Bob Marley The Complete Wailers 1967-72 (Jad/Koch) 3 CDs: The true sign that Xmas is just a skip away. Impressive. 8 (MS)

LeAnn Rimes You Light Up My Life (Curb) No one better could have covered Debby Boone. 8 (CY)

Jim O'Rourke Bad Timing (Drag City) Anti-hero avant-guardist opts for gently bent acoustic bliss. 7.5 (LE)

Bird-Dog The Trackhouse, the Valley, the Liquor Store Drive-thru (Sugar Free) Slow but not sleepifying. 7 (RB)

Magical Power Mako Bluedot (Atavistic) Ultrasonic projectiles from master of Japanese proto-noise. 7 (LE)

Love Spit Love Trysome Eatone (Maverick/WEA) Love Richard Butler's voice, but preferred the P. Furs. 6 (RB)

Corey Ellis Last Great Alibi (Iron Music) Backwater Velvetisms spoiled by Bon Jovi-esque vocals. 5 (RB)

Various Escapes II(WEA) A compilation that includes Kenny G and Massive Attack. Chill, um, out. 4 (CY)

John Lydon Sun 12" (Virgin) Electronicaca. 3 (MS) more discs...