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He has scored nine #1 hits, sold 50 million albums worldwide, won a pair of Grammy Awards and has even collaborated with Bob Dylan. Yet life has not always been easy for Michael Bolton. The American musician stumbled when he began his musical life as vocalist Michael Bolotin and then became lead singer for a heavy-metal band. His fortunes improved considerably when he changed his name and relaunched his career in 1983 with a succession of popular power ballads and r&b covers.     Still, the heartthrob became what Rolling Stone magazine called “one of the most reviled figures in mainstream pop” for his tendency to remake classic soul songs by beloved artists like Otis Redding and Percy Sledge...

Like Arcade Fire, the Besnard Lakes are a Montreal band with a husband and wife duo that favors epic songs. But that is where the similarity ends. While Arcade Fire delivers uplifting chamber pop, the Besnard’s Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas have mostly darker designs, contrasting sunny Beach Boy harmonies with moody progressive-rock atmospherics, especially on the shimmering “Albatross” and the apocalyptic “And This is What We Call Progress.” Still, this is an ambitious and, ultimately, engaging effort.

With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, the latest from Ireland’s Grammy-winning musical ambassadors is a timely, if unusual, treat. Working with guests like Linda Ronstadt, Liam Neeson and Lila Downs, Paddy Moloney and his fellow Chieftains explore the little-known story of Irish soldiers who fought and died for Mexico in the Mexican-American War, mixing music from both cultures. It’s a surprisingly sweet synthesis, as boleros and rancheras blend almost seamlessly with Irish air and reels.

Steven Page has always been blessed with what he calls a “Big Voice.” Before he formed Barenaked Ladies with classmate Ed Robertson, the Toronto native was a shy youngster who found that singing enabled him to come out of his shell. After belting it out in choirs and at summer music camps, Steven’s voice became one of the signature sounds of Canadian pop, as the Ladies conquered the music world.     Steven’s story took on more grown-up dimensions in recent years with his separation from his wife, arrest for drug possession and subsequent split with his group. The break has proven fortuitous. Says Steven: “Liberated from the self-imposed image of Canada’s Good Time Band, I was able to explore...

When it deals with compelling human stories, folk music can be as thrilling as any genre. English sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank offer a highly vibrant version, lending their gorgeous harmonies to traditional tales of doomed lovers (“Annachie Gordon”) and sailors lost at sea (“Sad February”). Full of brass and strings, the album is rich in highlights, including “The Testimony of Patience Kershaw,” the heartbreaking story of a 17-year-old female mineworker based on evidence given to a royal commission in 1842.

Like his sister Jill, with whom he’s performed on their “Sibling Revelry” tour, Matthew is a Canadian artist capable of crafting sweet melodies and memorable lyrics. Matthew’s fourth full-length album delivers such gentle gems as the meditative “Revolution of the Sun” and the reflective “While Away,” featuring Jill’s willowy vocals. But there are plenty of robust numbers, including the Tom Petty-ish “Hawks on the Highway” and “I Think You’re Gonna Feel My Love,” proving Matthew also knows how to rock.

Few pop stars have been as creative—or forward-thinking. Since leaving British prog-rockers Genesis, Peter Gabriel has consistently pushed pop’s boundaries with inventive songs, groundbreaking videos and an enthusiastic embrace of world music. He has also become a social anthropologist, exploring the musical instincts of African apes, been an active campaigner for human rights and launched an international think-tank to promote peaceful solutions to global conflicts. For his various humanitarian efforts, Peter was made a Nobel Man of Peace in 2006.     Now the singer, whose playfully funky song “Sledgehammer” topped the charts more than 20 years ago, has returned with a typica...

Long before there was politically conscious rap, poetry slams or acid jazz, this pioneer was bravely laying the foundation for those genres with tracks like his 1981 classic “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” Now 60, Gil has fallen on hard times and spent more of the past 16 years behind bars (for drug possession) than making music. But this collection of spoken verse from his prison diaries, stirring gospel and dark, brilliant blues (“New York is Killing Me”) marks the triumphant return of a true musical legend.  

Her sultry music was once the soundtrack for countless dinner parties. Mixing pop accessibility with jazz sophistication, Sade the singer and the band that bears her name crafted an exquisite sound that sold 50 million albums and won Grammy Awards in 1985 and in each of the next two decades. From Diamond Life and Stronger than Pride to Lovers Rock, Sade’s music remained cool, sensual and, above all, mellow. The diamond life began when the Nigerian fashion student born Helen Folasade Adu was recruited by musician friends in London to become their vocalist. Hits like “Cool Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo” soon followed and Sade proved to be a cool operator herself, negotiating a lucrative pe...

The Welsh mezzo-soprano became a classical star with her mix of arias, hymns and pop songs. Now, with Canadian producer David Foster, who worked the same magic for Josh Groban, Katherine has her sights set on pop stardom. Her seventh album features several surefire hits, including “I Believe,” an emotional duet with Andrea Bocelli, and a gorgeous cover of Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.” But she misfires with a glossy rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry,” a song better suited to rootsier interpretations. February