Darius Rucker - Don't Think I Don't Think About It

While I'm not usually a country fan, I was a moderate fan of Hootie and the Blowfish, so when their frontman went out on a solo venture, I thought I'd check it out. Rucker's warm, robust voice is perfectly suited for this genre, and his songwriting and storytelling remain solid. He's timed his switch of genres well, too. Country seems to be wide open these days, with artists like Jewel and Bon Jovi being welcomed into the fold. The first single from the album (slated for release September 16) has done remarkably well, cracking Billboard's top 10 Country chart. So give it a listen, and click on any of the popups for more information elsewhere...

Kathleen Edwards - I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory

Since 2003's Failer, Kathleen Edwards has done nothing to separate herself from a small pool of rising-star North-American singer-songwriters. After a three year hiatus to spend more time at home in Ontario, she continues her clear-minded open-hearted lyricism with Asking For Flowers. It's no wonder the album finds itself on the short list for this year's Polaris Music Prize. Check out the charming video below, which features a bunch of recognizable Canadians having fun at the local arena. I would point out, though, that it's probably not a good idea to play without a helmet, and especially not with with Marty McSorley on the ice. Kids, don't try this at home.

The shortlisters:
Black Mountain - In The Future, Plants And Animals - Parc Avenue, Basia Bulat - Oh, My Darling, Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War, Caribou - Andorra, Shad - The Old Prince, Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers, Two Hours Traffic - Little Jabs, Holy Fuck - LP, The Weakerthans - Reunion Tour



Links in the video: Kathleen's MySpace, where you can check out more of the latest album; her discography is click-through-to-buy.