Gotan Project
Lunático (XL/Select)
Taking as its title the name of a champion racehorse, this follow-up to their ’02 debut, a smash hit worldwide, proves that Gotan Project’s no one-trick pony. Their 21st-century take on tango worked well enough as a matter of beats meeting bandoneons, with their reverence for the music’s seedy history and flair for drama elevating their efforts above those of their lightweight Latin loungecore peers. Lunático sees the Parisians expanding both forward and back. On the one hand, there are the modern flourishes like vocodered vocals and even a deadpan rap on “Mi Confesión.” On the other, the disco dimension is dropped entirely for several tracks as the band gets to the root of things (they made a point of recording in Buenos Aires, in a studio once used by Astor Piazzolla). Either way, Gotan Project’s shady charm and careful craftsmanship are present throughout. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Calexico
Garden Ruin (Quarterstick/ FAB)
This fifth album from Joey Burns and John Convertino is certainly going to prick up the ears of fans hooked on their tendency for epic, melancholy grandeur and their taste of Tex Mex. Most songs are now set in major keys and, with the use of occasional Brian Wilson-style backups, actually get (gulp) poppy. Stacked guitars send “Letter to Bowie Knife” home, “Roka” throws a bone to the fans, while “Lucky Dime” seems almost radio-ready. This fairly friendly fare will certainly have some people all up in arms, but a band that is able to grow this much in their 12 years of existence is pretty stunning. 9/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Orillia Opry
Pandion Haliaetus (Ships at Night)
Daniel Noble and Emma Baxter make it sound easy. Their indie folk is a pretty and plain concoction of subtly soulful vocals, acoustic guitars, piano and a little guest trumpet (courtesy Jimmy Rhodes), guitar and bass by the record’s producer, Warren Spicer, and (full disclosure, yo) the Mirror’s Matthew Woodley on drums. “Lucky Wind” is a lovely, ambling lead track streaked with old-timey R&B, while “Treachery” sounds like Radiohead on a rootsy tangent. “Silent Films” picks up the pace (they moved so fast in those days), with Noble’s vocals and Rhodes’s trumpet bobbing and weaving around commanding drums. Yet more rockin’ local roots music. 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) CD launch with Plants and Animals at la Sala Rossa, Sun., April 23, 9 p.m., $5

The Lovely Feathers
Hind Hind Legs (Equator)
The second half of new Montreal label Equator’s one-two introductory punch, following the Islands CD, locals the Lovely Feathers have moved quickly in their short lifespan to a position of some consequence on the indie rock landscape. Gripped by a nervous energy that borders on manic, and given to wearing their eccentricity on their sleeves, the band succeeds in using these potentially off-putting characteristics to their advantage. Singer Mark Kupfert’s strained and plaintive vocal affectations (and rather perplexing lyrics) are something of an acquired taste, but the Lovely Feathers’ ambitious yet immediately engaging songcraft, on the other hand, makes itself at home right off the bat. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Irving
Death in the Garden Blood on the Flowers (Eenie Meenie)
With five singer-songwriters in the band, you’d think L.A.’s Irving would make a mess, or a scatterbrained masterpiece, but they’ve done neither. Their shared love of pop melody, ’80s synths and snakes-and-ladders riffs brings their sophomore LP together like a well-sequenced mixtape. Conspicuous “homages” to bands like the Cure, the Who, Stone Roses and Dandy Warhols are alternately clever and irritating, and a few tracks flirt with ’80s purgatory, but the record’s strengths outweigh the weaknesses. The rockabilly rhythm of the title track (which isn’t the Cure-alike, amazingly) is a highlight. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Built to Spill
You in Reverse (Warner)
It blows my mind that these guys are still calling Warner home. Ever the kings of the psych-guitar jam-out, BTS kick things off with the epic, eight-minute jam “Goin’ Against Your Mind” and don’t let up on the pedal for the next hour. Singer Doug Martsch’s vocals go right to the centre of your bones again here, but his mixing has advanced by leaps and bounds over the years, with unlikely moments hitting the forefront while obvious huge choruses are tucked in the back. The jangly guitars are all there, but songs like “Saturday” and the Crazy Horse-style “Wherever You Go” prove that they can still deliver gems after all these years. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Various
Headbanger’s Ball: The Revenge (Roadrunner)
With two discs of pure metal mayhem, Headbanger’s Ball returns after two successful predecessors. This time, we’re treated to the favoured metal bands of the day, such as Slipknot (Grammy winners?! Say it ain’t so!), Lamb of God, Korn, Disturbed, Bleeding Through, Black Label Society (with a Rick Astley-esque necro-ballad) and 31 more. Disc two showcases up-and-comers like Kingdom of Sorrow, A Life Once Lost, 36 Crazyfists, Arch Enemy and God Forbid. Some tracks, such as Hatebreed’s “To the Threshold,” were recorded exclusively for this comp, while others were snatched from the stage, like Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.” If you’re looking to find out where metal is headed these days, this will give you at least the MTV version. 7/10 (Lateef Martin)

Eloi Brunelle
5 (Epsilonlab/Fusion III)
As the numerical title suggests, Montreal’s Epsilonlab has just celebrated a half-decade of dance music for discerning tastes. To mark the occasion, the label’s golden boy Brunelle scrounged up no less than 50 tracks he had in the bank, from which 14 were cherry-picked, programmed and packaged by François Lebaron, head of Trigger Recordings and a pal of Brunelle’s. The results are delicious. Brunelle’s understated approach to house music’s structure serves well as a canvas for his playful, original and unpretentious ornamentation. Can’t shake his remix of Mossa’s “Town Hall Take One” or the sexy grinder “Me Likee.” Fun, fun, fun! 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Karl Larsson
Pale as Milk (Bad Taste)
If Swedish pop history has taught us anything, it’s that the Swedes don’t let measly language barriers stop their immaculate mimicry. Bands like Kent and the Hives delivered the sincerest form of flattery with their awesome approximations of Britpop and American rock ’n’ roll (as copied by Brits), and Karl Larsson’s gone and done the same for a generation of indie rock. Throw away your Sonic Youth, Guided by Voices, Pavement, Luna, Sloan and Mercury Rev records and let Larsson drop the smooth, pre-digested lot of them into your gullet. Mmmmmm. The scary thing is that some of it is scrumptious. 7/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

LL Cool J
Todd Smith (Def Jam)
Truth be told, it’s been a long while since LL moved into movies and TV, and his music hasn’t been the same since. While the six-pack and guns will always get him points with the ladies, no workout program can work out the apparent kinks in his musical choices. On this, album number 12, it’s very clear that for LL, making records has now become the equivalent of wearing water wings in the deep end of the pool. He could drown at any minute. With a combination of sexy cheese raps, duets with J.Lo and Jamie Foxx, and those damn abs, James Todd Smith is safely in Will Smith territory. As long as LL keeps going to the gym, playing to the ladies and clocking the right cameos, I won’t be surprised if he has another 12 albums to come. 6.5/10 (Scott C)

Notes to Self
Timbits (NTS)
In the weeks that followed the death of Detroit producer J Dilla, a flood of heartfelt tributes and musical dedications flooded the Internet, many of which incorporated artists rapping over classic Dilla material. Here, Toronto’s Notes to Self have reworked Dilla’s Donuts into Timbits, featuring 20 instrumentals from the producer’s last work, and varying degrees of thankfulness, inspiration and devotion from MCs Bronze One, Swamp Donkey, Roshin and DJ Dopey. The weight of the occasion is felt, with every word seemingly chosen to pay homage to an artist who will continue to inspire others for a long time to come. 8/10 (Scott C)

V
The Revelation is Now Televised (BBE)
We’ve heard Philly-based singer V’s brand of contemporary soul before, most notably from Bilal and Dwele, so his debut doesn’t hold any startling musical revelations. But, as with another Philly singer, Jill Scott—who guests on the quirky “Born Again”—Jazzy Jeff helms production duties here, and the results are solid. V (aka Valvin Roane) isn’t a particularly distinctive vocalist, though he’s a capable singer. So it’s really the content of the songs and the solid musical production that make this set enjoyable. More specifically, tracks like “Picture This,” which imagines a better world while an eccentric keyboard riff punctuates the wordplay, make this revelation a worthwhile listen. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)

Mildred Bailey
Sunday, Monday or Always (Quadromania)
Mel Torme
But Beautiful (Quadromania)
Two great singers, both presented over four bargain-priced CD sets. Bailey is heard in the company of Red Norvo, Ellis Larkins, John Kirby and Mary Lou Williams, and the many Eddie Sauter scores are a bonus over 91 tracks. The Torme anthology’s 64 tracks include Artie Shaw, Page Cavanaugh, the Mel Tones and Mel’s 25-minute-plus salute, the “California Suite.” Both should be welcome additions to the collection of any serious vocal follower. Both 10/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

Peggy Lee Sings Leiber & Stoller (A&M) “Some Cats Know,” “I’m a Woman,” “Is That All There Is?” Ms. Lee and a winning songwriting team—it doesn’t get much better. 10 (LD)

Agoraphobic Nosebleed PCP Torpedo/Anbrx (Hydra Head/Sonic Unyon) The first CD is a re-release from 1999 but the second is the real treat, with remixes from Jesu’s Justin Broadrick, DJ Speedranch, Merzbow and more. The kings of grind! 9 (JC)

Maysr Timeless Riddims/Classic Dancehall Vol. 1 (independent) Jigsy King, Yellowman, Barington Levy, John Holt, Garnett Silk and nuff oldies put Maysr in heavy rotation at my place right now. 8 (SC)

Giant Drag Hearts and Unicorns (Kickball/Universal) Nostalgic for female-fronted alt-rock? Steer your daughters, sisters, cousins or nieces this way, and have a listen while you’re at it. 7 (LC)

Mecca Normal The Observer (Kill Rock Stars) Twitchy guitars and witchy vocals take us on safe paths through the mist of (wait for it) online dating. Sad-tastic. 6 (LC)

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