Nick Cave The Boatman's Call (Reprise) Quiet stuff that kills Murder Ballads. 8 (CY)

The Simpsons Songs In The Key Of Springfield (Rhino) Worth it for Krusty's "Send In The Clowns" alone. 8 (CY)

John Lee Hooker Don't Look Back (Point Blank/Virgin) Hey Colin James! Watch your back! 7 (JC)

Guy Lombardo Enjoy Yourself (Decca/Universal) Every day is New Year's Eve on Guy's planet. 6.5 (JC)

Raggadeath Raggadeath (Attic) Metal, dancehall, rap and Michie Mee. Michie, please do a solo album! 6.5 (JT)

Dave Grohl Touch (Roswell/Capitol) Guaranteed to bum out most Foo Fighters fans. 6.5 (JC)

X-Large Living Large (2112) Exactly how many more bands can sound like NOFX? Evidently lots. 6 (JT)

Muse Arcana (Lava/Atlantic) What dire seeds have The Pumpkins sown? 3 (RB)

Surrender Dorothy Serum (Universal) Surrender your instruments. 2 (RB)

Queensryche Here in the Now Frontier (EMI) Wanky alterna-prog? No thanks.1 (JC) more discs...