Experience the Jewel by Wintersleep, from New Inheritors (Labwork/EMI)
"What would you do, if desperation called for you?" Grand, dramatic tension comes from the Halifax rockers who pair Verve-like strings and staccato guitar riffs with words about an all-consuming condition. This thing hits like a heart attack on heroin.
Wintersleep plays Toronto's Mod Club Wednesday.
The Word by Bettye LaVette, from Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook (Anti-)
Rubber Soul never bounced like this. Soul singer LaVette gets all evangelistic - "say the word and you'll be free" - as she preaches the Lennon-McCartney gospel in the Church of the Funky Hot Redeemer.
Whims and Borders by Bent by Elephants, from This Is Water (independent)
Postmodern Billie Holiday blues, sung sublimely by a star - "catch my fate faster" - in a hurry. Montreal's Chesley Walsh and her limber orchestral rock crew pack more stylish thrill in four minutes than Roger Bannister.
There's a Time by Willie Buck, from The Life I Love (Delmark)
Oh, there's a time all right: 1982 is when the journeyman Windy City singer Willie Buck hit the studio with Chicago aces John Primer (guitar), Dimestore Fred (harmonica) and Big Moose Walker (piano). A re-release of a hard-to-find album includes an easy-rolling cut of soul blues marked by simpatico musicianship.
Brad Wheeler