Travis Good Feeling (Independiente/Epic/Sony)

Britain produces hundreds of bands like Travis, all churning out the same teenage-friendly, wear-our-T-shirt Britpop. Travis gets loads of radio play in the UK, they play the universities and people bounce up and down happily to them and to their two singles "U16 Girls" and "Tied to the '90s." With Good Feeling you can practically hear the sneakers squelching in the mud and the kids in a drunken daze screaming out the lyrics. And this is sad. 5/10 (Toby Blakey)

Christian MarclayRecords 1981-1989 (Atavistic)

Coming from New York's community of sound and visual artists, Marclay encourages progressive destruction of his records by selling them without sleeves. He wants his listeners to incorporate each additional gouge, scratch and nick as "sounds of use, abuse and reuse," and actively alter the vinyl surface so that each successive play sounds different from the last. File alongside Plunderphonics and Grandmaster Flash, as this conclusive overview predates the turntablist mindset that today defines electronica, hip hop, illbient and beyond. 8.5/10 (Lorrie Edmonds)

Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir Hamba Ekhaya (Goin' Home/Justin Time)

The city's most renowned choir reach back to the motherland for inspiration on their latest release. Recorded live at St. James United Church last December, the album features tracks sung in English, Zulu and the Kenyan Luhiy language. Choir director Trevor Payne came up with the concept after visiting South Africa and meeting one of the country's "jive superstars," Phuzekhemsi, who sings lead on much of the set. It's gospel, African style. Wonderful! 8/10 (Gerard Dee)

DJ Shadow High Noon (MoWax)

How to defy everybody's expectations and make brilliant music at the same time, in three (not so) easy steps: Step 1: Make a new single that has more to do with indie rock than trip hop. Step 2: Create a bonus beat that features anti-rock ranting over the most manic drum programming this side of drum & bass. Step 3: Throw in a brilliant extended remix of "Organ Donor," fleshed out with fuzz guitar and old skool scratching. Still miles ahead of everybody else. 9/10 (Mateo)