Mad Mad World

Tom Cochrane's solo debut is full of grown-up emotional truths—"Emotional Truth" is even one of its songs—but it also rocks. After a decade-plus fronting Canadian hitmakers Red Rider, he knows how to craft a great hook, and the one on "Life Is a Highway" is as great as vintage Springsteen and Mellencamp. "Everything Comes Around" pledges love in a country style, and "Get Back Up" has a lowdown blues sound to suit its tale of love with a junkie.