Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

This 24-year-old Malibu native was born with a platinum spoon in her mouth: her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced Fleetwood Mac’s best-selling Rumours and Tusk albums and Colbie grew up surrounded by such iconic musicians. But Colbie’s more than a spoiled industry brat. Her first album, Coco, was the work of a fresh talent with bubbly, original songs. Colbie’s sophomore is a more polished pop affair, with heart-on-the-sleeve confessionals like “Realize,” “Fearless” and the romantic surrender of “Fallin’ for You.” August 2009

Her voice is familiar due to the presence of “Hide and Seek” on bandwidths and airwaves everywhere, most notably on TV’s The OC and YouTube, with more than seven million views. While there’s nothing as immediately distinctive as that electro-yodeling 2005 single, the British singer’s third solo album does offer a feast of aural delights, especially on the pulsing “First Train Home,” the breathy “Tidal” and the anthemic “Earth,” in which Imogen’s voice provides a sweet melody and some wildly compelling rhythms. August 2009

Whitney Houston makes a triumphant return with I Look to You, an album of uptempo dance tracks and confessional ballads that should put the once buoyant vocalist back on top where she belongs. This is a major comeback—make no mistake. It’s been a long time since the daughter of renowned gospel and soul singer Cissy Houston (and cousin of Dionne Warwick) topped the charts with her infectious brand of pop and r&b. Her life had descended into tabloid hell, plagued by drug addiction and her troubled marriage to singer Bobby Brown. Whitney, now 46, has a lot to live up to. Since her 1985 self-titled debut, the New Jersey native has built an unparalleled career, selling more than 170 million album...

This Oklahoma native, once an unassuming country artist, is now an unstoppable brand, with TV, Broadway and film credits, books and even her own line of clothing, footwear and bed and bath specialty products. Exuding her usual image of a strong, self-made woman, Reba’s 31st album builds on her brand, with songs that mix modern, middle-aged female themes with a fresh country-pop sound. From the playful swing of “I’ll Have What She’s Having” to the defiant “She’s Turning 50 Today,” Reba pulls no punches. September 2009

Canada’s outrageously talented artist returns with a CD/DVD package drawn from his 2007 sold-out performance at the Pabst Theatre. The title’s three exclamation points prove that Rufus has lost none of his ironic edge and that exuberance is on full display in live renditions of mostly songs from his Release the Stars album. The DVD includes earlier Rufus classics and captures all his theatricality, from high-heeled shoes, striped suits, brooches, lederhosen and the fluffy white bathrobes his fans have come to love. September 2009

Jann Arden is one funny lady, capable of cracking up audiences with topics ranging from bra size to spirituality. Jann has lent her comedic talents to best-selling books, speaking engagements and appearances at the Just for Laughs festival. In fact, her humor has at times threatened to overshadow her gifts as a serious and sensitive singer-songwriter—one of the best that Canada has produced. By her own admission, Jann was a late-comer to a career in music. After spending most of the 1980s busking and playing in bars, the Calgary native got her big break on the eve of turning 30, when she was signed by Universal Music and her debut album, Time for Mercy, was acclaimed for its confessional can...

Just 22, Lights (born Valerie Poxleitner in Timmins, Ont. to missionary parents) is a wunderkind. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist who writes, records and co-produces all of her music, she won the New Artist of the Year at the 2009 Junos with just a six-song EP under her belt. Now the electro-pop star, managed by CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi, displays an adventurous spirit on her full-length debut, with thoughtful songs like “Saviour” and a sweet, otherworldly sound she calls “soft, but not pussy-soft, you know?” October 2009

England’s flamboyant pop divo shot to fame in 2007 with Life in Cartoon Motion, his coming-of-age themed debut which sold five million copies worldwide. Mika, now 23, calls this his “adolescent” followup, covering his late teens with songs like the shouty anthem “We Are Golden.” There’s a giddy, irrepressible energy to tracks like the cabaret-ish “Dr. John” and the disco-like “Blame It on the Girls.” But, too often, Mika sinks under the weight of his penchant for campy Elton John/Freddie Mercury-style bombast. October 2009

The cover depicts her as a 21st century Marilyn Monroe. Madonna’s legend is still evolving, but this 2-CD set—with 36 hits spanning three decades—makes a strong case for her iconic status. From early classics like “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl” to such recent dancefloor favorites as “Music” and “4 Minutes,” the collection proves Madonna’s knack for catchy pop and includes two new numbers: the Europop title track and “Revolver,” a thumping duet with raspy rapper Lil Wayne that features a sexy twist. October 2009

Despite the title of her latest album, there’s nothing plain about Chantal Kreviazuk. A stunning brunette, in-demand songwriter, active mother to three boys with her rock-star husband Raine Maida, with homes in Los Angeles and Toronto, Chantal, in many ways, has it all. So why call her new album Plain Jane? “It’s very hard for me to put on,” she says, of her image as half of Canadian rock’s most glamorous power couple. “I think I’m incredibly boring.” We’re not convinced, Chantal. The Winnipeg-born artist has been wowing audiences ever since making her recording debut in 1996 with Under These Rocks. Since then, the classically trained pianist has sold millions of albums and twice won Juno Aw...