This wacky Montreal collective is Canada's hopeful answer to Beck: The twenty-plus-piece group offers a cut-and-paste mix of hip-hop, alternative rock, schmaltzy Muzak and jazz with gimmicky song titles like "Highway to Heck" and "Gimme Sheldon." This Nineties approach has charmed our northern neighbors, who have rendered Bran Van's album gold.

Created and led by DJ, remixer and music-video director James "Bran Man" Di Salvio, Bran Van kick off Glee with a barrage of disparate samples, eventually tumbling into the single "Drinking in L.A.," which equally recalls L.L. Cool J's "I Need Love" and the C&C Music Factory. The united colors of pop continue with a reggae-tinged tune ("Carry On"), the scuzzy, low-fi "Problems," a country & western spoof ("Supermodel") and some embarrassing raps ("I'm like the strangest afrodiziak/So nick knack paddywhack"). Throughout, Bran Van deliver their tunes with a big wink and nod – the kind that a bad comedian gives to signal an approaching punch line, suffocating any element of surprise. Which is not where it's at. (RS 785)

LORRAINE ALI