Canada's answer to the Grateful Dead has given itself a major overhaul.

 The two main songwriters, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, released solo albums. The band assembled a live album, which had the effect of curtailing their self-indulgent excesses. They replaced one of their members - and made sure everyone knows who's a sideman and who isn't.

 The happy results of this tune-up can be heard on The Days in Between, in stores Tuesday.

 Performed with concise elegance, this catchy and somewhat sentimental collection of songs should remind fans of why they fell in love with Blue Rodeo in the first place. Cuddy plays the heartbroken crooner on Sad Nights, harkening back to the band's Juno-winning hit, Try. Keelor is the pensive poet on such tracks as The Seeker, about how even the most powerful epiphanies can fade away over time. Bitter Fruit is the perfect cry-in-your-beer hurtin' song.

 Yes, they're becoming balladeers in their old age, but still aren't above pulling off a bouncy, Beatle-esque track now and then. Begging You To Let Me In and Somebody Waits are two of the strongest on the record.

 Timeless and tuneful, this the band's finest work in years.

Track Listing 1.Cinema Song
  2. The Seeker
  3. Begging You To Let Me In
  4. Bitter Fruit
  5. Somebody Waits
  6. Andrea
  7. Sad Nights
  8. This Road
  9. The Days In Between
  10. Always Getting Better
  11. Rage
  12. Truscott