Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

This Vancouver chamber pop quartet favors tiny perfect ditties that mix influences ranging from The Beach Boys to Yo La Tengo. Vocal harmonies float above piano, trumpet, bass clarinet, zither and drum machine on beguiling tracks like “”Covered Wagons,” “Leave Me with the Boy” and the curious “Somebody Get Me Annette.” With their obvious classical training, the group—led by Nick Krgovich and Larissa Loyva—might appear to be slumming. But ultimately, P:ano’s passion for pop rings true. Apr. 5

Canada’s queen of unvarnished emotion, Arden generally writes sad, weighty songs—in sharp contrast to her wry, offstage wit. While there’s still plenty of melancholy on her latest album, Arden and collaborator Russell Broom have mostly aimed for a lighter, more upbeat approach. “Where No One Knows Me” is an escapist road song, while “Rock This Girl” is a sexy invitation for lover to give her “everything I desire.” Bonus track: a stunning live duet with Sarah McLachlan on Arden’s “I Would Die for You.” Apr. 5   

Now married (to actress Marissa Ribisi) and with his first child, Beck sounds suitably grown up on his eclectic eighth album. There’s contentment on tracks like the Brazilian-flavored “Missing” and the piano-laced “Broken Drum.” And lush, playful orchestrations suggest a happiness that was absent on 2002’s moody Sea Change. Ultimately, the celebratory vibe of hip-hop tracks like “Hell Yes” and the Latino-tinged “Qué Onda Guero,” a tribute to Beck’s roots in east Los Angeles, proves totally contagious. Mar. 29