CD reviews

Luke Doucet

Broken (and other rogue states)

Six shooter

If "Broken" is any indication, Toronto singer/songwriter LukeDoucet has tapped a well of musical inspiration that won't quit. Infact, there are so many strong ideas on this record it's downrightstunning. Every track offers an ear-grabbing snapshot that soundscompletely fresh - as if you were hearing these rock-pop-chamberideas for the first time. And, if his influences are a little (OK, alot) disparate, Doucet's rich voice ties everything together quiteneatly.

His songs - even the solo "Wallow" - are big and full, and loadedwith just enough oddball emotion and jagged edges to hold yourinterest from start to finish. If you're a fan of prolific Australiansongsmith Paul Kelly, "Broken One" mines that expansive territorywith close harmonies and melodic guitar lines; "Emily, Please"switches gears to a quirky, tremoloed, spaghetti western-samba - acompletely wicked concoction that adds the ethereal Southwest feel ofCalexico. "Lucky Strikes" and "Free" add a jaunty Beatlesque/Jellyfish feel to the set and, just when you thought you'd heardeverything he had to offer, "It's Not The Liquor I Miss" and "No LoveTo Be Made Here Now" unfurl "big production" numbers replete with astring quartet and a bari sax solo. In true Canadian spirit, Doucettapped an impressive roster of talent: the tracks were recorded at 12different studios, with 13 engineers and 22 musicians. Highlyrecommended. (www.sixshooterrecords.com).

MICHAEL LIPTON

Various Artists

35 Songs, 35 Years

Alligator

Beginning in 1971 with the release of Hound Dog Taylor and theHouserocker's debut, Bruce Iglauer's Alligator label has been doingits part to keep one of America's most unique musical genre's alive.Featuring a track from the debut of each featured artist, this two-disc set presents a musical timeline by powerhouse blues artists.

Although the tracks don't necessarily catch the artists at theirpeak, the lineup represents a diverse cross section of blues stylesand soloists. Disc one opens with Hound Dog Taylor's gritty "She'sGone" and continues with Albert Collins' stinging "Honey Hush,"Professor Longhair, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Lonnie Mack, Brown, RoyBuchannan, Lonnie Mack, James Cotton and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.Disc two begins with a track from boogie-woogie, blues belter KatieWebster's 1988 release and rummages through a catalog that includesnewer, crowd-pleasing artists like Carey Bell, Corey Harris, MichaelBurks, Marcia Ball, C.J. Chenier, the Holmes Brothers, and ShemekiaCopeland. (www.alligator.com).