The Playlist: 5 Albums For August

Summer may be winding down, but there are still plenty of great tunes to groove to. Here are five musical acts to check out in August.

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1. For a Lil' Bit of Soul

1. For a Lil’ Bit of Soul

Give the People What They Want by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

An apt album title if ever there was one. Jones has a reputation for audience satisfaction-here, she blasts through another scorching set of taut funk and R&B.

2 / 5
2. For a Bit of Style

2. For a Bit of Style

Perpetual Surrender by Diana

On its hotly anticipated debut, the young, stylish Toronto quartet makes breezy synth-pop tunes that would be equally at home on a fashion runway or playing over the closing credits of a John Hughes movie. Aug. 20


3 / 5
3. For a Spring in Your Step

3. For a Spring in Your Step

Hero Brother by Sarah Neufeld

Arcade Fire’s hyper-talented violinist veers away from the band’s sprawling indie rock toward labyrinthine instrumentals sure to get you dancing. Aug. 20


4 / 5
4. For You Beatles Fans

4. For You Beatles Fans

Paul McCartney In Concert

It’s hard to maintain your status as “the cute Beatle” at 71, but when McCartney leads with his trademark head bobbing, jaunty vocals and stadium-sized charisma, he’s still the man who made legions of teenyboppers faint. Aug. 12. Investors Group Field, Winnipeg, paulmccartney.com


5 / 5
5. For a Beautiful Duet

5. For a Beautiful Duet

“#Beautiful” – Mariah Carey feat. Miguel

Ignore the absurd hashtag. More than two months-and innumerable listens-after its release, this doo-wop-tinged duet is still as sweet as a love letter.

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