Canada is home to nationalized health care, government-sponsored arts programs and tasty, Tabasco-spiced alcoholic drinks called Caesars. As long as we're turning red with envy, our northern neighbors also claim Sloan, four everyday guys who keep cranking out the sort of hooky pop-rock that should be spilling from the basements of every American kid who has access to their parents' record collections. The quartet's Never Hear the End of It (Yep Roc) weighs in at 30 tracks and yet is so melodically pure, it seems to whiz by in a matter of minutes. Psychedelic organ washes, fizzy guitar chords, multi-part harmonies, aimless whistling - it's all here, in the service of power-pop nirvana and uncomplicated joy. Don't let Sloan's inconspicuous looks fool you; the band plays loud. (Don't Miss It)

- Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune