As the title suggests, Retro 80's, Vol. 6: Pure Canadian collects new wave singles from Canadian-born or bred bands, which isn't surprising since the Retro 80's series hails from the Great White North. As with the other volumes in this collection, Vol. 6 features a remarkably consistent mix of well-known hits, such as Martha & the Muffins' "Echo Beach," the Pursuit of Happiness' "I'm an Adult Now," and Glass Tiger's "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)," as well as more obscure songs like Strange Advance's dreamy synth pop "Worlds Away" and Minutes from Downtown's sparkly update of girl group pop, "Heaven Street." The album also does a good job of exploring the connections between the bands in Canada's new wave scene; the guitarist and original singer from Montreal's Rational Youth (whose "Saturdays in Silesia" appears here) formed Men Without Hats, whose "Safety Dance" is arguably the best-known song here, hitting the Top Ten in 19 different countries but only reaching number 11 in the band's homeland. Other standout tracks include Sherry Kean's bubbly 1983 single "I Want You Back," Dalbello's Laurie Anderson-esque "Gonna Get Close to You," the Grapes of Wrath's 1987 single "Peace of Mind," and the Northern Pikes' darkly jangly "Teenland." The collection's liner notes are also full of fascinating factoids (Martha Johnson of Martha & the Muffins now makes children's music, for example), making Retro 80's, Vol. 6 a complete package for anyone who wants to dig into Canada's '80s new wave scene. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide