Folk release a must have

Jake Bugg
"Shangri La''
Virgin EMI Records
8.5-out-of-10

Awhile back I had the pleasure of reviewing the debut album of Jake Bugg. I must of have been late to the party because shortly after that his second album "Shangri La'' was released. I usually try to temper my expectations with sophomore albums; they never tend to live up to the hype created by the first album. "Shangri La'' proves to be an exception, as it is on par with Jake Bugg's debut album. All the things that made the debut album so good are present on "Shangri La''. The song writing is still amazing and Jake Bugg performs each song perfectly.

"Shangri La'' is far from just a copy of the previous album from Jake Bugg. Bugg tried a few different things on the album; 'Slumville Sunrise' is faster pace song that is different than anything else he has done to date. But what makes Jake Bugg so good is his skill as a songwriter and 'Pine Trees' is a beautiful song that shows that skill. 'Me and You' is another great song that perhaps is my favorite of the bunch. "Shangri La'' doesn't have any weak songs on the album, the songs are impressive one through twelve.

I said it before and I will say it again Jake Bugg is well on his way to becoming a powerhouse in folk music. "Shangri La'' is great sophomore album that proves that Jake Bugg is here to stay. If you don't know who Jake Bugg is yet, then you are missing out, the kid is good.

-ADAM DANIELS

One Bad Song
One Bad Son
604 Records
8.5-out-of-10

This past weekend I managed to buy my way into Grey Cup pregame party in Regina. While enjoying the festivities I was reacquainted with a band I had forgotten about. That band happened to be Saskatoon's own One Bad Son. So this week I decided to take a closer look at their latest album which happens to be self-titled. One Bad Son is a rock band that can bring it, the whole album rocks. The vocals on the album are amazing, lead singer Shane Volk can really stretch his vocal cords when he needs too.

The one song that is really getting major play right now is 'It Ain't Right' and the air play on the radio is warranted. The song is awesome especially when played loud. 'Lie Awake' is another good song on the album, and it has a catchy beat that will having you playing the drums along with the song. Another song I really enjoyed was 'El Camino'. It is a slower song that has great lyrics.

One Bad Son is an awesome band, which needs to be heard if you are fan of rock music. The fact that they are from Saskatchewan only makes them worth listening to more. The album is definitely worth checking out. Also if you ever get a chance to see them live take it. The band is full of energy and put on a great show. One Bad Son has been around for a while but after listening to this album you get the feeling they are about to explode into the mainstream. So get in on them now before they become cool to hate like most Canadian artists eventually do.

-ADAM DANIELS