Milt Jackson Ballads and Blues/Bags & Flutes (Collectables/Fonographe) The best of Bags--two superb sessions on one CD. 10 (LD)

Various Frikyiwa: Collection 1 (Frikyiwa/Fusion III) To complement all the Afro-beat getting remixed as of late, here's some choice, organic African folk stylings getting the same, suggesting some cool possibilities. 8 (RB)

Friends of Dean Martinez A Place in the Sun (Knitting Factory/Koch) So this was Bill Elm's plan when he left Tucson with the FODM name: turn it into an ambient surf 'n' desert-sands band. 7 (CY)

DJs Rule The World (Hi-Bias/Oasis) An enjoyable and somewhat nostalgic compilation of DJs Rule old-school house hits on Hi-Bias. 7 (KE)

Bone Thugs and Harmony BTNResurrection (Ruthless/Sony) Finally. A reason to pull my ride out of storage and cruise Ste-Catherine Street. 6 (SC)

Louise Attaque Comme on a dit (Trema/Musicor) Formerly: a latter-day French tribute to the Violent Femmes. Now: a latter-day French tribute to... the Snitches! 6 (CY)

Various Drop the Beat Soundtrack (CBC/Universal/Back Alley) This comp's okay, but somebody dropped the beat on its head... 6 (SC)

Sonique Hear My Cry (Universal) We hear your cry and it sounds awful! Except for that Calvin Richardson R&B number where you sing backup, that is. 5 (KE)

The Zombies Absolutely the Best (Fuel 2000/True North) Absolutely? Shit, I guess these guys weren't really that good, were they. 4 (RB)

P.O.D. The Fundamental Elements of Southtown (Atlantic/Warner) Your prayers are answered. Another ponderous, overproduced, Jah-love guit-wank rapmetal band. 2 (RB)

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