Sufjan Stevens
Illinoise (Asthmatic Kitty/Sonic Unyon)
Unless Stevens lives to be roughly 130 (or produces offspring fit for the family business), his 50-part tribute to the United States won't be completed, but if its quality remains consistent, we're in for a truly exceptional unfinished series. Like the first installment, 2003's Michigan (his home state), Illinois employs vast instrumentation in its alternately featherweight and sumo orchestration, and a small choir to amplify the former novelist's meticulously crafted musings on cities, serial killers, superheroes, supernatural entities and the Sears Tower. Informed by jazz, post-rock, avant pop and folk, Stevens' music is moving but not maudlin, accessible but not trite, epic but not gratuitous. In short, this is a beautiful album. Might be a good time to get started on Louisiana. 9/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Laura Veirs at la Tulipe, Fri., Sept. 9, 8:30 p.m., $18

Shoot the Moon Where Strangers Live EP (independent)
Between the sensual, slow-burning quality of songs like "Concubine's Lament," showcasing the torch-singer emoting of vocalist Nadia Bashalani, and the charming Pavement shagginess of "Tales From the Sea," there's a lot to commend about this local band. Their five-track debut EP was produced alternately by Patrick Watson and Moondata Productions' Matt Lederman, and mastered by Harris Newman, and while the production segues seamlessly, and the band's split personalities each have their appeal, Shoot the Moon's parts produce a disjointed whole. 7/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Orillia Opry, Lil' Andy at Main Hall, Fri., Sept. 9, 9 p.m., $5

The Snitches
Black Book (Write Off/ Fusion III)
Part of me misses the chaotic circus act that was Montreal's Snitches in their earliest (mid-'90s), lords-of-the-loft-party incarnation. Another part, though, appreciates that on this side of whittled membership and a major-label mud ride, they've trimmed their sound down to the punky pop that was always the backbone, and worked it hard and true. Yeah, there are echoes of the Pixies in there, the Clash and, when singer Mike Webber nails Richard Butler's classy rasp, P. Furs. But what keeps ringing through is the rigid riffage of classic mod rock ("Taxman" gets taxed repeatedly), suggesting that when the Snitches get back to basics, they go all the way. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Epoxies
Stop the Future (Fat Wreck)
Although Epoxies take points from the Tubeway Army, Missing Persons and the rest of the new wavers, when they drop the shtick and lay down some solid power pop in the vein of the good ol' Rezillos and Dickies, they do manage to surprise. Trying to cover their tracks, they even cover the Scorpions' "Robot Man," complete with Devo keyboard solo, but the infectious harmonies of "This Day," "Wind Me Up" and "Struggle No Other," with singer Roxy Epoxy's perfect new-wave delivery, is undeniable. 7.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Various
Cosmosonica: Crazy Covers Vol. 1 (Family/ Fusion III)
Okay, yeah, it's a novelty album, meaning a fair part won't survive a second listen. But there are genuine gems among the 39 tracks on these two CDs compiled by U.K. DJ/producer Tom Middleton, whose previous comps already betrayed an obsession with odd cover versions. You get Nirvana gone electro, a Bollywood-ified "I Will Survive," Barefoot's lazy jazz take on "White Lines," Booker T's tender manhandling of U2, a massive orchestral go at Frankie Goes to Hollywood, alt-country, reggae galore, ukuleles and more. Oh, and Aztec Camera's dour shuffle through Van Halen's "Jump," which always cracked me up. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Acid Mothers Temple & the Cosmic Inferno
IAO Chant From the Cosmic Inferno (Ace Fu)
What we have here, from the best improvisational psychedelic band around, is the 55-minute "Om Riff From the Cosmic Inferno" with Gong's "Master Builder" woven in, marking the recent passing of Gong leader Pierre Moerlen. The latest lineup of AMT features two drummers, who use restraint throughout, letting the Hendrix-drenched guitar of leader Kawabata Makoto and the stereo-panned oscillations take over the mix while a Buddhist chant and repeating bass/guitar riff drill relentlessly over several smoothly-transitioned movements. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins) With Aqui and les Angles Mort at la Sala Rossa, Thurs., Sept. 15, 9 p.m., $15

David Kristian
Rhythms for a Rainy Season (Apegenine)
The news of local producer David Kristian's "retirement" from the IDM game came as no surprise - while DK has been a staple in the Montreal experimental music scene for a decade, any self-respecting fan would know that he's too restless an artist to stick to one thing for too long. So here it is, his final IDM record. Lucky for us, with all its beautiful bittersweet melodies, warm analog sweeps, gushes and rhythmic intricacy, it's classic Kristian, recorded between 1999 and 2001 using a special "matrix sequencing setup" (described in detail in the liner notes, for those serious trainspotters). Kristian once again transcends transistors and breathes soul into circuit boards. 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

The Free Design/Various
The Now Sound Redesigned (Light in the Attic)
It was nice enough of Seattle label Light in the Attic to resurrect the catalogue of the Free Design, a late-'60s psych-folk family affair loaded with crystal harmonies and lysergic loopiness. But they topped themselves by enlisting the likes of Madlib, Danger Mouse, Kid Koala and Caribou, never to mention Stereolab, High Llamas, Mellow and Chris Geddes of Belle & Sebastian (the latter bunch direct descendents of what the Free Design were doing) to rework their tracks. Compiled at last on CD by no less than Nobody, who himself bridges hip hop and vintage soft-focus psychedelia, the results are delicious. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Kanye West
Late Registration (Roc-A-Fella/Universal)
If there was any doubt that Late Registration wasn't going to live up to all the hype, Kanye has taken care of that by speaking his mind on national TV... again. The LP manages to squeeze Kanye's ignorance and arrogance in right alongside his idealistic individuality and sincere vision for hip hop in 2005. Although he still hasn't cemented himself into the lyrical icon status enjoyed by Nas or Jay-Z, Kanye is a little more ambitious musically, and isn't afraid to broach topics that many MCs would never touch. If "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" is too real for you, try "Crack Music" featuring the Game, or two songs that epitomize Kanye's pensive/playful side, "Addiction" and "We Can Make It Better." 8.5/10 (Scott C)

Ohmega Watts
The Find (Ubiquity/Outside)
Hailing from Flatbush, Brooklyn, MC/producer Ohmega Watts (aka Milton Campbell) has built on the momentum of the North West independent hip hop movement, after settling in Portland, Oregon after college. Watts pulls all his samples and drums from a live band, making his deep and soulful hip hop grooves all the more unique. Songs like "The Find" and "Full Swing" may conjure up visions of Pete Rock and CL Smooth, but Watts has polished his own sound to appeal to purists and new heads alike. It's cats like this, the MC/producer types, who you have to keep an eye on. They have a tendency to produce more great music than you can keep up with. 7.5/10 (Scott C)

Junior Kelly
Tough Life (VP)
Junior Kelly undoubtedly stole the show at Montreal's first reggae fest. High energy, yet not so much as to undercut his voice, Kelly shined. Since then, I suppose I've just been blissfully enjoying the tunes and not really been paying attention, because he's been cranking out hit after hit. Tough Life isn't the record for those who get their paws on tracks as soon as they appear on 45, but it's a remarkable collection on some of the best riddims of the last couple years: "Blaze," on the riddim of the same name, is wicked. "The More I See Her" on the Hard Times is terrific, as is "Receive" on the Tashai. 9/10 (Erin MacLeod)

Raheem DeVaughn
The Love Experience (Jive/Sony BMG)
Two tracks deep into DeVaughn's debut - the silky title track and the outstanding "Guess Who Loves You More" - and it sounds like it's time to get ready for an extended love serenade. But he switches things up with "Who," a hard-edged, pop-leaning commentary on social responsibility. And while most of The Love Experience is just that, tracks like the rally cry "Catch 22" and "Until," a reworked version of the Isley Brothers' "Footsteps in the Dark," make it clear that DeVaughn is talking about all kinds of love here. It's an ambitious though uneven experience, with just enough highlights to keep things interesting. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra
Not In Our Name (Verve/Universal)
One of the great protest bands is resurrected. This time, the target is the Bush administration. Once again, the hugely talented Carla Bley is in charge as leader and arranger. The band, 12-strong, includes Carla, Charlie and a wonderful drummer in Matt Wilson. There are eight tracks containing music penned by the likes of Ornette Coleman, Bill Frisell, Antonin Dvorak and Samuel Barber, and a number of outstanding soloists - Steve Cardenas, Miguel Zenon, Tony Malaby, Chris Cheek and Michael Rodriguez - really get into the music. Try "Adagio for Strings" on this not-to-be-missed release. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)

Kronos Quartet & Asha Bhosle
You've Stolen My Heart: Songs From R.D. Burman's Bollywood (Nonesuch/Warner)
While generally associated with the modern classical works of Glass and Górecki, Riley and Reich, the ever-adventurous Kronos string quartet are given to daring tangents at times. This latest they see through stupendously, a jam with the undisputed queen of Indian film songs on a dozen numbers by one of the genre's best loved, most inventive composers. Distilled down from expansive, even excessive orchestral setups to the leaner, quirkier, more distinct quartet-plus arrangements, Burman's music - much of which dates back to the '70s - percolates with fresh new energy. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Mini CD Reviews

Sonny Rollins Without a Song: the 9/11 Concert (Milestone/Universal) The Colossus captured live for the first time in years. A living giant in a moving Boston appearance four days after 9/11. A must! 10 (LD)

Loe Pesci The Fuck Loes Mixtape (independent) Poor Loes. He's got the ill street blues. Luckily for us, that hasn't stopped him from lacing this piece. 8 (SC)

Thomas Hellman L'appartement (Justin Time/Fusion III) Area chansonnier spends way too much time at home, lovely tunes ensue. 7.5 (LC) At le Va-et-Vient, Fri. and Sat., Sept. 9–10

Various The Now Sound of Mexico (King Groove/Fusion III) A super-smooth blend of downtempo cool that hits its stride halfway through - and not an "ay-yi-yi" in earshot. 7.5 (RB)

Alice Cooper Dirty Diamonds (New West) Truly a shell of what was one of rock 'n' roll's most dangerous men. Shame, really. 5 (JC)

Shaggy "Wild 2Nite" 12" (Geffen) Do I want to see Shaggy get "Wild 2Nite," or any other night? Does anyone? 4 (EM)

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