Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Jewel made her stunning debut with Pieces of You, a collection of starkly honest folk songs. A lot of has transpired for the Alaskan native in the 20 years since, including pop stardom, a marriage, a son, a divorce and brief forays into country and children’s music. Now the 41-year-old multiple Grammy nominee has returned to her folk roots with an album that neatly bookends her best-selling debut. The recording, which features brand new songs and previously unrecorded live favourites, lays bare the emotions of the woman who once sang “Who Will Save Your Soul.” Some of it is shockingly candid, especially the anguished “Love Used to Be,” the frightening “His Pleasure is My Pain” and the howlin...

Anyone who’s seen the video for Alessia Cara’s song “Here” (and over five million people have) know that this 19-year-old from Brampton, Ont. is destined for big things. The song, one of five featured on her debut Four Pink Walls, shows Cara to be a wise-beyond-her-years talent. The lyrics suggest a wallflower at a house party, but it becomes clear she’s nobody’s fool, just not interested in superficial socializing. Her maturity is evident on “Seventeen,” about growing up too fast. When Cara sings about falling in love, “I’m Yours,” it’s no simple surrender; she takes her boyfriend to task for “melting this heart of iron.” Closer vocally to Lorde than Ariana Grande and with a smooth, hip-hop...

Abel Tesfaye, better known as the Weeknd, is ready for his close up. The 25-year-old Torontonian, who was raised by his single Ethiopian-Canadian mother, first came to wide attention when Drake featured him on key tracks for his Take Care album. The alt-r&b singer then landed a hit song, “Earned It,” on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. Recently, the Weeknd’s star went supernova, thanks to his smash “Can’t Feel My Face” becoming the undisputed song of the summer. Now Tesfaye has a new album that includes those songs plus another dozen deliciously moody and melodic numbers, including the suitably dark “Dark Times” with Ed Sheeran and the woozy “Prisoner” featuring Lana Del Rey. Along w...