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 Sunset Rubdown
Random Spirit Lover (Jagjaguwar)
If Sunset Rubdown’s third album were a journey, the barrage of detours and roadblocks and nonsensical scenery would maintain a certain level of chaos, but the top-notch car and excitable company would keep danger and boredom at bay. It’s perhaps less accessible than their last record, and closer to Spencer Krug’s more outré projects (Swan Lake and Frog Eyes) than to his meal ticket (Wolf Parade), but the band is clearly getting comfortable driving blindfolded, letting artistic intuition lead the way forward rather than relying on familiar routes, signs and signals. Stylistically, they stop all over the (rock) map, from clanging indie banging to tender trills to haunted prog, but who cares about destinations when the ride is this sweet? 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Siouxsie
Mantaray (W14/Universal)
Debbie Harry
Necessary Evil (Eleven Seven/Universal)
These solo albums by two grand dames of punk and new wave will satiate their devout fans without merely mimicking the bands that made their names. Siouxsie’s solo debut was produced and co-written by Steve Evans
(Robert Plant, surprisingly) and Charlie Jones (Goldfrapp, less so), and coasts over dark terrain with economical arrangements of guitars, piano, strings, bass and drums. Segueing smoothly from all-access rock to a sleek synthetic groove to fairy-tale balladry, Siouxsie sounds at ease outside the goth-rock and beat-based confines of the Banshees and the Creatures. Harry is 12 years Siouxsie’s senior, and not as strong vocally (or otherwise) as she once was, but age doesn’t stop her from revisiting electro/hip hop territory, as Blondie did back in ’83 with “Rapture.” Harry’s epic, sixth solo venture, her first since ’93, also touches on girl-group tunes, power pop, smutty rock and radio ballads, but is far too often sullied by flat lyrics and stilted production. Siouxsie 7.5, Debbie 6/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Bruce Springsteen
Magic (Sony BMG)
This is a big one for the Boss as it’s his first outing with the E Street Band behind him since 2002’s The Rising, but if you are looking for the “Glory Days” of another Darkness on the Edge of Town, don’t get your hopes up. The Duke of Asbury Park puts in a good performance here, but the gloss of Brendan O’Brian’s production makes it impossible to sink a fang in. Although Springsteen may have not invented blue-collar American rock, he at least was among the first to unfurl the flag. Sadly it seems that his imitators may be getting the best of him now. 6.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)
Old Time Relijun
Catharsis in Crisis (K)
If heaviosity is integral to your definition of punk, it’s safe to say that there’s more funk and less punk in this Olympian crew’s formula for their eighth record. Despite the dearth of searing riffage, however, the unbridled mania of singer Arrington de Dionyso and the sick chops of “subversive saxophonista” Benjamin Hartman, not to mention the band’s ever-feverish rhythm section, are punk as junk and free as E, with relatively minor brain damage. Recorded at Calvin Johnson’s storied Dub Narcotic studio and abetted by equally hype producer Steve Fisk, this may not be the band’s most gratifying record, but it’ll leave you stunned and sweaty nonetheless. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Biffy Clyro
Puzzle (14th Floor)
Claptrap rock with a couple extra bells and whistles, BC comes off a bit pretentious, especially with that fingernails-on-a-chalkboard–annoying intro. Wearing the armour of innovative arrangement, with orchestral strings and concept art, their tired old riffs taste like gone-off eggs with a whole lot of spice. Promise pokes through on tracks like “The Conversation Is…,” “Love Has a Diameter” and “Get Fucked Stud,” but BC is going to have to shed the clichés. Although my sensibilities are slightly assaulted this time around, I’m holding out for the next album. 6.5/10 (Lateef Martin) With Queens of the Stone Age, the Black Angels at Metropolis, Tues., Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., $35, all ages
Beirut
The Flying Club Cup (Ba Da Bing)
New Mexico prodigy Zach Condon, barely out of his teens, wowed many with the sparkling Balkan Gypsy trip of his Beirut debut, Gulag Orkestar, in 2006. Lightning doesn’t strike twice here, though. The Flying Club Cup’s pastiche of past-tense Parisian pop doesn’t lack for robust production and rich arrangements (Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett assists extensively), and Condon’s buttery baritone recalls Rufus Wainwright and the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon. It’s the latter that the greatest debt is owed to, overall, but rather than divine, the wearied clip and forced faux nostalgia are all too earthbound. 6.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Dashboard Confessional
The Shade of Poison Trees (Vagrant/Universal)
With an album opener called “Where There’s Gold (There’s a Goldigger),” logic suggests Dashboard Confessional are pessimistic motherfuckers with severe women issues. Chris Carrabba’s angry, misogynistic lyrics are the most galling offences here, considering the disarmingly banal acoustic arrangements. According to him, every relationship ends with his girl acting like a treacherous slut, and he’s left to pick up the pieces of his fragile heart (lines like “You ought to know better than to tempt your jailor” illustrate the petulance). Chances are, if you’ve had your heart broken enough for five albums of chauvinistic whining, it’s not them, it’s you. 1/10 (Erik Leijon)
 Jennifer Lopez
Brave (Sony BMG)
As a singer, Lopez makes a good dancer, which is why her savvy producers always put the emphasis on the beat. That’s never been more evident than here. With the exception of the sappy “Wrong When You’re Gone,” this is a straight-up dance record, though the absence of any hip hop influences suggests that Jenny from the block has relocated to the club. It’s an environment that Lopez thrives in, throwing out swirling grooves like “Hold It Don’t Drop It” with casual abandon. Near the disc’s end, she claims to be tired of the clubs during the sweeping “I Need Love,” but one listen to this set reveals the lie. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee) With Marc Anthony at The Bell Centre, Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $59.50–$189.50, all ages
 Junior Senior
Hey Hey My My Yo Yo (Crunchy Frog/Rykodisc)
After too long a wait (this was released two years ago in Japan, but nowhere else), this doofy Danish duo follow up their magnificently retarded debut, D-D-Don’t Don’t Stop the Beat. The boisterous blend of cheesy disco, slaphappy raps, punky riffs and pencilneck positivity that Jesper and Jeppe (I forget who’s got seniority) dish out is smoother now, even a touch subdued. But that helps highlight assists from le Tigre, the B-52’s girls and authentic soul relics the Velvelettes, Motown alumni who steal the show on their tracks. 7/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Raekwon
Presents Ice Water: Polluted Water (IceH20/Babygrande)
The current disjointed reality of what we used to call the Wu-Tang Clan has produced several lackluster projects over the years, but we still get excited every time Raekwon touches the mic. Here, it’s his turn to give a leg up to his Staten Island Ice Water crew, featuring Polite, Stomach, Paulie Caskets and Donnie Cash, who, for the most part, can’t hold a candle to Rae. Lex’s penchant for cinematic storytelling hasn’t completely rubbed off on the crew as much as it’s been imitated and aped, making for few promising moments. “Click Click” is a caper cut that comes together like a plan should, but even though Rick Ross, Busta and Three Six Mafia thought this record was worth their time, I’m not sure it’s worth yours. 7/10 (Scott C)
 Raul Midón
A World Within a World (Blue Note/EMI)
From his 2005 debut State of Mind, it was apparent that Midón’s most enduring qualities were his supple voice, sage lyrics and deft guitar style. His sophomore effort is just as engaging as his first, a seamless blend of soul, folk and Latin rhythms that spur spontaneous toe-tapping and head-nodding. Midón is an affable artist who occasionally comes just shy of corny on daydreamy tracks like “Peace on Earth.” But mainly, he’s just a fan of the glass-half-full life view, prompting entertaining songs full of positive vibes like “Pick Somebody Up” and “All the Answers.” It’s a nice world to visit. 8/10 (Gerard Dee) At Metropolis tonight, Thurs., Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $20, all ages
 Thelonious Monk
Orchestra at Town Hall (Riverside/Universal)
Attending this Town Hall concert in NYC was part of my birthday celebration back in 1959. This reissue in the Keepnews Collection series has all the tracks arranged for large ensemble by Hall Overton, tracks that feature some great solos from the likes of Pepper Adams, Charlie Rouse and Phil Woods. It adds, for the first time, three tracks by the regular quartet of that period, one with Monk, Rouse, Sam Jones and Art Taylor—the music that made up the first half of the concert. A must for any collection, and don’t miss Overton’s scoring of Monk’s original piano solo on “Little Rootie Tootie,” transcribed for the entire band to play. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)
Mini CD Reviews
Champian Fulton With David Berger & The Sultans of Swing (Such Sweet Thunder) Another wonderful salute to the spirit of the swing era, this time “championing” a new singer in Ms. Fulton. 8.5 (LD)
D’Angelo YODA: The Monarch of Neo-Soul (Think Differently/FAB) While this is an unofficial release featuring awful sound quality and even distortion, it’s still D’Angelo material that you probably haven’t heard, and therefore necessary. 8 (SC)
Black Francis Blue Finger (Cooking Vinyl) Back in his Pixies-era guise, Frank is back in Black, making a welcome return to rock. 7.5 (LC)
John Fogerty Revival (Concord/Fantasy) Admittedly not Green River, but Fogerty’s rock ’n’ roll rasp will get you giddy as he begins his long trail back to the swamplands. 7 (JC)
Grand:PM Party in Your Basement (Curve/Universal) Retrosynth rock made by people who never bothered listening to actual ’80s records. 1 (EL)
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