "Box Set," a relentless indictment of one-hit wonders and washed-up rockers; and the staple sing-along "If I Had $1,000,000," which you can walk around humming all day without getting bored. Literally every song on this disc features the intelligent lyrics, tight arrangements, and astonishing vocalizations that BNL have made their stock-in-trade. It's a winner all the way around. --L.A. Smith

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, Elektra / Wea

Release Date: 1993-10-26, Audio CD, Arista

This is the second album from Vancouver's supergroup, featuring Carl Newman (Zumpano), Neko Case, Dan Bejar (Destroyer), & other local luminaries in a joyful cascade of slightly jaundiced power pop songs that'll knock your socks off. The hooks are huge & the wit & songwriting are off the map. 'Forty staggeringly catchy minutes of four-part harmonies & Wall of Sound production, exploding with energy & joy' - Rolling Stone. Matador. 2003.

Release Date: 1995-11-21, Audio CD, Curb Records

Court and Spark had earned Joni Mitchell mainstream pop acceptance, but its underlying spirit of discovery pushed her to risk new-found success with this edgier, experimental sequel released in 1975. Although the session crew is largely the same, and sleek jazz elements again abound, these songs find her introducing Burundi drums (on "The Jungle Line"), layering magisterial but forbidding vocal harmonies ("Shadows and Light"), and casting rueful shadows across the sun-dazed Southern California of the title song. Her daring promptly earned critical scorn and halted her commercial expansion, but the album's confident eclecticism and dark beauty have outlived that reception: from the safety of hindsight, Hissing was a promise to stay hungry and creatively adventurous, a promise kept then and now. --Sam Sutherland

Release Date: 2000-05-16, Audio CD, Vanguard Records

Over a recording career that spans three decades, Canada's Bruce Cockburn has established himself as a passionate social advocate, a deft guitarist, and an adventurous musical spirit. Though nobody would characterize him as a singles artist, this collection of tracks originally earmarked for (and often ignored by) radio presents his often earnest, occasionally elliptical song craft at its most accessible. Cockburn's rhythmic insistence and airy arrangements--punctuated by jazzy violin and saxophone--redeem "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" and "A Dream Like Mine" as more than sloganeering, though the stridency of "Call It Democracy" belabors the message at the expense of the music. Bookended by two new cuts, this anthology anticipates a reissue series of Cockburn's catalog through his new association with Rounder Records. --Don McLeese