As the lead singer of Val-d'Or, Quebec's La Chicane, Daniel “Boom” Desjardins brought a warm tenderness to the group's dusky, jazz-touched rockers and gentle francophone pop. But everything changed in 2004, when Desjardins embarked on his solo career. Soon his husky pipes were anchoring soaring rock tunes, countrified ramblers and barroom stompers. While he can always rein it in for some troubadour-style storytelling, Boom's at his most thrilling when he's belting it out.