Title: Notre Dame de Paris OST
Artist: Luc Plamondon and Richard Cocciante
Genre: Musical

Review by Amanda Chan

I came across these CD’s when I passed by a “Free to a good home” box.  I hesitated only a second before tucking this into my bag and walking away.  I never regretted it for a moment.  I fell in love with the music from the first listen-through.

Based on the novel Notre-Dame de Paris, the work is a sung-through French-Canadian musical and it’s absolutely beautiful.  I’m lucky enough to own the recording of the original Paris cast starring Hélène Ségara as Esmeralda, Daniel Lavoie as Frollo, Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire, Garou as Quasimodo, Patrick Fiori as Phœbus, Luck Mervil as Clopin and Julie Zenatti as Fleur-de-Lys.

Arranged and directed by Richard Cocciante, Serge Pérathoner and Jannick Top, Notre-Dame de Paris is a hauntingly dark and beautiful work.  One of the most incredible pieces on this is Belle – sung by three of the main male characters.  As a all male trio, there is an obvious gruffness as the three characters confess their attraction to Esmeralda.  This is the most evident with the voice of Quasimodo.  Garou sings in a low, rough voice that only serves to intensify the music and lyrics.

In complete contrast, Beau comme le soleil is a duet between the two female characters.  Both voices are delicate and seem to float with the melody as they sing.  Unlike the men, their song seems to be presented as more of a question than a statement; however, their message is essentially the same – the women are also confessing their attraction for the same man!

Notre-Dame de Paris is an amazing set of CD’s.  I’m lucky enough to own the recording of the original Paris cast and I have to say, they were blessed with some incredible singers.  I don’t know how accessible these particular CD’s are, but I would definitely encourage you to listen to it if you get the chance to.  If nothing else, look up Belle on YouTube.  There is a video with the original three men singing the trio; and it’s gorgeous!

For track listing and more information:
Notre Dame de Paris on wikipedia

Title: Place (2012)
Artist: West My Friend
Genre: Indie / Pop / Roots Music

Review by Matty Poon

You know what makes good music good?  It’s ability to get into your mind, body, and soul, and stay there.  You know what else makes good music good?  It’s ability to get stuck in your head even hours after you’ve listened to it.  I’ve really been feeling some of the tracks on West My Friend’s debut album Place (and if you guys haven’t already, check them out on Facebook and Myspace).

Their album release party will be this Thursday the 5th at Hermann’s Jazz Club at 8:00 p.m., so get your butts out there and support some local musicians! Also present will be our very own spotlighters Carli and Julie Kennedy!

The first track I clicked on was Pin Oak Reel, and it is by far my favourite of the entire album.  It is fast, light, energetic, and fun.  The melody is easy to whistle or hum (for those who can’t whistle), and it makes me want to dance.  It’s also nice to hear some elements of folk dance music and improvisation in Pin Oak Reel, and it gives the music a casual feel, as if you were at a friend’s place and jamming out to a melody they had just jotted down.

Tic-a-toc was the next one that caught my ear.  I have to admit, after hearing Pin Oak Reel, I wasn’t ready for lyrics (I thought the entire album was going to be instrumental music =P).  I’m really impressed with the clarity of the words; I can understand every single one on every track, and I applaud that!  I’m a huge sucker for lyrics, and to be able to listen without needing liner notes is a nice change.  The subject of Tic-a-toc also spoke to me, having started to become a bit more active in politics and world issues.  I commend West My Friend’s ability to take the issue of protest and meld it into a fast and upbeat rhythm; it worked really well.

Homesick Blues also spoke to me as well.  Ironic that I agree with the lyrics yet am living at home, but that’s beside the point.  The words are well written, and the tune is catchy (Yes, I like songs that are more catchy in nature).  I’m also really happy with the accordion opening; it made me happy.  I really think good music speaks to you, or helps you to remember past memories or dream of the future.  This one did all of the above for me, and it’s going on my iPod and into my car’s mixed mp3 CD.

And what of the other 10 tracks? Well get to the CD release party and buy a copy of Place yourself!

1. Tic-a-toc
2. The Roots
3. Saturn Maybe
4. Shakes & Rattles
5. I Refuse
6. Hesitate
7. Pin Oak Reel
8. Homesick Blues
9. Home By the Sea
10. I Remember – Sightlines
11. I Remember – Pretend
12. All My Questions
13. Oh Future

Visit West My Friend at:
www.facebook.com/westmyfriend
www.myspace.com/westmyfriend

Title: The Greatest Video Game Music(2011)
Artist: The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Skeet
Genre: Video Game Music

Review by Matty Poon

I was actually looking for the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack on iTunes (the one that came with the special edition Super Mario Galaxy Wii…) and I stumbled upon this, amongst other awesome wonders *cough* Video Games Live *cough*. I'm simply in love with all this music, as were my brothers since the program included music from a vast array of video game genres. Unfortunately, I'll only be focusing on the tracks I know, but the ones that I don't sound pretty intense nonetheless.

My top choice from this album has to be the Sons of Liberty Theme from Metal Gear Solid. Whenever I listen to this, it makes me want to jump over couches stealthily, and pretend to be a covert agent trying to undermine an organized circle of evil-doers. The theme song is majestic, heroic, exciting, and awe-inspiring. For video games music, this was clearly before its time! If you're not a gamer and you haven't played Metal Gear Solid, then I'm sorry you won't really understand the shear awesomeness of the Sons of Liberty Theme, but still listen! It is an awesome culmination of electronika, electronic instruments, and classical orchestra with chorus all in under 4 minutes!

Second choice is the Gusty Gardens Theme from Super Mario Galaxy. One word, awesome! I know I use this word a lot, but there's no other way to describe it. Super Mario Galaxy was not only a very good game, but the music that came with it inspired me to play the game longer than I should. It is stylistically Nintendo, and synonymous to Super Mario, but the complexity of the writing is still quite impressive. Somehow, the composer of Gusty Gardens Koji Kondo, along with lead composer Mahito Yokoda combined fun with Classic snoot, and I'm simply blown away. Mr. Yokoda, I salute you!

Lastly, Liberi Fatali from Final Fantasy 8. If you know me, you know I love Japanese composers Joe Hisaishi (composer to many of the movies from Studio Gibli, especially the ones directed by Hayao Miyazaki), and Nobuo Uematsu (the mastermind before the music for Square Enix's Final Fantasy series). Final Fantasy 8 has sentimental value to me because it was the very first Final Fantasy I played when we finally got a Playstation at home. Liberi Fatali is the perfect example of Classical music in video games. This piece of music, for orchestra and chorus, is loved by the many final fantasy fanatics, and they don't even know they're listening to Classical music! That's what's so awesome about this! Mr. Uematsu effectively turned a whole generation's ears on to Classical music, and all he did was compose something amazing. If you haven't heard Liberi Fatali, do it! Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec!

By the way, for all you FPS players out there, Battlefield 2 and Call of Duty is on here. The Tetris Theme and Angry Birds Theme also showcase on this album as well! Happy listening!

Track Listing:
1. Advent Rising: Muse (Composed by Tommy Tallarico, Emmanuel Fratianni, and Laurie Robinson)
2. Legend of Zelda: Suite (Composed by Koji Kondo)
3. Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2: Theme (Composed by Hans Zimmer)
4. Angry Birds: Main Theme (Composed by Ari Pulkkinen)
5. Final Fantasy VIII: Liberi Fatali (Composed by Nobuo Uematsu)
6. Super Mario Bros Theme (Composed by Mahito Yokota and Koji Kondo)
7. Uncharted – Drake's Fortune: Nate's Theme (Composed by Greg Edmonson)
8. Grand Theft Auto IV: Soviet Connection (Composed by Michael Hunter)
9. World of Warcraft: Seasons of War (Composed by Jason Hayes)
10. Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty Theme (Composed by Harry Gregson-Williams)
11. Tetris: Theme (Composed by Alexey Pajitnov)
12. Battlefield 2: Theme (Composed by Joel Eriksson)
13. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion (Composed by Jeremy Soule)
14. Call of Duty 4 – Modern Warfare: Main Menu Theme (Composed by Stephen Barton and Harry Gregson-Williams)
15. Mass Effect: Suicide Mission (Composed by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick)
16. Splinter Cell: Conviction (Composed by Michael Nielsen, Kaveh Cohen, and Amon Tobin)
17. Final Fantasy: Main Theme (Composed by Nobuo Uematsu)
18. Bioshock: The Ocean on his Shoulders (Composed by Garry Schyman)
19. Halo 3: One Final Effort (Composed by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori)
20. Fallout 3: Theme (Composed by Inon Zur)
21. Super Mario Bros: Gusty Garden Galaxy (Composed by Koji Kondo)
22. Final Fantasy XIII: Hanging Edge (Composed by Masashi Hamauzu) (Bonus Track)

Visit the London Philharmonic at:
www.lpo.co.uk

Visit Andrew Skeet at:
www.andrewskeet.com

Title: Tour EP (2010)
Artist: Lady Danville
Genre: Indie/Pop

Review by Keith Chan

Lady Danville's latest EP, "Tour EP" was the first experience I've had listening to their music, and I must say I was drawn to it right away. By the time the CD was over, I wanted to hear more, so I had to hit the repeat button. The band is from Los Angeles, and is comprised of three band members: Michael Garner (piano, vocals), Daniel Chang (guitar, vocals), and Matthew Frankel (cajon^[1], drums, percussion, vocals).

The album starts off with the three of them singing a cappella for half a measure, followed by instrumentation. This took me by surprise because the sound, arrangement, and everything is a little bit different from what I'm used to hearing. The first track was definitely solid. The use of the cajon gives each song a great feel – it's not as "in your face" as a normal drum set would be. Their vocals are also amazing! They treat it like an actual instrument, so there are times where it's just one person singing, or the three of them singing melody and then they'll break off into 3-part harmonies. Their vocals are really in sync with each other – the beginnings, ends, and durations of the sung words are really tight. I guess it helps that they were in an a cappella group before they formed Lady Danville.

After the first track is over, you're just wanting to find out what else they have up their sleeves. You keep listening, and then you stumble on a cover of MGMT's song, "Kids". To be honest, I had no idea what to expect from this. I love the original song, and I usually don't like covers of songs because a lot of times they end up either butchering it or their cover is alright but not as good as the original. There has been a few covers where it's as good as the original, and this is one of them! With their amazing arrangement and harmonies, they nailed it. The rest of their album is pretty constant, but they all sound different, and there's also a happy feel to their songs which makes it really enjoyable.

They end the album with a live version of a really ridiculous (in a really funny kind of way) song called "I Want You Back". It's a really simple song with harmonica, shaker, guitar, and ukelele. They sing about how someone wants this girl back even though she's done all these horrible things to him. This goes to show that this band is just having fun with their music, and it shows throughout the whole album. This is definitely a solid album from front to back, and you just might have to hit the repeat a few times because you just want more.

Track Listing:
1. Cars
2. Bed 42
3. Spoon
4. Kids
5. Sophie Roux
6. Frames & Moulding
7. I Want You Back (live)

[1] For more information on what a cajon is, check out the Wikipedia link here

Visit Lady Danville at:
ladydanville.wordpress.com

Title: Duets II (2011)
Artist: Tony Bennett
Genre: Vocal Jazz

Review by Matty Poon

So many big names on one CD! WAH! I have to say it was a toss up between this CD and Bjork's one… but I decided I needed some easy listening this month with all the crazy that's been going on in my life.

iTunes has this cool function where you can see how popular the tracks are, and what do you know it Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse are the top… go figure. But I took time to listen to OTHER tracks first and found some sweet ones beyond the two (they're great, but my preferences when it comes to vocal timbre differ from the norm I guess). Also the iTunes LP is quite ingenious! Had all the information I needed to know about musicians and everything! Also, pictures! Loves it.

On the Sunny Side of the Street with Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson is a MUST listen. It's pretty cool to hear this sung by yet another great after Bille Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Frank Sinatra, and the duet did a great job! The lyrics talk about how one should leave behind their blues and enjoy the Sunny Side of the Street, and don't we all. The track makes me want to grab a lassie and dance! Now to be honest, this is the first time I've heard Willie Nelson sing since his name was mentioned in Big & Rich's Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy and I'm thoroughly impressed!

The Way You Look Tonight with Faith Hill is really smooth. I get goosebumps listening to it and that's actually quite a terribly hard feat! I love the improv-like opening and how it imitates talking; pure genius. It's nice to hear music that's so well prepared and thought out. It's a real treat to hear something that could make me feel this relaxed. So in other words, a must listen for you all that's reading this!

I'm not a big fan of the Bublé, but Don't Get Around Anymore really showed how he and Tony Bennett can blend together in a very sexy singing way. The swagger of the piece really helped the playfulness of the singing brought by the two, and I was happy I didn't skim over the piece just because of the name (heh). I'm also a huge fan of the big band sound, and this piece brings me back to Grade 11 Jazz Band.

So there you go, three pieces on top of the two already famous ones for you to indulge in. Also, if you want, have a listen to When Do the Bells Ring For Me with Mariah Carey, 'cause come on it's Mariah!

Track Listing:
1. The Lady Is A Tramp (feat. Lady Gaga)
2. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)(feat. John Mayer)
3. Body And Soul (feat. Amy Winehouse)
4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (feat. Michael Bublé)
5. Blue Velvet (feat. K.D. Lang)
6. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (feat. Aretha Franklin)
7. The Girl I Love (feat. Sheryl Crow)
8. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (feat. Willie Nelson)
9. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)(feat. Queen Latifah)
10. Speak Low (feat. Norah Jones)
11. This Is All I Ask (feat. Josh Groban)
12. Watch What Happens (feat. Natalie Cole)
13. Stranger In Paradise (feat. Andrea Bocelli)
14. The Way You Look Tonight (feat. Faith Hill)
15. Yesterday I Heard The Rain (feat. Alejandro Sanz)
16. It Had To Be You (feat. Carrie Underwood)
17. When Do The Bells Ring For Me (feat. Mariah Carey)

Visit Tony Bennett at:
tonybennett.com

Title: Rent (2005)
Genre: Musical/Soundtrack

Review by Amanda Chan

I love this CD. Yes, I realize I am talking about the Original Motion Picture but this is the catch – the majority of the singers on the movie were also in the Original Broadway Cast. The only two characters who didn't reprise their parts were Mimi (Daphne Rubin-Vega on Broadway but by Rosario Dawson in the motion picture) and Joanne (Fredi Walker on Broadway and Tracie Thomas in the motion picture). The other characters remains the same – Taye Diggs plays Benny, Wilson Jermaine Heredia plays Angel, Jesse L. Martin plays Tom Collins, Idina Menzel plays Maureen, Adam Pascal plays Roger and Anthony Rapp plays Mark.

Not only do the majority of the cast remain the same, but so do the majority of the songs as well. It is the combination of an all-star singing cast and musical simplicity that makes this soundtrack absolutely incredible. Jonathan Larson composed all the music and lyrics and for this, he deserves any and all recognition. The songs are not overly complicated. Of course, he does use a full orchestra but he never counts out the idea of a smaller group.

Sometimes known as a rock musical, Larson seemed to try to use as few instruments as he could; only adding more to enhance the meaning of the words. It's not uncommon to hear several songs start with only a single instrument before others join in. In my opinion, Larson is taking full advantage of the crew of singers he has and doesn't want distractions from too many instrumental voices.

The CD begins will the famous Seasons of Love – first accompanied by a sole piano and eventually, the other elements of a rock group join in; however, as I've stated earlier, the voices are the focus. My favorite track on this entire CD is I'll Cover You (Reprise) purely because of how the instruments are layered in. It begins with a sole piano accompaniment before being joined by an electric bass. A simple suspended cymbal brings in the drum kit and then an electric guitar. Over it all, the voices soar and you can't help but get caught up in the music.

Rent is a modern day version of Puccini's La Boheme and I cannot express how much I love the music. Larson has done an amazing job with the instrumentation and showcasing the singers for their talents. This CD is highly recommended and if you ever get a chance to see the musical live, definitely go! You will love it.

Track Listing:
1. Seasons of Love
2. Rent
3. One Song Glory
4. Light My Candle
5. Today 4 U
6. Tango: Maureen
7. Out Tonight
8. Sante Fe
9. I'll Cover You
10. La Vie Bohème A & B
11. I Should Tell You
12. Take Me Or Leave Me
13. Without You
14. I'll Cover You (Reprise)
15. What You Own
16. Finale B
17. Love Heals (Bonus Track)

Title: Let Them Talk (2011)
Artist: Hugh Laurie
Genre: New Orleans Blues

Review by Matty Poon

This is plenty amazing, not only because of the many tracks that I recognize, but the fact that the artist is a pretty recognizable television sensation, and he sounds AMAZING. I actually found out Mr. Laurie's album while ordering my usual at Starbucks. I've gotten into the habit of always picking up one of the iTunes free track cards and that's where I found out!

Let Them Talk is a must listen to all you people who are skeptical about Mr. Laurie's abilities as a singer. He's REALLY good, and it really stunned me just how well he handled himself in front of the microphone, and not only that, Mr. Laurie also jammed on the keys and guitar for this album! It's also good to note (for all you jazz fans and pop music junkies out there) that there are some major names in the music industry that's come on board with this production, like Sir Tom Jones, Irma Thomas, and Dr. John to name a few.

I'm actually quite fond of the entire album as a whole - I listen to it while on the bus to and from school, and while I study – so picking out a few choice tracks will be hard, but I'll try to manage. My all time favourite of the entire album would have to be Let Them Talk. Mr. Laurie here really brings out a soulfulness to his voice that really accentuates the words he sings. The lyrics talk of a love so true that even gossip and human disapproval wouldn't shake its foundations. I think I might sing this at a wedding someday!

St. James Infirmary is another that everyone should have a listen to. Made famous by Louis Armstrong, the piece starts off with a rather long, but awesome, instrumental prelude. Serving as the first track to the CD, I think it works well as it helps to accommodate both Hugh Laurie as the instrumentalist and Hugh Laurie as the vocalist. If you're a 12-bar blues fan, have a listen to You Don't Know My Mind and Six Cold Feet. I really enjoyed You Don't Know My Mind because there's this quirky metric twist to it, and it get me all nerded up!

Lastly, some fun tracks! They're Red Hot and Swanee River are great for all you dancing fiends. Both are upbeat, and fast, although upon listening to them, I wished they were a tad bit longer. Oh well, you can't have everything you want.

So have a listen, I promise you won't be disappointed, and will probably be amazed. Sometimes, people are just multi-talented, and Mr. Laurie has proven himself to be part of that 'upper' echelon of super talent.

Oh, listen to It Ain't Necessarily So! Go! Now!

Visit Hugh Laurie at:
hughlaurieblues.com

Title: Small Town Stories EP (2011)
Artist: Carli and Julie Kennedy
Genre: Country, Folk Rock

Review by Matty Poon

"Soakin' up the moments and livin' for the Friday nights!"

I'm already humming and singing their music! Carli and Julie's new EP Small Town Stories is packed with 5 new tracks of pure awesome! To be honest, this is probably the first time I've listened to their music (my bad for being so busy and being a hermit and not coming out to gigs eh…), but I must say they've opened my mind up to music of this genre!

Country Life is by far my favourite track on this EP. It's catchy, upbeat, and just all around feel-good! And unlike a lot of the dance music you get to hear during the summer, the music is clear and there is no hint of needless accompaniment lines or (thank god) repetitive rhythmic RnB lines like all the pop stuff I've been swimming in. My next track has got to be Small Town Stories! For me, this has made it onto my quiet time playlist while I wind down from the day. And whenever I listen to the lyrics it helps me to remember when I was younger and all the memories I've accumulated in my short 24 years of life. And I can't help but agree with the lyrics, and isn't that what makes music we listen to awesome when they make your reminisce and feel good?

The other three tracks? Well I hope that I've enticed you enough with my favourites that you'll go out and purchase the EP for yourselves! It's on iTunes so please support Carli and Julie Kennedy. This is a must-listen to! I guarantee it'll make you feel warm and cozy inside!

Visit Carli & Julie Kennedy at:
cjkennedy.com

Title: Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)
Artist: Bon Iver
Genre: Indie Folk

Review by Michelle Odorico

While many sat waiting for bon iver's second album, expecting more lonely songs of lost love and cold wild despair, it was hard to imagine how Justin Vernon and his talented band could top the folk/ indie landmark "for emma, forever ago". With this in mind, it seems the only way he could have done this was to expand his musical horizons beyond his acoustic guitar and haunting falsetto.

By enlisting a large number of talented musicians (including polaris prize nominated Colin Stetson) Vernon has fleshed out a solid album of well-crafted songs. While being edgy in that Vernon's voice doesn't always sound 'right' but maintaining beautiful sonic landscapes to accompany his cryptic lyrics, a certain originality and timelesness becomes present.

Songs like 'Holocene' and opener 'Perth' strike the heart immediately with simple guitar lines and songs like 'Michicant' seem to tap into Vernon's Chris Martin/Mark Fosteresque vocal influences (even if they aren't his influences). The closing track 'Beth/Rest' taps into a Bruce Hornsby state of mind with keyboards that ooze 80's but are ultimately made beautiful by lyrics and timing. Overall, Bon Iver has created a fantastic album of incredible songs, that really can't be classified into any genre other than "Good Music". Definitely check it out.

Visit Bon Iver at:
boniver.org

Title: Hands All Over (2010, re-released 2011)
Artist: Maroon 5
Genre: Pop Rock, Fun Rock

Review by Matty Poon

I'm a huge fan of Maroon 5 since my Wong Fu Productions days (if you don't know what I'm referencing to maybe you should Google it). So when I heard they were re-releasing their Hands All Over album to include their summer song that featured Christina Aguilera, I went on iTunes and bought it right away! By the way, this will have been my very first iTunes store purchase, and I must say, awesome first purchase!

But back to Maroon 5 and Xtina. Suffice it to say I was a huge fan of "Moves Like Jagger." It is upbeat, groovy and extremely catchy! I mean who doesn't like a melody that's whistled in a song? It just gets stuck into your head. And on top of that Christina Aguilera's powerful alto voice? Absolute awesome dudes! Whoever decided to re-release the album with this track was a pure genius; I bought the CD after the first listen on the radio!

But if you're a die-hard fan of Maroon 5's classic sound, fear not they have a couple of tracks on this CD that will satisfy you! "Get Back In My Life" is a track you wanna put on repeat. Reminds me of the good old tracks from their Songs About Jane CD back in 2002 but with a bit more rock to it. The main motive for this song is kinda exotic, which makes the overall feel kinda funky and fun.

One last track to top off your dance playlist definitely has to be "Give A Little More." I mean I'd pump it while driving my car, windows down, head bobbing. Just saying. It's also a fun track, and I really love the bass line of the song. I just can't stop bobbing my head!

So obviously if Musetta Stone CD reviews had a rating system, I'd give this a 5/5 for sure! While you're exploring the album, also have a listen to "Hands All Over" and their live cover of Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You." Oh and since you've obviously bought the deluxe edition like I did, listen to the bonus track "The Air That I Breathe."

Visit Maroon 5 at:
www.maroon5.com

Title: Lightbox (2009)
Artist: Spiro
Genre: Folk, Celtic, Acoustic, Instrumental

Review by Amanda Chan

When I first slipped this CD into my laptop, I honestly didn't know what to expect. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Spiro is, for all intents and purposes, a string quartet, but with rather unconventional instrumentation. They have been described as having a "contemporary English acoustic sound" and their popularity is rising in their hometown of Bristol, as well as over the Internet.

Spiro consists of four members who all share the same passion for music and English tunes. Jane Harbour alternates between the violin and viola, Jason Sparkes takes command of the piano accordion, Alex Vann plays the mandolin and Jon Hunt switches between the acoustic guitar and cello. The folk- friendly instruments gives the impression of laid-back, easy listening music, but it soon becomes clear that it would be difficult to compare to this group.

Deceivingly folkish, the music alternates between frantic energy and comforting easiness akin to Philip Glass or Steve Riech. The overall sound is different but the concepts aren't. The music is actually quite minimalistic and organized to a tee. The arrangements are surprisingly intricate and while the lines are actually quite repetitive, the music is layered in a fashion that does not give this away. In all actuality, there is an amazing grace to the music, regardless of tempo.

Mr. Keys is a favorite of mine just because it makes me want to sit up straight and tap my feet along with the beat. To me, it sounds like the epitome of folk music with a consistent bass line and a simple melody passing between the violin and piano accordion. There is an element of frenzy as the music builds before it ends is a bittersweet finish. In contrast to this piece, Altrincham Round is also a favorite. It is this piece that really showcases their interest in old English tunes. More of a ballad, Altrincham Round is invites the listener to waltz rather than have a jig. The light-hearted tune flow into lush harmonies and allow the audience a peek into the complex simplicity of the music.

In short, I love this album and would highly recommend to anybody who just loves music and wants to hear something new.

Visit Spiro at:
www.spiromusic.com

Title: Jukebox (2008)
Artist: Cat Power
Genre: Indie Rock

Review by Christy Wu

Cat Power, born Charlyn Marie Marshall, once said in an interview that her turbulent childhood of moving back and forth between her parents and grandparents helped her prepare for a life performing on the road. She certainly does seem destined to perform though—her unique voice shines on stage more than it comes through in a studio recorded album. Even as an adult, her constant struggles with relationships, alcohol and phychotic breakdowns always kept her life chaotic but all the constant fight makes her singing that much more convincing and enticing.

Jukebox is the eighth album by Cat Power and is composed almost entirely of cover songs. The slight echo in her voice makes it sound more like a live performance than a studio recording which complements her voice more. Every track on this album is very relaxed and laid back, no matter the genre of the song. Her rendition of Patsy Cline's "She's Got You" is very touching and really tugs at one's heart strings—you can almost her the heartache in her voice as she's singing. My favorite song on the album though is her rendition of the classic "New York", which is the most upbeat song in the entire album, and for me was a welcome change in mood. She took a song sung by great artists like Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra and made it entirely her own to the point that it's almost unrecognizable as the popular classic.

Even though Cat Power has the power to captivate and silence a noisy club with her singing when performing live, her magic doesn't come through that well on this album. With that said, I still think she did a beautiful job with each of the songs and I think it makes the perfect background music for a lazy afternoon.

Visit Cat Power at:
www.myspace.com/catpower
http://catpowerjukebox.com/site/

Title: Gold Rush (2011)
Artist: I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business
Genre: Rock/Pop

Review by Keith Chan

I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business is Ace Ender's (lead singer and guitarist of the band, The Early November) side project. This is a band that I have lost track of for a while, but realized there has been a couple of new CD's ever since his self-titled CD that was released in 2004. When I saw their new CD, "Gold Rush" was out, I was really excited to hear what the band sounded like and how much they have progressed.

The first track, "Gold Rush" starts off with a shaker and then a really clean guitar and bass drum with tambourine joins in. Once the first few notes were played I was immediately drawn towards the music. As Ace Enders starts singing, I noticed the music was a lot more "pop" sounding, and for once I didn't mind it. It goes into the next track with a more upbeat tempo where you can't help it but to bob your head to the beat of the music. The third song, "Connected" starts off with a reverse sounding guitar which makes a really cool effect. As you keep listening, you notice that the reverse guitar is a loop and it plays throughout the whole song. It's a really nice blend with the rest of the instruments.

"Complications" has a little bit of a surfer sound to it – sort of like a Jack Johnson vibe which is really enjoyable. Listening to the first few songs already made me realize how diverse Ace is when it comes to writing music. The style is similar throughout the first couple of songs, but there are a lot of little differences which makes it really enjoyable to listen to. This style of music is definitely a lot different from what I'm used to hearing from this band, but it's great to see bands progress and change their sound in a good way.

As you get past the halfway mark of the album, you start to think to yourself, "I think I've heard this before". But this didn't stop me from continuing because I was curious to see if Ace was going to have any "heavier" sounding songs. The eighth track, "Gods" starts off with an overdriven guitar. I thought this would be "the song", but I was wrong, he maintained the pop feel for this song as well. The next track, "Train Stop" starts off with a real mellow feel to it with some looped guitar effects, and it continues through out the song. Not a lot happens instrumentally, but Ace's voice changes in dynamics a lot which is the core to this song which is definitely really interesting. As the song comes to an end, I realized I just got lost in the music and it was the end of the CD. I had no choice but to start from the beginning again.

The second time through, I fell even more in love with the CD. I started noticing all the details such as how there's no bass guitar in the CD, a lot of loops were used, a lot of different layers of instruments, everything complements each other really nicely, and the list goes on and on. Ace's creativity never ceases to amazing me – that is why this album has been on constant repeat for the last week.

Visit I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business at:
www.myspace.com/icanmakeamesslikenobodysbusiness

Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame OST(1996)
Artist: Alan Menken et al.
Genre: Soundtrack

Review by Matty Poon

Some of you may know my fascination with Disney, and some of you may know my need to collect soundtracks. Well, I finally get to combine two of my favourite things in music into this CD Review! Due to the upcoming Disney-themed concert my choir in Victoria will be planning for August, I've been busy working on arrangements on a wide selection of Disney classics. While browsing through potential songs for the choir to sing I stumble upon The Hunchback of Notre Dame and instantly fell in love with the music again.

For the people that don't know, Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame is based off a novel, and the music that accompanies this featured film? AMAZING! I have to say that this soundtrack dwarves my love for the Lion King but in a different way; Here we see Alan Menken (Disney composer GOD) combine his own tastes and styles with Classical choral and symphonic writing. The result is a CD full of Disney quirks yet beautifully Classical in style and orchestration. To make things even more exciting he even uses Liturgical text! I AM IN LOVE!

My personal favourite track of the OST (Official SoundTrack) is The Bells of Notre Dame. The song itself is a narration of the some of the characters you will meet in the movie, and the many themes you hear are re-used in many of the songs later on. For example, In Heaven's Light / Hellfire, Menken takes the Notre Dame theme from the Bells of Notre Dame and twists it into an evil Hellfire toll for the dead. Awesome? TOTALLY! One last track you should really invest some time into is God Help The Outcasts. I'm not a fan of the Bette Midler version, but the song is beautiful in its depiction for the need to love the lost and the less fortunate.

Though a much darker version of Disney's usual bright and cheerful self, the Hunchback of Notre Dame has reignited my interest in Disney once more, and this soundtrack is magnificent! A must listen!

Visit Walt Disney at:
www.disney.go.com

Visit Alan Menken at:
www.alanmenken.info

Title: The Falcon Lake Incident(2010)
Artist: Jum Bryson and the Weakerthans
Genre: Folk, Indie Rock

Review by Keith Chan

The Falcon Lake Incident is Jim Bryson's fourth studio album. This time he teamed up with Canadian indie rock band, The Weakerthans. They traveled to a cottage on Falcon Lake, Manitoba and recorded this CD. Hence the name of the album. The band was touring for their album release, and I had the privilege to go see them live even though I had no idea what to expect from them. I really enjoy The Weakerthans, so I thought it'd be a great concert to check out. After being really impressed by their music, I went and picked up a CD.

The album starts off with "Raised All Wrong" - a really simple and short song that starts off with just an acoustic guitar. Jim takes the melody and John K Samson (lead singer of the Weakerthans) sings harmonies – a very nice blend in voices. A piano joins in along with some other background noise. The song ends with a feeding back guitar, and this is where the music picks up and gets going. The album gets its loudest and most upbeat on the fourth track, "Wild Folk". It just feels like one of those songs that can just keep going on and on because it'll keep you moving. The instrumentations, melodies, and rhythms are solid. The next track starts slowing down the pace. It sounds like a standard song – nothing too complicated yet really effective. A trumpet is also introduced midway through the song which adds a really nice touch to the song. The CD slows down even more on "Freeways In The Frontyard". It starts off with just an electric guitar, bass, and a vocal with a few background noises too. It's later joined by a quiet use of brushes on the snare drum, harmonies by Jill Barber, and a slide guitar. Sooner or later, there are a lot of layers of music, and they don't get in the way of each other. The rest of the CD picks up a little bit more until you hit the last track, "Anything And All". It's a typical end-of-the-CD song, but it works really well as it starts off really simple, and as it progresses, more instruments join in one after another until you get a chaotic sound of instruments all going at the same time, then... The CD is over.

This is definitely a solid CD by Jim Bryson. It's even better that The Weakerthans backed him up on this project which worked really well. There are definitely hints of The Weakerthans with an added Jim Bryson touch to it. This is a great CD to drive to and it could be put on repeat for a really long time and still not get sick of it.

Visit Jim Bryson at:
www.jimbryson.org

Visit the Weakerthans at:
www.theweakerthans.org