of export, but unlike recent Irish suc- cesses The Corrs, Dillon’s is a very homegrown record with limited (localized) appeal.

The album was recorded in her parents’ house, and family mem- bers play the instruments. Dillon has already proven herself in more com- mercial ventures (Equation), and after this initial offering will probably record something with more produc- tion value—which is precisely why this record should be cherished. Like Ashley Maclssac’s Fine, Thank You Very Much, Dillon’s solo album puts her incomparable voice at the fore- front, with little in the way of instru- mentals to drown her out.

Lyrics are filled with poetic imagery, a lot of it specific to her native Ireland. This is a profoundly beautiful Celtic folk album; another in a long list of vocal talents from the Emerald Isle.

-Joel MEGGS

Album: Planet Fame Artist: Robin Black Label: Sextant Records

Robin Black is from Toronto. He’s been there a long time, a staple of the local club scene. Upon listening to

Planet Fame, one might be surprised _

to discover that this is his debut album. It sounds like this is leftover from the eighties; It’s glam rock, and seems very anachronistic. Everything on this album sounds like something: a lot of it sounds like Alice Cooper, some of it is Motley Crue, Cheap Trick, Warrant, Loverboy, etc, etc, etc.

Robin Black would have done

really well in the eighties: he’s got the style down pat, the band has great har- mony and make good use of synthe- sizers. But what good is all that today?

I could see going to see them live at a

club, in the same way I’d go see April _

Wine, but I wouldn’t buy an album. Black’s in-your-face overcon- fidence doesn’t help. He’s constantly singing his own praises. And the album is called Planet Fame, which I really don’t think is a planet this group is going to get to without a time machine. -Joel MEGGS

Album: Sounds from the Verve Hi-Fi. Artists: Various Label: Verve Records

I’ve always found samba/bossa nova music fascinating (not only because of my uncertainty as to whether “samba” and “bossa nova” are distinct genres) because of how it perpetually (and ever so delicately) tiptoes that line between painfully contrived yet unremarkable lounge music, and absolute sonic perfection.

This CD, which features a nice selection of old tracks from annals of Verve (arguably the premiere Samba label for the past five decades) collec- tion, on the whole, does a pretty good job of avoiding the potential pitfalls of kitsch, and offers up a pretty satisfy- ing taste of what this very unique and refined form of jazz has to offer. That being said, I must say I was more than a little disappointed by the exclusion of Samba master Antonio Carlos Jobim from this collection, along with the devastatingly proficient Brazilian vocalist Joao Gilberto. As they are probably the best known emissaries of this sound to the world at large, I could understand their absence in the interest of exposing audiences to some lesser known artists, but given the mediocrity of a couple of the tracks that were included, I think the essen-

tial contributions of Gilberto and Jobim should have been given more recognition than a passing (albeit glowing) mention in the liner notes. At the risk of coming across as overly critical of what is indeed a fine CD, I found the decision to include the cover of “Light My Fire” by Astrud Gilberto as the only example of her work troubling. Really, if this compi- lation is meant to be a celebration of the Samba/Bossa Nova tradition, what is to be gained by including a “sam- bafied” version of a mainstream pop

song? Why not kill three birds with one stone and include the absolutely fantastic “Aguas de Marco,” which features not only Astrud Gilberto, but her husband Joao Jobim, and saxo- phonist Stan Getz to boot!? Oh, what a world. Anyhoo, this shit is the shit, but I implore anyone who finds this com- pilation remotely appealing to look beyond what is offered here, particu- larly in the direction of Verve’s Antonio Carlos Jobim Jazz Masters Collection.

-Jonah CAMPBELL

Come and celebrate _ with Alexander Keiths.

wednesday, mar 6 Baba’s: Nero

thursday, mar 7

Baba’s Lounge: The New Drifts

Big Momma’s Pub: Greg Doucette Myron’s: Big City

Olde Dublin Pub: 1749

Pal’s Sports Bar: One Sick Puppy

friday, mar 8

Baba’s Lounge: Eyes for Telescopes

The Barn: The Silvermen/Dr. Bookertable

Big Momma’s Pub: Greg Doucette

Olde Dublin Pub: 1749

Steel Recital Hall: Carrie MacLellan and Friends

saturday, mar 9

Baba’s Lounge: Mitch Schurman Band

Big Momma’s Pub: Greg Douctte The Barn: Afghan Benefit Concert Harp and Thistle: Jeff Morris Myron’s: The Edge

Olde Dublin Pub: 1749

SP aera Pair tere |

tuesday, mar 12

Let’s build a church, let’s buy a boat. We’ll put the church on the boat and see if it floats.

And if it does, we’ ll be on our way.

Those who like it,

like it a lot.