Tomorrow The World 
Style: tomorrow
Line-Up: Jay Englishman (vocals, guitars, bass, all keyboards/programming), Mark Johnson (bass), Justin Burgess (drums)
Contact: Robert Luhtala Management (416) 406-2825

"He was using his art to fill the space where everyone said his heart should be, " reads the Tomorrow The World bio, outlining the reasons for mastermind Jay Englishman's gashing wounds on his promo EP, Manic Obsessive, recorded with 21 tracks of analog and 24 tracks of digital at Toronto's Wellesley Sound. Taking industrial and metal, the Toronto band injects humanness (strings, piano, melody!), much in the same way Faith No More did on The Real Thing. The sweet soul of the superb "Don't Mean A Thing" goes easier on the venom. It has a more flippant and resolved tone, while on the industrial-based rocker "Take" he spits: "I really hope you're satisfied/Another piece of me just died/This empty shell is all that's left, " leveling the blame at the soul-killer. "I really hope you rot in hell." Then, on the industrial ambience of "Numb", in a warped whispery tone he sings, "I don't want to breathe anymore" and on the heavy metallic rock of "Flowers For Ophelia (A Suite For The Sweet)" with its menacing vocal, he realizes "It took 24 years to get this stupid". While the sentiments might seem ominous, pitiful and vengeful, these are four truly remarkably moving songs from a band/artist destined for major things.

Maren Ord 
Style: young and restless
Line-Up: Maren Ord (vocals, acoustic guitar), Greg Kavanagh (acoustic & electric guitars), Steve Lucas and Peter Bleakney (bass), Greg Critchley (drums), Rob Gusevs (Hammond B3)
Contact: Greg Kavanagh, 189 Haddington Ave., Toronto, ON M5M 2P7 (416) 256-5605, (416) 256-5606,

This singer-guitarist has been given a gift from above. At 16, she has practically mastered the art of songwriting. The eighth of 10 children, who also perform as The Ord Family Singers, she won one of six top spots at Edmonton radio station Power 92's homegrown contest. The prize was a session in Toronto with one of the judges, producer Greg Kavanagh, the "K" in techno project B.K.S. They recorded two tracks at his Kava Sound, the ballad "Eternity" and gripping "Falling", the later of which was put into heavy rotation at Power 92. Kavanagh was so impressed with the teenager he continued to work with her. Sounding at times like a nightingale, at other like a less angry Holly McNarland, the other songs on this CD pro are the bouncy pop of "Sarah", the do-doo "Duet", with its vocal acrobatics and rockier chorus, and the truly outstanding "Harsh" - arresting, moving, all that stuff.

Serial Joe 
Style: kicks butt
Lineup: Ryan Dennis (vocals, guitar), Dan Stadnicki (drums), John Davidson (bass), Ryan Stever (guitar)
Contact: Debbie Dennis, 124 Nelson Circle, Newmarket, Ont., L3X 1R3 (905) 853-0627, FAX (905) 853-5485,

Take note slackers. Newmarket, ON's Serial Joe is a group of 13 and 14-years -olds with more get-go than some adults. For one thing, they've got this CD, cool cover, cool title, KICKeD, all the right liner note info, far more professional than most. Singer-guitarist Ryan Dennis and drummer Dan Stadnicki write all the music, while most of the lyrics are penned by a D. Robin Dennis. The band even self-produced the CD at New Market Multimedia and made a video for the grinding rock-rap single, "Skidrow". Dennis, who happens to be the star in the Our Lady Peace video "Superman's Dead", has a voice which is quite fierce considering his age. The album ranges from the metallic rappers "Velocity", about wanting a place to skateboard, and "Obsession", about the "rush" of 'boarding, to the melodically-sung rock of "Dream Girl" and "Lonely Heart" - both love songs for freaks sake. Perhaps the object of their love is a skateboard. Let's not encourage S.J. groupies just yet.

Wyckham Porteous 
Style: ragged roots
Lineup: Wyckham Porteous (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica); Pat Stewart (drums) and Rob Becker (bass) and various guests
Contact: Pacific Music Marketing, 341 Richmond Avenue, Victoria BC V8S 3Y2, (250) 598-1997; FAX (250) 598-1923

In This World, the fourth album from this edgey roots singer-songwriter is world class. Produced and arranged by ex Captain Beefheart guitarist Moris Tepper (Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits, Frank Black, P.J. Harvey), the 13 tracks were mixed by Joe Ciccarelli (Beck, Frank Zappa, U2). With traces of John Hiatt and Bob Dylan (& son), Porteous's lyrics are spun in ways that are familiar, then not. Lines jump out like the beauty of a petrified tree along a rural highway. "Playing my guitar on the Eric Hoeniker train/I just got into Holland surrounded by graves," begins the pop-rocker "Radio London". On the soft-talkin' "Collar To The Wind" and eerie stillness of "Shine On Me", the BC-based artist addresses the death of a loved one. Pure radio hits are the title track and the "Jimmy Lefave Goes To Hibbing, Minnesota".

Credit: Karen Bliss is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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