Laurent Garnier 30 (F Communications/Fusion III)

Garnier's second LP is final proof that Laurent is a better DJ than producer. As French house's exceptional spinner, he has a textural hand but most his songs trudge a line altogether too straight. Still, a couple of tracks jump out: "The Hoe"'s gated vox begs for a "move your body" sample; "Crispy Bacon" might make milder techno floors and "Sweet MellowD" and "Le Voyage de Simone" are exquisite ecstasy wodges for sneakers long off dancing wood and crunching leaves near gurgling brooks. 7/10 (Mireille Silcott)

Cash Money Black Hearts and Broken Wills (Touch and Go)

Guitarist/vocalist John used to swing with God & Texas while drummer Scott stomped on the last few Killdozer tunes, and together they've carved some concrete swampland that should have them riding a fast "Train To Ruin." Sporting boogie and blues-based sneers (with a few Mule kicks to their southern-fried sizzle), Cash Money spark a "Lightning Fire" in an "Oil Can" with this hard-knocks debut. Cover painting by Mekons' Jon Langford, too. 8/10 (Lorrie Edmonds)

Starfish Frustrated (Trance Syndicate)

Ripping it open with the eight-minute opus "Canada" (a tumultuous, feedbacking instrumental of the highest degree), Austin's Starfish give power-punk back its good, indie-worthy name. They might not have left every piece of grunge clothing behind ("MTV") with their first Bob Mould-produced record, but again on Frustrated, Starfish launch riff after head-crushing riff ("Two Words") like few others out there today. 7/10 (Lorrie Edmonds)