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Howie Beck

Howie Beck

Ever

With songs turning up in TV shows like "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" and "Queer as Folk," and invitations for opening slots from artists like the Stereophonics, Josh Rouse and Shelby Lynne, Canadian singer/songwriter Howie Beck has been not so quietly making his way into the U.S. consciousness. After a pair of stellar Canadian releases, Beck's first U.S. disc (and his first release in five years), is a gorgeous piece of work that artfully combines all the elements of songwriting. His tunes have a natural flow but are far from simple. Ditto with his lyrics; succinct, to the point and uncommon.

Beck's production (he's also produced discs for Canada's Broken Social Scene) and a rich assortment of instruments give the acoustic-based songs both a polished sheen and plenty of space. Following "Zombie Girl," a pastoral tune about a girl who "never sleeps at night" and "Don't Be Afraid," an uplifting, low-fi pop tune, "The Books Beside Her Bed" is a charming snapshot of observations that breaks it down to Beck's voice and acoustic guitar. Beck's voice -- a wispy, fragile instrument -- also is surprisingly strong. On "How Do You Feel," a string section provides beautiful counterpoint to the melody line, checking in as one of the disc's best tracks. Highly recommended. www.everrecords.com.