Hits & Misses

The Dubnicks

All the bands out there - even the mediocre ones - claim to "transcend genres." Sometimes, though, being genuinely eclectic pays off. To their abundant credit, the Dubnicks live up to their claim of eclecticism and deliver an excellent album at the same time. How To Be Cool, the group's first full-length release, is unique: instead of playing in a new style, the band plays expertly within many genres from punk to pop - and the Dubnicks pull their wide range of musical styles together unexpectedly well. Maybe the punk opening number, "Surgery," will hook you first, but you're bound to love and listen to the whole album despite its many stylistic shifts. Listen for the almost-Barenaked Ladies flourishes ("Private Joke"), the Green Day/Goldfinger style ("Aaron Spelling World"), and wholesome early '90s grittiness ("Goodnight"). You may have never heard of the Dubnicks, but if you like punk, pop, or straightforward rock, you'll find this entire album to your liking.

-Drew Shelton

Geddy Lee

My Favorite Headache

Good news for Rush fans: Geddy Lee still sounds like Geddy Lee. Also, this former frontman's first and long-awaited solo effort, My Favorite Headache, sounds a lot like...Rush. Imagine that. And herein lies the bad news for Rush dissenters who hoped to see a radically different side of the man with the famed vocal chords - you're slightly out of luck.

But not completely. While the full-on bombast is not completely gone, My Favorite Headache contains slight differences that set it apart from previous band efforts. Most notable is the absence of songs that pummel hard and strong throughout, and the presence of a more mainstream, even pop, sound. The album contains a seesaw of progressive rock fused with melodic interludes and introspections like "I don't mean to be so nihilistic/ Forgive me if I seem to be too realistic." This formula of not fixing what's not broke, plus adding a new-school twist is the best solo move that Lee could have made.

-Sheryl Gordon

Martin Sexton

Don't let anyone tell you different: the trick is all in the voice. Martin Sexton has a great way with melodies and studio effects, but it's his singing that makes albums like Wonder Bar so immediately memorable. From an easy, smooth baritone to a happy, unforced falsetto, his voice is what makes it all feel so damn cool. He can do relaxed or upbeat, but Sexton's voice is flawless. It's an amazing effect; he reminds you of Ben Harper or Bill Withers or someone you can't even name - and this is a white guy whose album cover makes him look like an unshaved, overweight, out-of-work lounge singer. For someone who looks so greasy, Sexton might have more soul than he has a right to. There's blues, rock, and folk thrown into his songs, and he hits enough of the right buttons to give him the right to look any way he wants in a photo shoot.

-Drew Shelton