Music/Album Reviews

Genre: Art rock
Release:  Now
Sound: Electro beats powering big, bold vocals
If you like: Estero, Bjork, Madonna
Best track: I Get High (ft. Nina Hagan)
Rating: NNNNN (out of 5)
Why you should listen: Iskwē takes a major leap, building on the promise that has seen her ethereal sound Polaris longlisted and JUNO nominated. “nina” translates to “me” in Cree, (Iskwē has Cree-Metis heritage) so self-reflection is the theme as she shifts effortlessly from electro-powered dance tracks to brooding, moody personal contemplations with a feature from ’80s legend Nina Hagen. Should be Iskwē’s breakout album, a combination of hits and heart. –Michael Hollett

Genre: Canadiana
Release:  Now
Sound: Maple syrup-soaked roots
If you like: Skydiggers, Sadies, Blue Rodeo
Best track: Out Of Time
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)
Why you should listen: Twenty years in this once Windsor-based trio – there is no Elliott – deliver haunting, heartfelt roots music that always sounds fresh while rooted in a traditional sound. The aptly named Country has plenty of twang on the tracks, on guitar and vocals, sometimes flirting with bluegrass but ultimately the lonely highways here lead north and not across Route 66. The poetry in these songs are the windswept words that catch on tree branches and fence posts while being blown along wide open Canadian spaces. There’s a great cover of the Rolling Stones’ Out of Time too. –MH

Genre: R&B/Soul
Release: Now
Sound: Sultry R&B meets soul funk and disco
If you like: Erykah Badu, Daniel Caesar, Steve Lacy
Best track: Chante’s Groove (ft. Zenesoul)
Rating: NNNN
Why you should listen: Toronto’s own THEHONESTGUY’s (Mubarak Adeyemi) three-track EP brings out inner the seductive and charming side of Sade and Erykah Badu to a ’70s funk-soul production that combines new jack swing and neo-soul. Velvet Soul: Side A is the perfect mixtape to send that special someone out to a restaurant or for a cosy night staying at home. –Sanjeev Wignarajah    

Genre: Rap
Release: Now
Sound: Sharp lyrics meet braggadocious hype rap made for sports highlights or montages
If you like: The Notorious B.I.G., Joey Bada$$, Aesop Rock
Best track: Flight or Fight (Playtime’s Over)
Rating: NNNN
Why you should listen: Born and raised in Toronto’s west end, Da Crook gives us a sophomore record that may sound like a rapper entering a battle with another rapper. Instead, Da Crook’s storytelling follows through with precise wordplay track by track as he sheds light on personal demons, such as losing friends and rising to his laurels. Who Declares War? combines the grimy productions and finesse of wordplay into an underdog story for the rap scene. –SW