Deep Purple -- Self-titled (Spitfire/EMI) Classic, spaced-out Brit blues-rock, re-released... 10 (RB)

Deep Purple -- The Book of Taliesyn (Spitfire/EMI) ...remastered... 10 (RB)

Deep Purple -- Shades of Deep Purple (Spitfire/EMI) ...and resplendent in its baroque bombast. Un-fucking-touchable. Like Pokémon, you must get all of these. 10 (RB)

Johanne Blouin -- Everything Must Change (Justin Time/Fusion III) The jazz debut of a really good singer--Bobby Watson, John Hicks and Curtis Lundy are decided assets. 8.5 (LD)

Guided By Voices -- Hold on Hope EP (TVT/Universal) A band that doesn't believe in outtakes. And one that can fit nine on an EP. 8 (CY)

Maddkatt Courtship III -- I Know Electrikboy (FFRR) Felix Da Housekat's techno answer to the rock operas of the '70s, drama factor intact. 7 (KE)

Vent 004 -- A Drum & Bass Document (Tar Media) They're growing more than just potatoes in New Brunswick: check this electronica/hip-hop comp put together by a duo from Moncton. 7 (KE)

Beachwood Sparks -- Self-titled (Sub Pop) Want to be: Gram Parsons. Are: a gram of parsley. 6 (CY)

Black Label Society -- Stronger Than Death (Spitfire/EMI) Ozzy's six-stringer slinger Zakk Wylde's wankery is predictably bland but did he have to take down Sabbath/Pantera riffs with him? 5 (JC)

Full length reviews...