It's aliiiiive! The details of Salty Jam's death have been greatly exaggerated.

This classic 1984 release from Minneapolis scrappy rockers The Replacements is at times raucous and restless (Favorite Thing, We're Comin' Out) and at other times humorous (Gary's Got A Boner). But perhaps most importantly, the 'Mats showed they were getting their footing at writing pure, simple pop songs like I Will Dare and Unsatisfied. The raw emotion the band puts into the songs on the record makes up for any occasional lack of musicianship and that emotion is what I feel helps give the record the legendary status it currently holds. This Rhino reissue features six bonus tracks including a cover of T Rex's 20th Century Boy (previously a B-side on the I Will Dare 12 inch) as well as a couple fantastic outtakes (Perfectly Lethal, Heartbeat "" It's A Lovebeat) recorded at the same sessions which eventually produced the Let It Be long player. This reissue is a fantastic reason to go back and revisit a pivotal record from the '80s.

Read our complete story for the full contents of this article, available online.

Read our complete story for the full contents of this article, available online.

For anyone who has ever questioned the notion that Fredericton isn't quickly becoming the major festival and event destination it claims to be, a quick look at the activities slated for this weekend just might change your opinion.

Read our complete story for the full contents of this article, available online.

After what must be close to a decade of dormancy, Vancouver's Odds have regrouped (minus former band member Steven Drake) under a new band name but haven't lost their knack for creating infectious pop music. The group had hits-a-plenty in their original '90s heyday and judging by the quality of material on Cheerleader, there's no reason why they shouldn't be able to return to that same glory. Mind you, power pop is a tough sell to the masses but with tracks like Write It In Lightning, Out Of Mind, My Happy Place and Feel Like This All The Time in their arsenal, these radio-friendly gems shouldn't go unrecognized for long.

Although I don't count myself as a huge fan of rap and hip-hop, The Roots are one of the few groups I really enjoy. Choosing to play their own instruments rather than rely solely on backing tracks has always been a big selling point for me but most importantly, the group consistently writes excellent songs and gives the listener some political food for thought. Highlights include tracks Singing Man, Criminal and the machine-gun rhymes spit out on 75 Bars. First single Rising Up is the most commercially friendly track on the disc but with Philadelphia's finest having gotten by thus far without much promotion from radio, one can only expect that the band will stay the course, creating more fantastic music in the years to come.

In 1988, country music outlaw Steve Earle released his third album, the rock leaning Copperhead Road that would see the title track become a hit record on some rock radio formats while all but being shunned by the country music community. Such alienation would not have deterred Earle, only serving to fuel his fire even more.

So besides being drop dead gorgeous with a voice that will tear at your soul and a great personality to boot, what's the fuss all about?

From time to time I get feedback on this column and I must say I truly appreciate it. Recently I was contacted by one of the New Brunswick music scene's veteran performers.