Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Timing is everything in pop music—just ask Norah Jones, whose debut album, Come Away With Me, came out in early 2002 with a sound that seemed just right for those post-9/11 days: warm and soothing. The album went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide and swept the next Grammy Awards. The seismic success was overwhelming for the modest young Texan, who said at the time: “I felt like I went to someone else’s birthday party and ate all their cake.” To her credit, Norah—later revealed to be the daughter of legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar—avoided the hype and continued to make honest, low-key music that proved that sometimes less really is more. Her second album, Feels Like Home, moved...

Life imitates art with Irish rocker Glen Hansard and Czech pianist Marketá Irglová, who starred in the indie hit movie Once about two struggling musicians falling in love then became lovers themselves. They won an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly” and embarked on a musical career as a duo. Now no longer a couple, Glen and Marketá are mining the heartache of their breakup on the Swell Season’s second album, a gorgeous collection of confessional folk-pop gems like “In These Arms” and “Fantasy Man.” November 2009

There were many adjectives used to describe Susan Boyle’s looks when she first appeared on Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year—homely was perhaps the kindest. The self-described “never been kissed” spinster, who lived alone in a Scottish village with her cat, was an unlikely contestant on a reality TV show that puts a premium on pretty. But the shy, 48-year-old church singer defied expectations with her powerful rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables and became an instant feel-good story. Although she came in second in the contest, Susan swept the online popularity polls, becoming an internet sensation on YouTube—over 300 million hits—in a triumph of talent over beauty. Crit...

His breakup with Jennifer Aniston was obviously rough, judging from new songs like “War of My Life” and “Heartbreak Warfare,” which uses military metaphors over U2-like strafing guitars. And John pours his tortured heart into some cathartically edgy guitar licks on his raw interpretation of the blues standard “Crossroads.” But the best moments on his latest CD are lighter-hearted tunes like “Who Says,” a slice of stoner whimsy, or “Half of My Heart,” his humorously confessional duet with country star Taylor Swift. November 2009

It’s easy to interpret Rihanna’s new album as a stark confession about her experience as a domestic violence victim. The CD’s cover depicts her covering her right eye, as if she’s just been struck in the face. Any number of the songs could be about her ex-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, charged with felony assault and now serving a five-year probationary sentence. Rihanna’s cleverly titled Rated R stands as a raw, expletive-filled statement from the 21-year-old pop princess and one of the fall’s most hotly anticipated releases. Born in Barbados, Rihanna shot to fame in 2005 when her debut single “Pon de Replay” topped the charts. Since then, the Caribbean queen has scored a string of hits, in...

“I am a Superwoman,” Alicia Keys sang on 2007’s As I Am. The Grammy-winning artist intended the song as an inspirational anthem for women the world over, but she could just as easily have been singing about herself. Born to a black father and an Italian mother who divorced when she was two, Alicia was raised by her mum and grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. The singer-pianist’s success as a musical superstar is a classic rags-to-riches story. The classically trained beauty stunned the music world in 2001 with her gospel-fueled hit single “Fallin’.” Since then, Alicia has been consistently hailed as an innovator, mixing jazz, r&b, hip-hop and classical music: Fre...

Ever since she claimed to kiss a girl and like it, Katy has been sitting pretty atop the charts. Accused of being “lezploitational” and using “bi-curiosity” to sell records, the California native shrugged it off, knowing how many fans she’d won over with her pop hooks and Alanis-like delivery. This live CD/DVD offers two new songs and rearranged hits like “UR So Gay” and the ubiquitous “I Kissed a Girl,” performed in chiffon, glitter dust and Little Mermaid-style starfish hairclips for her audience of adoring teenage girls. December 2009  

Like any crossover star, Andrea Bocelli has his detractors, particularly opera purists who dismiss him for vocal deficiencies. But the Italian tenor is laughing all the way to the bank: his pop and light classical albums have sold more than 70 million copies, and the unassuming star easily ranks among the world’s most popular singers. Blind since the age of 12, Andrea grew up on a Tuscany farm and earned a Doctor of Law degree before pursuing music. After a stint performing in piano bars, he was discovered in the mid-1990s and launched his recording career. His breakthrough came in 1999 when his Sogno album, featuring his duet with Céline Dion of “The Prayer,” sold more than 10 million copie...

Beatles fans are spoiled for choice these days, with the release of the Remastered box set and Rock Band video game. This CD-DVD set, recorded in July, provides yet another tempting option. Featuring 33 songs spanning Beatles classics, Wings favorites and solo tracks, it captures Macca at his best—whether rocking out with guest Billy Joel on “I Saw Her Standing There” or crooning “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude.” When he pays tribute to John on “Here Today” and George on “Something,” there are few dry eyes in the house. December 2009

This southern U.S. singer has several connections with Norah Jones, including the same record label and a similar penchant for melancholy. But, as a vocalist, Kristina has greater range and power, closer to British contemporaries Duffy and Adele, with whom she shares a producer (Jimmy Hogarth) and a songwriter (Eg White). Kristina’s debut album is full of soul-drenched breakup/makeup songs like “Don’t Remember,” “It’s Over” and the title track, which echoes Adele’s Grammy-winning “Chasing Pavements.” November 2009