Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

What is it with dance-punk bands and exclamation points? There’s Detroit’s Thunderbirds Are Now!, Vancouver’s Fake Shark-Real Zombie! and, best of all, Brooklyn’s !!! These dance-crazed punks from Abbotsford, B.C. have more going for them than just perky punctuation. The band, fronted by singer Becky Ninkovic, mixes catchy B-52s-style beats with Clash-influenced politics on tracks like “Downtown Mayors Goodnight, Alley Kids Rule!” Oops, there’s another pesky exclamation point. Apr. 10

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 

He’s best known as the guitar-strumming deckhand singing Portuguese renditions of David Bowie songs in The Life Aquatic (he also starred in City of God). But Brazil’s Jorge (pronounced SAY-oo ZHOR-zhee) capitalized on the exposure with 2005’s Cru, a charming collection of original compositions. This performance, also available on DVD, was recorded the same year and features many of Cru’s sun-baked classics, including the joyful “Te Queria” and “Mania de Peitao,” a wry, cautionary tale about breast implants. Mar. 27      

The title fits: Gray stands nearly six foot tall in her stocking feet. But it could just as easily apply to what’s in store for the funky single mama. Gray’s latest gets songwriting and production assists from Justin Timberlake and Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, while the Peas’ Fergie joins her on “Glad You’re Here” and Natalie Cole lends her pipes to “Finally Made Me Happy,” one of several kiss-off songs to Gray’s ex-husband. Make no mistake, the towering soul diva with the Betty Boop voice is back—with a vengeance. Mar. 27

The dude from Down Under is back with his latest collection of jam-rock stoner epics. A dazzling, earth-hugging guitarist, Butler has toned down the politics this time around in favor of a more infectious groove. Songs like the hot banjo workout “Better Than,” the horny “Daniella” and the hyperactive “Funky Tonight” are indicative of his new agenda. At times, he tries a little too hard: “Groovin’ Slowly” is embarrassingly bad white-boy reggae. But mostly Butler, the dreadlocked wizard of Oz, manages to keep it pretty real. Mar. 27   

Forget the group’s name, this 29-member outfit actually hails from Jönköping and, along with Peter, Bjorn & John, is currently Sweden’s hottest pop export. Led by Emanuel Lundgren, the impossibly big band is comprised of web designers, nursery school teachers and music store assistants—Lundgren’s friends. Together, they sing joyous songs about treehouses and stamp collecting that can brighten the darkest of days. “We’ll aim for your hearts,” goes the chorus of “We’re from Barcelona.” It’s no empty promise. Mar. 27

She was sweet 16, from the English countryside, when she debuted in 2003 with a stunning voice that sounded African-American and mature well beyond her years. Still a teenager (she turns 20 this April), Stone proves that she’s here to stay. Her third album, produced by Raphael Saadiq, is a mix of original funk and Motown-style pop songs featuring duets with Lauryn Hill on “Music” and rapper Common on the mellifluous “Tell Me What We’re Gonna Do Now.” Fun, rich and tasty, it’s a Stone soul picnic. Mar. 20

Although Ziggy, being the eldest child, was thought to be the heir apparent to the reggae king, he’s been eclipsed by the arrival of Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, who released 2005’s breakthrough Welcome to Jamrock. Now along comes Stephen, who sang with Ziggy in the Melody Makers and produced Damian’s Jamrock, to assert his claim to the throne. Stephen’s debut album, featuring brothers Damian and Julian and guests Ben Harper and Mos Def, is an infectious blend of hip-hop, r&b and roots reggae. Crucial. Mar. 20