Various Brazilian Explosion (Mr. Bongo/Fusion III) Batucada tracks remixed by Fila Brazilia and Faze Action! Bongo massive! 8 (MS)

US3 Broadway & 52nd Easy, enjoyable. Soon to be picked up by car companies worldwide. 8 (MS)

Ahlam Les Riam (Barbarity) Algerian pop stumbles into the 21st century. 6 (RB)

Shades Apart Seeing Things (Revelation/Cargo) Pop punk retread. Next stop, snoresville. 5 (JC)

Hoodoo Gurus Blue Cave (True North) Remember Paul Hogan, Yahoo Serious and Wombat shampoo? 5 (CY)

Cravin' Melon Red Clay Harvest (Mercury/Polydor) For a band from South Carolina, this sure sounds Canadian. 5 (RB)

Secada Self-titled Brown bag schmaltz for depressed secretaries. 3.5 (MS)

Savage Garden Savage Garden (Columbia) Cute '80s synth single, crap '80s synth album. 3 (CY)

Delirium Karma (Nettwerk) Safe, floaty, atmospheric pop. YECH! 3 (JC) more discs...