Mastodon
Blood Mountain (Reprise/Warner)
With Slayer’s new one recently cracking the Top 10, and Lamb of God soon to follow, Mastodon can easily include themselves in this unholy trinity of the metal elite. Although they make no bones about their metal roots, it’s of course their trademark propensity for stop-on-a-dime prog that blows this record sky-high. Their constant push to take riffs to epic proportions is now perfectly honed, and for all their progressive tendencies, there isn’t a nanosecond of fluff here. Discharge-styled crustcore rests next to King Crimson time signatures (“The Wolf Is Loose”) while discordant, Voivod-esque arpeggios side with blast beats (“Bladecatcher”). Blood Mountain is a monster! 9/10 (Johnson Cummins) With Converge and the Bronx at the Spectrum, Sun., Sept. 10, 8 p.m., $20, all ages

M. Ward
Post-war (Merge)
As hard as it is to top his last album, Transistor Radio, Portland’s M. Ward does his damnedest on this fine fifth effort. For the first time, his sweet and smoky voice, and distinctive finger-picked guitar, are backed by a band, members of the Decemberists and the Thermals, with Neko Case and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James on backing vocals. Another first is the addition of surf and hippie pop to Ward’s stylistic palette, alongside his old standbys, folk and blues. It’s like an updated definition of Americana, styles that mingle and merge under the weight of his gauzy intimacy. 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Oakley Hall at la Sala Rossa, Tues., Sept. 12, 8:30 p.m., $12

The American Devices
self-titled (Grenadine)
After 25 years of pushing the envelopes of punk ethos, proggy complexity and twisted pop charm, Montreal’s overlooked underdogs of truly alternative rock finally get the proper retrospective CD they deserve. While hardly as comprehensive as AD guitarist/Mirror comix artist Rick Trembles’s exhaustive, home-burned five-disc package of last year, the 22 tunes here, reaching right back to 1979, capably showcase the inspired intricacies and idiosyncrasies that characterize the band’s repertoire. The foldout insert of Trembles’s dizzyingly complicated, hand-drawn family tree of Devices alumni is a cool bonus. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Intronaut
Void (Goodfellow/Sonic Unyon)
With former members of grind kings Uphill Battle, doom masters Anubis Rising and death-metal merchants Impaled and Exhumed, this has all of the markings for greatness—and it delivers on every count. With a hint of Isis’s panoramic brutality, Intronaut know when to create dynamics with abstract passages and a sense of melody, but when it comes time to pulverize, they really do hit with a fistful of nickels. With seven songs clocking in at over 45 minutes, Intronaut hold back on the punchline and really let you delve into every ugly detail. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Keith Red
Thread (Lucky Number/Statik)
Poni Hoax
self-titled (Tigersushi/Statik)
If politics and payola didn’t determine NME coverage, Manchester’s Keith would have made it by now. The band taints their Britpop with a little love for their adopted hometown, seating acid-house piano and dance beats beside lush ballads and breezy pop songs. Echo and the Bunnymen, Suede, the Charlatans, the Beatles and Bloc Party, assemble! Disregard the naked nubile and barn owl on Poni Hoax’s album cover—this is neither classic rock nor metal, but Parisian electropop with a dance-rock M.O. that’s similar, but somewhat inferior, to that of Keith. However, their versatile vocals and eclectic cocktails of guitars, synths, strings and beats evoke everyone from Kraftwerk to the Fall to Joy Division to Serge Gainsbourg to Rinôçérôse. Confused? You should be. Keith 8/10, Poni Hoax 7/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

The Roots
Game Theory (Island Def Jam/ Universal)
Even though the evolution of the Roots has been a balanced combination of classic hip hop bravado, neo-soul nepotism and boundary-pushing boom-bap, Game Theory is still in a class of its own. From the slacker hook of “Livin’ in a New World,” courtesy of John John from Nouveau Riche, to the heartfelt “Clock With No Hands” featuring Mercedes Martinez, and even the pensive “Atonement” with J*Davey, it’s still safe to say that nobody channels the many musical possibilities, moods and topics overlooked in hip hop today quite like these boys from Philly. A touching tribute to the late J Dilla shines on “Dillatastic” and “Can’t Stop This,” showing just how much he influenced the Roots and many more. 8/10 (Scott C)

Young Dro
Best Thang Smokin’ (Grand Hustle/Warner)
Now that TI has been crowned the hottest hip hop act of 2006, the time has come for him to flood the market with his Pimp Squad Clique chums. In that spirit, here’s Atlanta-based rapper Young Dro—but whereas TI’s Southern-drawl delivery flows with a laid-back confidence, Young Dro sounds like he’s falling asleep mid-verse with his languid rapping style. Dro’s mediocre MC skills aside, Best Thang Smokin’ is still a competent slice of snap music—the beats are concise and dancefloor-approved, especially the thumping, onomatopoeia-refrained “Rubberband Banks” and the refreshingly non-phallocentric relationship song, “We Lied.” 7/10 (Erik Leijon)

Method Man
4:21… the Day After (Island Def Jam/Universal)
On his fourth studio album, the Meth is back with a slew of producers to support his classic, albeit well-worn flow. “Dirty Mef” features a razor-sharp ODB (RIP), but the Eric Sermon and Allah Mathematics beat doesn’t do the double-dragon flows any justice. Sermon does make up for it on “Got to Have It,” with an Isley Brothers sample in tow. Other jump-out tracks include the bring-you-back flavour of “Let’s Ride” and the RZA-produced “The Glide” and “Konichiwa Bitches” (GZA coined that phrase in a Chappelle Show skit—where is he?!). Inspectah Deck drops flows on the album, but it woulda been nice to hear U-God and Ghostface drop a few too. 7/10 (Lateef Martin)

Beenie Man
Undisputed (EMI)
What is undisputed is Beenie Man’s commitment to dancehall. His savvy ability to combine ’80s deejay bravado (and riddims—check the title track), stellar delivery and cutting-edge production allows him to come out on top, time and time again. As per all major-label releases by dancehall artists, there are a few tunes that sound a little, well, could BET-ish be an adjective? If it is, that’s what I’d call the track “Girls,” featuring Akon. But it’s nothing to worry about, though, because the now squeaky clean—with the exception of lotsa sex talk—Beenie Man kills it on songs like “Chacka Dance” and the lead-off “Hmm Hmm.” 8/10 (Erin MacLeod)

Beyoncé
B’Day (Sony BMG)
Letoya
self-titled (EMI)
Seems both Beyoncé and fellow former Destiny’s Child member Letoya Luckett have something to prove—Beyoncé, that her debut Dangerously in Love was no fluke, and Luckett, that she wasn’t just a no-talent prop. Beyoncé’s sophomore effort is definitely more energetic than her debut. Along with lead single “Déjà Vu,” the Swizz Beatz-produced “Get Me Bodied” and the sizzling “Sugar Mama,” which bounces off a sample of the Soul Searchers’ “Searching for Soul,” maintains the retro vibe she successfully mined with “Crazy in Love.” Meanwhile, Luckett’s debut reveals her as a capable singer, though she lacks Beyoncé’s fiery vamp. Nevertheless, an army of producers ensure that the right beats firmly support tracks like “What Love Can Do” and the playful “All Eyes on Me.” Seems there’s enough post-DC flavour to go around. Beyoncé 8/10, Letoya 7/10 (Gerard Dee)

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
What’s Going On (Sony-BMG)
One year after Katrina ravaged their hometown, this venerable R&B band release their interpretation of Marvin Gaye’s landmark album. The eight-man band delivers percolating soul grooves, while a handful of guests add vocal gusto to the album’s signature tracks. For example, Chuck D brings his own brand of fury to the enduring title track, while soul veteran Betty LaVette’s poignant delivery of “What’s Happening Brother” resonates with the region’s despair. Equally impressive is Ivan Neville’s interpretation of “God Is Love,” which benefits from the joyful musicality that echoes throughout this set. 8.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

James Fleet/ Drake Colley Quintet
On the Shoulders of Giants (Nubian Tonal Science)
Bob Lark/ Phil Woods Quintet
In Her Eyes (Jazzed Media)
Two sessions that should appeal to bebop lovers. James Fleet, who plays flute, is the son of guitarist Biddy Fleet, whose work with Charlie Parker is looked upon as the beginning of bebop’s evolution. The co-leader is a fine alto player, and this set, recorded in New York City, consists of six originals, including “Bossa for Biddy” and Parker’s “Chasin’ the Bird.” Pianist Yoko Kawaguchi would seem to be a musician to keep an ear out for. Trumpeter Lark heads the Jazz Studies Department at DePaul University, and Phil Woods, who sticks to the alto throughout, is a living giant who needs little in the way of introduction. Backing on their disc is supplied by the unsung pianist-composer Jim McNeely and Woods’s longtime (over 30 years) musical buddies Steve Gilmore and Bill Goodwin. Bird’s “Charlie’s Wig” is here along with “It’s You or No One,” six originals by Lark and a pair by Woods. Fleet-Colley 8.5/10, Lark-Woods 9/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

Waajeed & Maestro Marvin vs. WJK EP (Bling47) Jeed and them flip some Marvin Gaye joints like “Inner City Blues” and “Musiq,” dirty Detroit style. Do not sleep. 10 (SC)

King Tubby Meets Jacob Miller in a Tenement Yard (Motion) Wicked reissue, great selection, and terrific liner notes by renowned dub historian David Katz. 9 (EM)

Ghoulunatics Cryogénie (Galy) Locals Ghoulunatics are metal masters, but extra kudos to local producer Pierre Rémillard, who really lets the band hit the mark. 7.5 (JC)

Lenni Jabour and the Third Floor Les Dangereuses (Café Fleur) A bilingual cabaret chanteuse from Toronto who sings about St-Henri! See to believe. 7.5 (LC) With Amanda Mabro at Casa del Popolo on Wed., Sept. 13, 9 p.m., $7

Various VE-Day Memories (Gala) Subtitled Big Band Jazz Music of World War II in Canada, this is a well-researched release that includes music by Robert Farnon, Lucio Agostini, Norma Locke and Alys Robi. Calling it a jazz CD is bit of a stretch, but it remains a superb historical document. 7.5 (LD)

Dani Siciliano Slappers (K7/Outside) Economical acoustic grooves and rich layered vocals combine like pancakes and maple syrup—one great taste that tastes gross separated—on the second LP by this Matthew Herbert cohort. 7 (LC)

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