Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Those familiar with Nick Cave will recognize the guttersnipe sermons and nasty noisefests as reminiscent of the Birthday Party. Here, working with a few Bad Seeds, Australia’s punk poet delivers a raw slice of garage rock, full of reverb, feedback and bizarre lyrical extemporizing. “Get it On” features Cave threatening to evict the white mice, black dogs and baboons from the basement, while “No Pussy Blues” is a hilarious rant about a middle-aged guy who’s horny and hard up. Like Leonard Cohen on acid. Apr. 10    

Their fans include Thom Yorke, Robert Plant and Carlos Santana and it’s easy to see why. These nomadic tribesmen from the Sahara desert create dusty, windswept sounds that are haunting and wildly adventurous. The title of the group’s third album translates as “Water is Life.” And tracks like the trance song “Awa Didjen,” the wailing “Assouf” and the anthemic “Matadjem Yinmixan” have stirring qualities that are as life-affirming as clean water or fresh air. Breathe this in, drink deeply and feel its intoxicating effects. Mar. 27

The Swimmers’ latest was partly recorded on the Toronto Islands. Tony Dekker and company traveled there by boat, the Ongiara, thus giving the album its name. Some songs are inspired by the Canadian outdoors, including the Neil Young-style “Your Rocky Spine” and the fiddle-fuelled “Put There by the Land.” Elsewhere, a hushed beauty descends over the album, assisted by the guest contributions of Sarah Harmer, Serena Ryder, Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett and Blue Rodeo’s Bob Egan. Acoustic magic.Mar. 27