Luke Doucet
Politician by Aloe Blacc, streaming at stonesthrow.com
Blacc is the new Nina Simone, the new Shuggie Otis, the new Sam Cooke. At a Seattle radio station, the disillusioned I Need a Dollar singer auditions a strummed protest track about deceitful leaders and a free country that isn't so free.
Sundown by Luke Doucet and the White Falcon, from Steel City Trawler (Six Shooter)
Although the Hamilton-based singer-guitarist is a nifty songwriter in his own right, a twang-rock rendition of the acerbic Gordon Lightfoot classic shows playful redefinition. To boot, a Gretsch-strangling, Crazy Horsin' solo adds another layer of Canadian content.
WTF by Heart, from Red Velvet Car (Eagle), streaming at myspace.com/heart
The Wilson sisters go crazy on you! A rugged rocker about a confused relationship threatens the uncommunicative male in the worst way possible: "Gonna talk you wide awake/ Talk until your ego breaks." That's gotta be against the Geneva Conventions, no?
Never Stop (rap mix) by Chilly Gonzales, streaming at vimeo.com/12151063
The instrumental version of this bouncy piano single is being used for an iPad commercial, but the catchy rap version from the friend of Feist is hilariously autobiographical. And the video? A musical cat and a hula-hoop girl extraordinaire make for a three-minute carnival of fun.
Brad Wheeler