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The Canadians mix rock, rap, reggae, and even klezmer to defy crippling darkness

Rock, rap, klezmer, and reggae animate an album haunted by crippling depression. The final LP by Quebec's Les Colocs reflects the inner turmoil of singer/songwriter André Fortin, whose despair drives hard-charging tracks like "Tout seul.” Not completely bleak, Dehors novembre begins with a brilliant, funny mini-rock opera about a cat named "Belzébuth" and offers a slinky country rocker ("U-turn") ahead of its brooding conclusion. Fortin's swan song is a fascinating, harrowing masterpiece whose fire still burns bright.

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