The Tragically Hip
Music @ Work
One of the greatest-ever Canadian bands, The Hip have managed to achieve immense, widespread commercial success ('cause they rock) and artistic credibility ('cause Gord's lyrics are wild). Music@Work is a step further in both directions, as the momentum of their progress continues unabated.

B.B. King & Eric Clapton
Riding With the King
The brand-new Riding With The King album brings these two longtime friends and legendary blues figures together for the first time to cover some classic B.B. numbers, John Hiatt's ace title track, and such standards as "Key To The Highway" and "Hold On, I'm Coming." And both musicians are on a roll of late -- Clapton, with a double-album's worth of straight-up blues from his 70's days, King with a tribute to Louis Jordan and a brand-new album of his own (Makin' Love Is Good For You). Riding With The King is a must for blues lovers.

The Atlantic Newgrass Project
This is an exciting new release featuring some of the finest writers, singers and musicians from Canada's East Coast. The album takes the songs of such favourite Maritime sons and daughters as Gene MacLellan, Rita MacNeil, Bruce Guthro, John Morris Rankin and Ron Hynes, and rearranges them -- progressive bluegrass style -- with the vocals of Raylene Rankin, Lennie Gallant, Cindy Church, J.P. Cormier, Delvina Bernard and others. All profits from the sales will be used by CBC Radio to record more East Coast music.

Bon Jovi
Crush
Having sold five million albums in Canada, Bon Jovi return after a five-year absence, augmenting their usual knack for pop with a dose of heavyweight guitars. Standout tracks include the first single "Life My Life," "Say It Isn't So" and the power ballad "Thank You For Loving Me."

K.D. Lang
Invincible Summer
This album really lives up to the name. If you're looking for some pop music with that top-down, breezy, backyard-barbeque, at-the-beach summer vibe, then you need go no further than the irresistable "Summerfling." The singing is, as usual, incredible

Don Henley
Inside Job
It's been a decade since Don Henley has set foot in a studio, and his presence has been sorely missed. Inside Job marks a brilliant return to form, and includes guests like Jimmie Vaughan, Glenn Frey and Stevie Wonder.

Matchbox Twenty
Mad Season
In the four years since Matchbox Twenty's debut, Yourself Or Someone Like You, the band have grown so much that Mad Season promises to the definitive document of their emergence into the modern rock pantheon.

Paul Simon
Shining Like a National Guitar-Greatest Hits
One of the most beloved songwriters of the past 50 years, Paul Simon has finally issued one disc that includes all of his best works -- including Graceland," "The Cool Cool River" and "You Can Call Me Al."

Moby
Play
Play is a very good recovery from his temporary lapse in originality in 1997, and certainly one of the year's best releases by far. An investment into the music of heart and soul is apparent on nearly every track as he moves from soul to hip-hop grooves. Breaking out of the techno-rule of four-to-the-floor beats such songs as the bluesy "Honey", and the Joy Division/Fat Boy Slim hybrid of Bodyrock" suggest a reclaiming of the techno crown. This is a holistic listening experience, something that you will feel from the top of your head to the bottom of your soul, or soles.

3 Doors Down
The Better Life