Various Out of Sight Soundtrack (Jersey/Universal)

Remember Get Shorty, that wicked Elmore Leonard jobby that hit screens a couple years back? Remember what a wicked soundtrack it had, loads of low-key organ-based funk? Well, the same crew do it again with Out of Sight. Aside from the Isley Brothers, Mongo Santamaria and Dean Martin, you've got David Holmes' insanely wicked original material, loungy languor meets streetwise grooviness, with cool soundbites snaking in and out. This is just too bad-ass. Get it. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Vanessa-Mae Storm (Virgin/EMI)

Seems that pop classical's little pearl of the Orient wants to play with kids her own age. She's given the Ashley MacIsaac treatment to classical violin, playing over goofy dance beats. Anyone remember the disco version of Beethoven's 9th? Were that not enough, she throws in orchestral backup, giggles, traditional Chinese chorals and Latin oratorios, storm noises, a Donna Summer cover, cheezy sportsguitar and--no bull--fucking barnyard samples. This thing transcends tacky... it's touching, infuriating and, more than anything, absurdly funny. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

At Random In My City/Undercover 12" (Zoobone Records)

It's always amazed me how the boys from At Random managed to get that big, laidback sound that most of us associate with the West Coast groups, without it actually sounding like a rip-off. On "In My City," MC Fate drops lines on the finer points of Montreal, while the summer-laced track smiles along in the background. "Undercover" is on the James Bond/Spy vs. Spy tip, sneaking up on you with some covert rhyme operations and a beat that's nice. Tell me those orchestral stabs don't remind you of some old Art of Noise song. 7/10 (Scott C)

Sonny Clark Standards (Blue Note/EMI)

Thirty-five years after his death at age 30, pianist Clark is only beginning to be recognized as a major jazz player. He was an influence on Bill Evans, who wrote "NYC's No Lark" (an anagram of Clark's name) as a tribute. The material on this recording is rare, with Clark joined by drummer Wes Landers and with bass duties split evenly between Paul Chambers and Jymie Merritt. There's plenty to absorb on all of the 14 cuts. 9.5/10 (Len Dobbin)