Buffalo Tom Asides From... 1988-1999 (Beggars Banquet) Asides = hits, get it? From a band that sounds like they could've had them. And can now be appreciated sans indie ideology. 8.5 (CY)

Donny McCaslin Seen From Above (Arabesque) The tall tenor joined by Ben Monder, Scott Colley and Jim Black. Edgy! 8 (LD)

Djeli Moussa Diawara & Bob Brozman Ocean Blues (Mélodie) Afro-blues with Hawaiian hues, a bit like Talking Timbuktu. Hey, that rhymes! 7 (RB)

Various PJ-2K Platinumjam 2000 (AO!/Song) More dancehall madness from Spragga Benz, Baby Sham, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man and, uh, Shaggy. 6 (SC)

George Thorogood and the Destroyers Anthology (Capitol/EMI) Attention chinless, jarheaded knuckle-draggers. Your CD has arrived. 5 (JC)

Sunna One Minute Silence (Melankolic/Virgin) I'm sorry, but Massive Attack suck as A&R men. Unless you're ready for another Soundgarden. 5 (CY)

Orphanage Inside (Nuclear Blast) Somebody dress these gloomy goths up in yellow jumpsuits, but quick! 4 (JC)

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