Ben Webster Until Tonight (Verve/Universal) Laidback, breathy tenor--a compilation in the Quiet Now series. 10 (LD)

Various LTJ Bukem Presents Points in Time, Volumes 4, 5 & 6 (Good Looking/Fusion III) The latest compilations from the archives of LTJ's ethereal Good Looking drum & bass imprint. Dreamy. 8 (KE)

Joe Ferry Skallelujah (Eclectica/Oasis) One of the third wave's finest musicians puts J-man love to the JA offbeat. Worth it just for "Skave Maria." 8 (RB)

Various Honky Tonk Heroes (Pedernales/Oasis) Good ol' boys Kristofferson, Nelson and Jennings join forces like outlaw superheroes, fighting their archnemesis New Country. 7.5 (JC)

DJ Cheb i Sabbah Maha Maya (6 Degrees/Outside) Tracks from Cheb's Shri Durga get "the treatment," with attendant energy boost, from State of Bengal, Bedouin Ascent and others. 7 (RB)

Obie Trice "The Well Known Asshole"/"I Want My Dat Back" (NapRecords/ Nice) Who is this kid, and how can somebody sooo annoying whip off two bangin' tracks like so? 7 (SC)

The Ladytron Self-titled (Shimmy Disc/Koch) Think early Floyd and Bowie. Now think of TV's beloved Urkel. Now think of them together. Creepy, huh. 6 (RB)

Robert Palmer Rhythm & Blues (Eagle/EMI) What?! "Work to Make It Work '99" and "Let's Get It On '99" but no "Addicted to Love '99"? Rob, give the people what they want! 6 (CY)

Various House Blend Espresso (UC Music/Navarre) A triple-CD set that begs the question, what came first: crystal meth or this 160 bpm hi-NRG electro bass stuff? 5 (KE)

The The NakedSelf (Nothing/Universal) The The? Blah blah. 5 (CY)

Grant Hart Good News for Modern Man (Pachyderm Records) More like bad news. Ex-Husker dude's bubblegum anthems have gotten downright embarrassing. 4 (JC)

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