Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat

It's hard to believe that Rat A Tat Tat is already Jason Collett's fifth solo album and yet the singer/songwriter is still one of the more underrated members of Broken Social Scene. Nevertheless, Collett carries on with his solo career as this album marks a less intimate and more full-band sound for him. Opener "Rave On Sad Song" spins organs, keys, and acoustics into a whirling jam, while the following two tracks, "Lake Superior" and "Love Is A Dirty Word," do just the opposite as they utilize succinct guitar melodies that almost sound like outtakes from a Spoon album. One of the qualities that makes Collett such a great songwriter is his ability to be intimate and evocative and then turn around in the next song with a cocky swagger that comes out of nowhere. On Rat A Tat Tat he achieves a perfect balance of the two, playing down his attitude when he needs to ("Cold Blue Soul") and amping it up when the occasion calls for it ("Love Is A Chain"). If you haven't given Collett a chance yet, please put Rat A Tat Tat on your "must download" list for 2010. It's undeniably his best album to date.

DOWNLOAD: Jason Collett - Rat A Tat Tat [Arts & Crafts]
Recommended Tracks: "Lake Superior," "Love Is A Dirty Word," "Bitch City," "High Summer," "Love Is A Chain."