Benumb Withering Strands of Hope (Relapse/Song) Hardcore/grind going straight for the jugular. 9 (JC)

Jon Lewis A Milanese Story/Animal Dance (Collectables/Fonographe) "Incidental" music by Lewis, great playing by René Thomas and Albert Mangelsdorff! 9 (LD)

Various Break 'n' Bossa Chapter 3 (Schema/FusionIII) The latest batch of superior Braz-jazz and beats, including les Gammas, Trueby Trio, Tosca and Kyoto Jazz Massive. 8.5 (RB)

The Heads Everybody Knows We Got Nowhere (Sweet Nothing/Cargo U.K.) These Limeys are caught red-handed playing around in Hawkwind's backyard. Right on. 8 (JC)

Nobody Soulmates (Ubiquity/Fusion III) This dude can rock with MCs like Aceyalone and Medusa, but I think he could also hang with Beck and Jon Spencer. 7 (SC)

Candy Ass Orgy (RAFR/Song) Primped-up pubescent princesses on a jailbait pop-punk romp. Refer please to Kitten (not Kittie), Donnas and of course the Runaways. 6 (RB)

Odds Singles--Individually Wrapped (Warner) Ah yes, power-pop teamed with "wry" social commentary ("Heterosexual Man"). Hope they sent a copy to the Smithsonian. 5 (CY)

Wheatus self-titled (Columbia/Sony) Ah yes, power-pop teamed with "wry" social commentary ("Punk Ass Bitch"). Hope they give away two-fours with this coaster. 4 (CY)

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