Kevin Fox 
Who: Kevin Fox
What: dulcet pop
Where: Toronto, ON
To Contact: , www.kevinfox.ca.

Good (albums) come to those who wait. Singer-songwriter Kevin Fox began working on his solo debut, Come Alive, well over five years ago, but his side gigs as a sideman got him sidetracked. A cellist, guitarist and singer, he has lent his skills to such artists as Sum 41, Shaye, Sarah Harmer, Celine Dion, Tom Cochrane and David Usher, among others, all the while promising to get this thing out. Now, it is out, through MapleMusic, and his intention is clearly outlined in the liner notes. Working with co-producers Erin Donovan and John D.S. Adams mainly at Stonehouse Sound and Frontline Studio, Fox writes: "We chose to record a pop album using only acoustic instruments and drawing primarily from classical orchestration." Beginning with the beautiful "Satisfaction's Grace", through to the closer and title track, the Halifax, NS-born, Toronto, ON-based musician explains that they recorded some songs with a large ensemble together in one room, and built others more slowly by recording one instrument at a time. Electronic sounds were added later. The album is a unified, easy-listening collection of sweet, soaring songs.

Starvin Hungry 
Who: Starvin Hungry
What: gutter rock
Where: Montreal, PQ
To Contact: Grenadine Records, PO Box 42050, Montreal, PQ H4A 313 (514) 481 9578, FAX (419) 793 1222, , www.grenadinerecords.com.

If Jim Morrison fronted the Strokes or the Stooges, it might have sounded something like Starvin Hungry. Produced by Jonathan Cummins (Bionic, Doughboys), the band's full-length debut, Damnesty, is arrogant, dramatic, brash, scrappy, dirty, disheveled, spirited, and raw - in a nutshell, rock 'n' roll. The brainchild of transplanted Torontonian John Milchem (who started SH in 1995 and kicked it around TO for four years with different configurations, solo to trio), he moved to Montreal in 2000, where he recruited drummer Spencer Warren (Line Three), and played as a duo for several months. Then bassist Eric Larock (now back with Tricky Woo and replaced by Soft Canyon's Dave Lavoie) offered his services, and, in 2002, guitarist Scott Mucklow. All but one song ("I Feel Free", cut at Toronto's Chemical Sound in 1999) was recorded at Breakglass Studios in Montreal over four days last year. And in the dirty blues-y mix, the guys brought in sax, Hammond, double bass, viola, and pedal steel players to add some less throttling nuances. Lyrically, the songs live up to the band name, a life lived, disturbed, and rocky from the dark clouds in "Shadows" to the painful pleas in "Skin Me", and anti-anthem "'Cause We're All Alive".

Closet Monster 
Who: Closet Monster
What: revolutionist punk
Where: Ajax, ON
To Contact: Underground Operations, PO Box 13, Ajax, ON, L1S 3C2 , www.undergroundoperations.com.

We Built This City is the latest stand from Ajax, ON socio-political punk act Closet Monster. With titles like "Shitting In The Face Of This Western Disgrace", "Convictions Of A Schoolyard Anarchist", and the single, "Mamma, Anti-Fascisto (Never Surrender)", this band, together seven years, cares nothing for conformity. While they may hail from Ajax (home to their buds in Sum 41), this is hardcore, ferocious stuff with raise-your-fist-and-shout-it-out-loud style vocals, and also an underground sense of humour. Of the song "Punk Rock Ruined Our Lives", the band explains on the track listing, "This is not a 'cred song.' It's a love song motherfucker." Recorded over two days at Elk Studios in Stuttgart, Germany, and another six, six-hour days at Parkhill Studios in Oakville, ON, others bands should take a cue from the production quality. The six-song EP sounds like you could get hurt just listening to it. Playing on the recording are bassist/vocalist/lyricist London Spicoluk, guitarist/vocalist Adam Cyncora, drummer Aaron Verdonk, and guitarist/vocalist Brandon Hilborn, who recently quit the band and was replaced by original member Jesse Colburn (Avril Lavigne). Spicoluk, Cyncora, Colburn, and Comrade Komer co-produced.

Credit: Toronto-based music journalist Karen Bliss is the Canadian news correspondent for Rollingstone.com, and operates a Canadian music industry news column, Lowdown, at http://jam.canoe.ca/JamColumnBliss/home.html. She also edits Gasoline, and contributes to Elle Canada, Audience, Tribute, Words & Music and others.

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