Spank Rock
Voila! This Is… (Money Studies)
Following the unbelievably funked up, jit-inducing double Money Studies booty-bass 12 “Put That Pussy on Me”, Bodymore Murderland trio Spank Rock is one to watch out for in 2006. With a full-length slated for release on Big Dada in the coming months, MC Spank Rock and DJs Christopher Rockswell and xxxchange blend some upcoming Spank Rock cuts with Can, the Zombies, Missy Elliot, Yello, Led Zeppelin and assorted disco, Southern hip hop and B-more club oddities into a gritty, hour-long musical adventure. While not always rocking a smooth mix, the roughness adds character. Hot! 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Beck
Guerolito (Interscope/Universal)
In which Beck throws a dozen name producers into the mix (literally) to liven up his latest LP, Guero. Sequenced to match the source, with vocals largely left intact (a rule, I assume), this disc features top-notch work by Diplo, 8Bit, the Beastie Boys’ Adrock, El-P, John King, the Dust Brothers and Montreal’s own J’aime and Nick Diamonds (with Islands and as th’ Corn Gangg). You can dance, do drugs or geek out to the good stuff, but too many tracks, by the likes of Air and Octet, are lifeless and depressing. 7/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Silver Sunshine
A Small Pocket of Pure Spirit EP (Empyrean/Sonic Unyon)
If the Beatles had stayed in the psychedelic pop territory of Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s, rather than veering towards classic rock, they might’ve produced something a little like San Diego’s Silver Sunshine. It’s not exactly novel to be indebted to Lennon and McCartney (the melodies, the harmonies, the orchestration, the his ’n’ his songwriting credits), but this neo-fab four warp the template with faster tempos and fatter production, letting the guitars spread out like they own the place. The strength of this five-pack bodes well for Silver Sunshine’s second LP, out early next year. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

The Invisible Eyes
Laugh in the Dark (Bomp)
Here’s some great, Farfisa-laced psych garage rock that leans heavily on the fuzz. Singer Aubrey Nehring’s Iggy-isms come full tilt as producer Conrad Uno gives him the perfect Funhouse sound, while the rest get drenched in the reverb. The Invisible Eyes realize early on the record that just beating us over the head with 13th Floor Elevators for 16 songs will get a bit tiring, and salvage matters with psychedelic stereo-panning, tremolo-treated guitar and other vintage effects. The Headcoats feel of “I Don’t Want to Go” and “Luane” sit comfortably next to stompers like “Funny Feeling” and “Cyclone,” but be forewarned, this is for garage dwellers only. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Les Psycho Riders
Ne pariez jamais votre tête au diable (Experience/DEP)
Holy mack, do these locals ever worship the ground le Nombre walk on. I guess that may be a bit harsh, but le Nombre’s Nicotine plays drums, produces and leaves his fingerprints everywhere here. When they do manage to crawl out from under the snot-nosed kid-brother heading, though, like on “Insomnie” and “Misère noire,” they prove that they do know how to hit their mark. This is hardhitting, no-frills rock ’n’ roll in the vein of Hellacopters and Turbonegro, with more guitar solos than you can shake a stick at, and while it’s true that the three songs sung in English barely scale the translation fence, within this riff-o-rama, who the hell cares what singer Max Villeneuve is saying. 7/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Rammstein
Rosenrot (Universal)
A little more rock ’n’ roll than their last onslaught Reise, Reise, Rammstein still retain that stiff German melodrama—though with 99 per cent of their lyrics in German, it’s kinda tough to get what all the theatrics are about. A welcome contrast to their dance-friendly metal are the operatic and even cinematic “Hilf Mir” and “Spring.” They even tone it down with the shockingly sensitive “Ein Lied.” Rammstein also seem to be having a little more fun, especially on the Mexican-flavoured “Te Quiero Puta!” Let’s hope for mariachis and masked wrestlers at the live show. 7.5/10 (Lateef Martin)

Sven Väth
The Sound of the Sixth Season (Cocoon/Fusion III)
From working with forward-thinking producers to creating a successful residence in Ibiza, Sven Väth has made a long career of hooking up with the right people at the right time. On this installment of his Cocoon mix series, Väth continues to prove that he’s still in the game with choice new techno cuts from Adonai Elohim (think early Inner City on steroids) and the Dahlback brothers (aka Hugg & Pepp) on the first disc, and even some Cancon in the form of up-and-coming Vancouverite Konrad Black on the second, creepier (yet not as creepy as Väth on the cover) minimal disc. 8.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Tom Green
Prepare for Impact (Vik/Sony BMG)
Married Drew Barrymore and then lost her—that’s a strike against him. The pranks and spastic antics on TV show were moderately funny—point in his favour. Insists, like Dee Dee Ramone and numerous pro athletes, on releasing a novelty rap album—another strike against. Fills said record with titles “Write Rhymes and Act Like an Asshole,” “I’m an Idiot” and “I’m No Comedian”—a point in his favour, for honesty, but given the painful accuracy of those titles, there are 13 strikes against him here, one for each track. The impact for which one should prepare is that of a CD case against the bottom of a garbage can. -13/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Various
Ludacris Presents Disturbing tha Peace (Def Jam)
Ludacris dips into Atlanta’s bottomless pit of urban talent and serves up the next wave of the next to blow. After a healthy year of bumping around on the Internet, Field Mob’s “Georgia” gets a proper release, building once again on Jamie Foxx’s running Ray Charles impression. There is also, on “Gettin’ Some,” a contribution from Shawnna who, unlike some of the other artists featured here, has had some exposure already. You should probably remember the names Norfclk, Shareefa, Lazyeye, Playaz Circle, I-20 and Lil Fate, because Luda clearly applies the same level of quality to these new artists as he does on his own material. Check out his track “That’s My Shit” if you don’t know. 7.5/10 (Scott C)

Various
Dub Club: Picked From the Floor (G-Stone/Fusion III)
While people are clamouring from all directions to jump on the Diplo/M.I.A. bandwagon, singing the praises of rugged mash-ups and the electronic culture clash, Vienna’s Dub Club released their first “futuristic dub and dancehall” comp in 2000. Past efforts have been mired in forgettable tunes and questionable versions, but this time out they’ve managed to rack up some heat. If it’s not the rolling fire of Stereotyp’s “Pon Remote” featuring Brother Culture, then it’s got to be “Love Guide” by 2 Culture Clash with Miss Thing. There is some downtempo filler here, but this compilation is not without its high points and includes tracks that can run any dancefloor ragged. 7/10 (Scott C)

Fantan Mojah
Hail the King (Greensleeves)
Excuse my exuberance, but there’s just so much wonderful music coming out of Jamaica these days. Hail the King is an eagerly awaited (at least by me) full-length by yet another conscious one-drop wonder—who, incidentally, originally called himself Mad Killer until Capleton dubbed him Fantan Mojah (literally, “fan dem flames more jah”). The now-devout Rasta channels the beauty of his home parish of St. Elizabeth into this record, which features 2004’s big hit “Hungry” and this year’s wonderful, Rasta-inspired smash “Hail the King.” 8.5/10 (Erin MacLeod)

Will Downing
Soul Symphony (Verve/Universal)
When Downing debuted back in ’88, he was pretty much the only vocalist who could hold his own with the late Luther Vandross. Like Luther, Downing recognized the power of understatement—just listen to his stunning version of “Wishing on a Star” from ’89s Come Together As One for proof positive. But while Luther veered towards pop, Downing took a more discreet jazz route. Now, an incredible 12 albums later, Downing is still the master of subtle soul, always favouring mood over beat. This short but sweet set rarely rises above the shuffling groove of “Soul Steppin’,” instead wrapping Downing’s warm baritone around an intimate collection of songs from the heart. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

The Modern Jazz Quartet & Jimmy Giuffre
Complete Recordings (Lone Hill Jazz/Trend)
A dozen sides recorded live at the School of Jazz‚ in Lennox, Mass., in 1956. Included is material by the MJQ on its own (including “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”), with Giuffre and with the Giuffre trio (“Fine” and “Da Capo”), an 11-minute blues (a first meeting of Giuffre and Pee Wee Russell), a jam on “In a Mellotone” with Giuffre and Rex Stewart, and a meeting of Jimmy with Teddy Charles on “The Quiet Time.” An extended version of “Body and Soul” featuring Oscar Pettiford on cello and Ray Brown on bass is brought down a peg by the uninspired flute playing of Herbie Mann. Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Connie Kay, George Wein, Dick Katz, Jim Hall and Ralph Pena are also here. 9.5/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

Tal Farlow Fastest Guitar Player of His Era (Membran) Four wonderful CDs by this giant of the jazz guitar—Red Norvo, Red Mitchell, Oscar Pettiford, Barry Galbraith, Ray Brown and Eddie Costa are also heard, and it’s budget priced! 10 (LD)

Cuizinier Pour les filles: Street tape vol. 1 (Disque Primeur) A New York-style mix tape by French rapper Cuizinier and the TTC crew. Jacking some classic hip hop beats, grime, cuts by the Knife and even some Baltimore club tracks to ill effect. TTC est dans la place! 8 (RK)

The Magnolia Electric Co. Hard to Love a Man EP (Secretly Canadian) Four fine tunes balance blue-collar rock and back-country charm, but it’s hard to love a cover of the goofy “Werewolves of London.” 7.5 (LC)

Various Zombie Night in Canada Vol. 2 (Stumble/Universal) The cream of the crop of Canadian pyschobilly, including Montreal’s Gutter Demons, Brains, Bloodshot Bill, Alley Dukes and Flesh. 7.5 (JC)

Silversun Pickups Pikul EP (Dangerbird/Maple) Placebo fans take note of this L.A. band’s debut, a nugget of alt-rock gold with ripe melodies, snotty vocals and slow, saturnine guitars. 7 (LC)

Allele Point of Origin (Corporate Punishment/Navarre) Allele’s predictable nu-metal lets everybody know that their favourite colour is beige. 5 (JC)

>> Music Listings