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 Charlotte Gainsbourg
IRM (Because/Warner)
The daughter of French retro-perv-pop wizard Serge is more remarked for her acting (see: Antichrist) than for her singing (see: unexceptional), but bring in Beck with a bucketful of bright ideas and things start cooking. His tinkering with the tropes of left-handed blues-rock and neo-chanson, and array of unusual sonic ornaments, push Gainsbourg into the most adventurous—and rewarding—musical territory she’s yet trod. A gorgeous cover of “Le chat du café,” by Quebec’s Jean-Pierre Ferland, seals the deal. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “IRM” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Animal Collective
Fall Be Kind EP (Domino/Outside)
After inadvertently listening to part of this new EP and the band’s MySpace player simultaneously, without noticing anything amiss, I suspect that these indie rock stars spend all their time either above the clouds or underwater. But amid Zamfir and Grateful Dead samples, cascading noise, vocal mantras, guttural drones, ethereal echoes, bells, whistles and kitchen sinks are traces of solid songs and, somewhere on the horizon, sobriety. 7/10 Trial Track: “What Would I Want? Sky” (Lorraine Carpenter)
 Githead
Landing (Swim)
Easily Colin Newman’s most accessible project since his early days with Wire, Githead blends post-punk, krautrock and ’80s/’90s college rock tones and textures. Newman’s signature vocal style, a heavily accented, agitated spew, is heard on “Over the Limit,” with bassist/singer Malka Spigel (alumni of Israel’s Minimal Compact, contemporaries of Wire) providing a soft and nimble counterpoint. 7/10 Trial Track: “Take Off” (Lorraine Carpenter)
 White Mice
Ganjahovahdose (20 Buck Spin)
These masked vermin are back with their sixth record and remain too metal for their old home at Load Records, but way too noisy and fucked-up for any self respecting metalhead—which makes them perfect for 20 Buck Spin. If you’re diggin’ the noisy blasts coming out of their hometown of Providence, RI, you are guaranteed to find some tough love in their assaulting repetitions. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Placenta the Crotchtower” (Johnson Cummins)
 The Resurrection Sorrow
Hour of the Wolf (Midnight Dreams)
This is as molten and thunderous as metal gets, with New Orleans-style sludge flinging a bit of mud on their flaps. The problem here is that the influences they proudly flaunt on their denim sleeves overshadow any shred of originality. If you’re getting sick of the recent wave of hipster-approved doom, trance and prog avant-metal, you can definitely set your watch to this. 6.5/10 Trial Track: “Hour of the Wolf” (Johnson Cummins)
 Pink Skull
Endless Bummer (RVNG)
A solid, groovy, yet frankly unsurprising outing by Philly’s premiere psychedelic funk-punk outfit. Steady mid-tempo beats, catchy synth loops, infrequent baritone choruses, breathy grunting, stoner-brain delay effects and a healthy mix of nightclub aesthetic with jam-band architecture immediately elicit comparisons to !!! or Out Hud. When it’s good, it’s spot on. When it’s archetypical, it’s forgivable. 7.5/10 Trial Track: “Ritualistic Bug Use” (Jack Oatmon)
 Blakroc
self-titled (Blakroc)
This album, recorded by Southern rockers Black Keys and 11 hip hop artists (Mos Def, Ludacris, Raekwon, Billy Danze etc.) in the span of 11 days manages to be one of the best releases of the year in both genres. The loud electric guitar riffs and drum tempos match each MC and singer without pushing their boundaries or sounding “experimental.” 8.5/10 Trial Track: “Hope You’re Happy” feat. Billy Danze, Nicole Wray, Q-tip (Morgan Steiker)
 Gucci Mane
The State Vs. Radric Davis (Asylum/Warner)
The prolific Atlanta mixtape MC mutter-raps like he’s just had a root canal, and his big-label release is like crashing a great party without even knowing the host. Other than his hypothermic “brrrrr” catchphrase, Gooch remains pretty anonymous at his own shindig, although his mush-mouthed vocal hooks complement the whipsmart Dirty South electrobeats quite well. 8/10 Trial Track: “Lemonade” (Erik Leijon)
 Juvenile
Cocky & Confident (Atlantic/Warner)
By the time you’re five songs deep, this is one of the hardest-hitting albums of the year, but Juve loses rhythm soon after and this 18-track clunker leaves too much fat to be trimmed. “Back Back,” “My Money Don’t Fold” and “I Say” are the strongest cuts, reminiscent of the “Ha” days, and leave a nostalgic feeling for the Hot Boyz era. 7/10 Trial Track: “Cocky & Confident” (Morgan Steiker)
 R. Kelly
Untitled (Jive/Sony BMG)
Kelly’s penchant for musical sex talk’s been obvious since 1993’s 12 Play. But in many ways, his latest is his most blatantly sexual album to date, where tracks like “Bangin’ the Headboard” are just self-explanatory. In fact, on “Like I Do,” he says there’s only two things he’s the best at, one being music. At least the man knows himself. 7.5/10 Trial track: “Exit” (Gerard Dee)
 Jacksoul
SOULmate (Sony)
The fifth release from Jacksoul is certainly a bittersweet one, considering the recent death of Haydain Neale, lead singer and really the heart and soul of this group. A small consolation is that his legacy will include this exemplary release, which typifies the style of well constructed, folksy soul the band was known for. Haydain would have been proud. 8.5/10 Trial Track: “This Is Heaven” (Gerard Dee)
 Various
In the Christmas Groove (Strut)
Here’s a silly novelty holiday comp that actually merits ink. It’s a spread of funky and fascinating obscurities from the ’60s and ’70s, leaning largely on post-Motown/JB soul but peppered with bluesy bits and even a Caribbean detour with Capt. Elmo McKenzie’s mellow “Home on Christmas Day.” Kids’ voices bolster that one and of course the Harlem Children’s Chorus track, while elsewhere, other nifty ornamentation—church bells and organs, for instance—decorates the delicious grooves. 8/10 Trial Track: Electric Jungle, “Funky Funky Christmas” (Rupert Bottenberg)
 Bill Dixon
Tapestries for Small Orchestra (Firehouse 12)
At 84, Bill Dixon is receiving more attention than ever. Listening to Tapestries, it’s easy to understand why—creative genius will eventually be found out. Working with five trumpets, bass clarinet, cello, double bass, percussion and electronics, Dixon’s orchestral imagination is shockingly original, his trumpet work rich and deep. These two hours of music are completely immersive and devastatingly beautiful. 10/10 Trial Track: “Durations of Permanence” (Gordon Allen)
MINI CD REVIEWS
Charles Hamilton This Perfect Life (Unreleased) Emo-gangsta existed and died within the Bronx MC’s canned first album. Now a free download, it’s the blueprint to a wacky rap prototype too strange to live. 7 (EL)
Diablo Swing Orchestra Sing-along Songs for the Damned & Delirious (Sensory) A mix of snappy swing, lurid opera, surf noir and metal crunch that actually works as often as not. 7 (RB)
Satan’s Host Power – Purity - Perfection… 999 (Moribund) Unfortunately, this slab of blasphemy just can’t hold a candle to the sheer awesomeness of the drummer’s name, Evil Little Hobbit. 7 (JC)
The Fatales Great Surround (Where Are My) Lush post-punk that works when the landscape is rugged. Clean indie rock interludes will leave you pining for the pastoral. 6.5 (EL)
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