Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Canada’s Hip has achieved undeniable greatness, graduating from bar band to stadium act with consistently strong, uncompromising albums. But throughout Hip history the American charts have always eluded them. That may change with “In View,” the buoyant first single from the band’s 11th album, produced by Rob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi). Bright and accessible, it’s the closest the Hip has ever come to pop music. Also cool are excursions into one-drop reggae (“The Kids Don’t Get It”) and giddy travelogue (“Fly”).

Is ancient music back in vogue? Richard Thompson recently covered a 13th-century English ballad, and joined Bono, Sting and others singing a collection of old sea chanteys. Here, der Stingle picks up the lute and tackles the work of John Dowland, who was court lutenist to James I in the early 17th century. Apparently, Dowland’s “Flow, my tears” and “In darkness let me dwell” were pop songs back in the day and Sting’s passion for them is palpable. What next? Mesopotamian hip hop? Medieval country music?

Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy recently released his third solo CD. Not to be outdone, the darker half of the band’s songwriting team responds with his third. Featuring support from Keelor’s usual suspects, including Sarah McLachlan and members of The Sadies (with whom he performs in the psych-country group The Unintended), it’s a bittersweet affair, with pretty ballads like “Miss You” and ominous numbers like “Prisoner.” Although he lacks Cuddy’s melodic gifts, Keelor’s moody songs run much deeper.