John Barnard

Taking a page from the book Ray Davies wrote in the '90s, Randy Bachman launched the Vinyl Tap Tour: Every Song Tells a Story in 2013, designing the concert as a guided journey through his past. He sang hits from the Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and his solo career, interspersing stories along the way, adding the biographical song "Prairie Town" as a framing device. This 2014 set generally has a lower energy level than the original recordings but the relaxed vibe is part of the appeal: it's not a race, it's a nostalgic stroll with the amiable Bachman. If you're on the same wavelength as him, it's an enjoyable way to pass the time.

Canadian band The Sheepdogs attempt to follow their sudden rise from obscurity with a worthy second album.