Jason Collett

Add Date: March 16

Artist: Jason Collett

Album: Rat A Tat Tat

Label: Arts & Crafts

Genre: Rock, folk rock

Comments: Jason Collett doesn't really need to build his resume--already highly regarded for his solo career, as well as his work with Broken Social Scene, he's viewed as one of Canada's best songwriters and performers. However, his musical palette is still expanding. I'm not familiar with the first two solo records in Collett's discography, but over the last three, he's gone from indie rock (Idols of Exile, 2005) to country (Here's to Being Here, 2008) to retro-blues (Rat A Tat Tat), all without abandoning the styles from his previous work.

On the first run through, Rat A Tat Tat sounds drastically different from Here's to Being Here, but repeated listens reveal how well Collett has folded in all the elements at work here. To our chagrin in radioland, three of the best songs (the rock tune "Love Is a Chain," the bluesy "Bitch City" and the Fleetwood Mac-leaning "Long May You Love") are all unplayable during daytime hours. But fortunately, this is such a strong record that there's plenty other good stuff leftover. In particular, try the folk pop number "Cold Blue Halo," the country-blues jams "Love Is a Dirty Word" and "Lake Superior," and the misleadingly-titled foot-tapper "The Slowest Dance."