Helen Merrill Jelena Ana Milcetic AKA Helen Merrill (Verve/Universal) A marvelous, loving tribute to her parents' homeland Croatia. 10 (LD)

Savath + Savalas Folk Songs for Trains, Trees and Honey (Hefty) Wait, it's not folk! Luminous, low-key electronic jazz-pop scenes, cut out for the Tortoise-o-lab types. Colour me impressed! 9 (RB)

Ace of Base Greatest Hits (Arista) Let the '90s nostalgia begin! 9 (CY)

B.B. King Makin' Love Is Good for You (MCA/Universal) B.B. can still say more with one of his singing notes than most guitarists will in their whole life. 8 (JC)

Lenine O Dia Em Que Faremos Contato (Totem/Fusion III) A funny new face in Brazilian pop. Slo-fi sci-folk--does that help? 7.5 (RB)

Shannon Curfman Loud Guitars, Big Suspicions (Arista/BMG) Do we really need a new female version of Johnny Lang? Fuck, no! 3 (JC)

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