CHICKEN SOUP FOR TEENS

Ask any 10 adults about their high-school years and some will say they were the best years of their lives. Unfortunately, that means that the rest may remember them as the worst years of their lives. For this precise reason, the book “Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: The Real Deal Challenges” was written. Being a teenager is much more different now than it was 30 years ago, and the authors of this guide have kept up with the changes. Whether the topic is relationship challenges, heavy workloads or dealing with peers who use drugs, this book will have you covered. Personal stories will help make the childhood-to-teen transition a little easier.

—CHRIS CURRY

CATFISH HAVEN FULL OF ROCK ’N’ SOUL

Named after frontman-singer George Hunter’s childhood trailer-park home in Missouri, Catfish Haven have followed up their acclaimed EP release, “Please Come Back,” with a smashing LP of Southern country soul and rock. Featuring the percussion of Ryan Farnham and the bass of Miguel Castillo, along with Hunter’s soulfully Southern vocals and a variety of help in the brass section, “Tell Me” is a solid LP of country-influenced rock ’n’ soul in the tradition of CCR and the Band. And while the album is ostensibly intended as a breakup album — a chronicle of Hunter’s unexplained love lost — it is far from morose. Although elements of melancholy do filter through in Hunter’s straining vocals, the sound is more often than not celebratory. “Tell Me” shows that Hunter, currently based in Chicago with his band, has nonetheless remained true to his Missouri roots. Standout tracks also include “Down by Your Fire.” See more at www.catfishhaven.com/.

— JAMES SANDHAM

RED SHAG CARPET TOURING

With a sound somewhere between Spoon and Wilco, Alberta’s Red Shag Carpet have released in “Lift and Drop” a consistent if not particularly innovative album of indie rock ’n’ roll. Piano-driven melodies such as “Drop” help to raise this album above its competitors, but often lack the hooks to truly distinguish this work. Other notable tracks, such as “So and So,” are clever and catchy, but, again, somehow miss the essential element of the great song. The result is an album that is enjoyable, danceable and upbeat, but not particularly memorable, save for a select few tracks. Of course, to the band’s credit, the album has been completely self-produced — there’s no fancy label standing by to inject its magic commercial juice. Featuring Daniel Yarmon, Ted Ani, Allan Pickard and Matt Darrah, Red Shag Carpet are nonetheless a promising new outfit and touring furiously in support of their latest release. Learn more at www.redshagcarpet.com/

— JAMES SANDHAM

CHEAPER TEXTBOOKS AVAILABLE

Everyone who has been through post-secondary education knows that one of the major costs is the textbooks that you must purchase for each course. All college students who are looking to save money should bookmark the site www.textbooks.com/HomeA.php. What are you going to do with your textbooks after you have aced the class? You might throw them out because you never want to see them again. Thankfully, there are people who save textbooks and offer them at a reduced price on this site. Purchasing brand-new textbooks can take up a good portion of a student loan, so using a used source can be in your best interest.

— CHRIS CURRY

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