Idle No More

Personal tragedies and years of relentless touring took their toll on Arish Ahmad Khan and his psychedelic R&B ensemble. Khan entered therapy, was forced to start from square one, and spent time as part of a duo. But with Idle No More, the manic horn sections, the raw garage sounds, the psychedelic freakouts, and the anything-goes party vibe course through “Luckiest Man,” where it feels as if the last five years never elapsed. “Better Luck Next Time” jangles guitars in the verses and blares horns in the chorus, and it slows to a near-break before cruising through the final minute. There’s a political undertone, and the album title is a nod to an indigenous Canadian movement—but mostly the fighting spirit is used to motivate these folks to kick out the jams while they can. Khan even hits a gorgeous and wobbly falsetto for the ballad “Darkness”; it's further proof that energy and authenticity mean more than manicured performances where every note is pitch-perfect.