Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Björk’s last album, Medulla, was a stunning soundscape of voices. Here, Iceland’s idiosyncratic pop queen delves deep into drumbeats, working with über-producer Timbaland, African collective Konono No. 1 and her own percussionist Chris Corsano on tracks like “Hope,” “Innocence” and the insanely catchy “Earth Intruders.” “Let’s stop all this religious bullshit,” explained Björk recently. “We’re all fucking animals, so let’s just make some universal tribal beat. We’re pagan. Let’s just march.” Who can argue?May 8

Huge in Britain, Travis seemed destined to break big in North America—until Coldplay arrived to steal its swoon-pop thunder. The Scottish quartet, led by singer Fran Healy, may do better with its fifth studio album. Produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead), with help from Brian Eno, Travis’ latest features such dreamy, melodic numbers as “Closer,” “Colder” and “My Eyes,” about Healy’s now-named son, that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Coldplay album. Even Chris Martin admits that Travis “invented” Coldplay. May 8

There was a time when Oh Susanna, a.k.a. Suzie Ungerleider, sang mostly murder ballads. Her songs still have an old-world luster, like intriguing sepia-toned photos, but now they embrace broader themes. Despite a couple of gunfight ditties, including a Bob Dylan cover, her fourth album is largely a collection of memorable songs about love and lust. And when she sings “Holy Roller,” with its parlor-like piano accompaniment, Ungerleider evokes Stephen Foster, from whose classic ballad she took her stage name.