Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

This is only Russell’s second solo album, but already the Montreal native sounds wise and accomplished. That’s because she paid her dues with Po’ Girl, Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters. Where Russell’s folky solo debut, Outside Child, chronicled her pain and abuse growing up in foster care, the bi-racial artist’s followup is a funky affirmation of her survival. Joined by guitarist Wendy Melvoin and keyboardist Lisa Coleman, of Prince’s Revolution, Russell serves up syncopated celebration on “Shadowlands” and “Rag Child.” Best of all is the gospel-like closer “Requiem,” where she sings with a choir that includes Brandi Carlile.

Once again, I look back on a year of music. For me, 2023 was rich in some phenomenal sounds. But much of what I consumed was through live performances, less through studio recordings. The Polaris Music Prize offered plenty of new discoveries, including Debby Friday and her winning Good Luck debut, Aysanabee's Watin and Begonia's Powder Blue. For compilations of the past year, nothing for me can top Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos, a stunning seven-CD set compiled by Cheryl Pawelski of stripped down gems by unsung heroes who wrote the classic songs of Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Sam & Dave and the Staple Singers. Jason Wilson's Ashara album, ...