Radiohead Kid A (EMI)

The words "self-indulgent" and "experimental" may frighten and confuse, but Kid A is far from the grandiose prog-rock beast some were expecting. It is experimental, by Radiohead standards: rock guitars take a backseat to walls of effects and the occasional burst of horns, strings or Aphex beats, but Thom Yorke's signature vocals are still at centre stage (no amount of electronic wash can mask it). Radiohead are so mammoth that fans would probably buy a tape of their farts, but there are songs here and they're damn good. For the unsatisfied, Kid A's more commercial brother Kid B (complete with singles, videos, tours), comes out next spring. 9/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

King Cobb Steelie Mayday (Ryko/Outside)

Shifts in label and lineup aren't the only changes this celebrated Guelph, Ontario unit has undergone in the three years since their last one, Junior Relaxer. Titular hint aside, the subject matter has gone from overtly political to introspectively personal. Conversely, lots of Mayday is more straightforward and tuneful than earlier dubrock depth charges. Under it all, though, the somnambulistic groove, the slow-mo urgency, the lacework of abrasive glitter in the murky jelly are all so KCS. One of Canada's finest--get this, and catch them at Casa del Popolo on Oct. 26. 9/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

At the Drive-In Relationship of Command (Grand Royal/Virgin)

Being one of the biggest-hyped bands in emocore right now, At the Drive-In have a lot to live up to on their big-league debut, but nothing to worry about. They create some of the most inspiring moments happening in punk right now, taking Fugazi's sense of urgency and some Quicksand groove, peppering the listen with some great math-rock moments and gymnastic vocals that can switch gears on a dime. Songs like "Invalid Letter Dept." and "One-Armed Scissor" break all the rules but still carry songwriting craft, while "Enfilade" smashes out of safe confines and takes the listener by the ear through a hellride. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Soulfly Primitive (Roadrunner/Song)

Sounds like things are still dysfunctional on ex-Sepultura singer Max Cavalera's second effort with his new band, Soulfly. Max ain't re-writing the book on heavy, downtuned screamrap fusion rage, but you gotta appreciate the effort of bringing in Corey (8) of Slipknot on "Jump Da Fuck Up," Slayer's Tom Araya on "Terrorist," Deftones' Chino on "Pain" and Sean Lennon on "Son Song," a dedication to Max's father Graziano. Beyond that, Cavalera continues to stick to his bloody roots by including Brazilian percussion, words and imagery. Although one might find this album full of anger, the messages are encouraging and positive--for that kid out there who feels he or she is against the world. 7.5/10 (Lateef Martin)

Green Day Warning (Reprise/Warner)

It's hard not to have a soft spot for these punk-rock millionaires, as they could always be depended on to pen a half-decent pop song. The days of teenage angst and slashing away at a low-slung six-string have been replaced by the gentle strumming of an acoustic, and croonings at rock-steady tempos. No really great moments here, but no real embarrassingly bad moments either. This is kind of like the cream of the crop of mediocrity. When you turn the CD player off, the chances of you humming one of these mind-numbing pop ditties are slim. But when this 40 minutes of toe-tapping Green Day are spinning, it's hard to file a complaint. 6.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Nigo Ape Sounds (MoWax/Select)

This Nigo guy can be excused for being behind on the Shibuya-kei rush out of Tokyo a couple of years ago. He's been busy with his dope clothing line, A Bathing Ape, and also making the contacts that constitute the guest list on this, his debut. Don't know if he can be excused for biting the Planet of the Apes fetish from Cornelius, though the C-man makes a cameo here. Coughing up common Shibuya references (bubblegum, krautrock, shoegazing and archaic hip hop), Nigo sets the stage for contributions by Money Mark, Ben Lee (on the first single "Freediving") and Scratch Pervert Tony Vegas, to be saluted for his work on "March of the Generals." Less a rumpshaker than a headscratcher, but worthy. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Various Bamboozled soundtrack (Motown/Universal)

As a companion to the yet-to-be-released Spike Lee joint that is going to do more than ruffle a few feathers, this soundtrack is an interesting collection of songs that address the movie's fiery subject matter--and a bunch of songs that could just as soon be anywhere. Bamboozled is about the systematic and sometimes ridiculous appropriation of black culture by evil whitey, and features some great tracks by Erykah Badu, Goodie Mob, Stevie Wonder and even Prince. The Purple One gets to say his bit about the music industry loud and clear, in between tracks by Bruce Hornsby (?) and crazy slam poet Mums the Schemer. It's probably best to hear these songs in context, when you go to see the film. 8/10 (Scott C)

Dirty Walt and the Columbus Sanitation To Put It Bluntly (Triple X/Song) (Righteous Babe/Festival)

Angelo Moore has his Professor Madd Vibe shtick, and bassist Norwood's got his P-Funk-inspired Trulio Disgracious project, so it's about time Fishbone's third remaining founder, Mr. "Dirty" Walter Kibby III, esq., found a solo outlet of his own. The bad apple doesn't fall too far from the tree--Kibby's bandmates all guest, making this almost a defacto Fishbone album, focused on the stoner-gothic funk-rock side of things, full of those eerie haunted-house harmonies that grace the best tunes of the mothership band. As the nuanced witticism of the title implies, Kibby's diverse inspirations (pot, porn and partying) are the topics of discussion. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Goldfrapp Felt Mountain (Mute/Fusion III)

It's just been in the last few years that names like John Barry, Francis Lai and Lalo Schifrin have been recuperated from the dustbin of records, and it looks like the late-'60s scoremeister vibe will be around a while longer--if the windmills of Alison Goldfrapp's mind keep churning. A Brit "It" girl who's lent Tricky and Orbital a vocal cord or two, Goldfrapp can intone like Shirley Bassey or whistle like Morricone's man-with-no-name, while partner Will Gregory holds up his end of strings and things (like Moog and theremin). The would-be love themes on this duo's debut are not new--in the short or long view--but fans of Portishead, who can live without breakbeats, should take considered note. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw)

Junior Vasquez Twilo Volume 1 (Twilo/ Virgin)

King of the superstar DJs and master of the marathon set, Vasquez's latest double CD is the debut release of NYC's superclub Twilo's CD series. Fitting, given Vasquez's story is the seminal stuff of club culture history, from his residencies at Sound Factory through Tunnel, Palladium and now Twilo. Everyone even forgave him for producing that John Mellencamp album--that's how untouchable he is. This is full-on, 5 a.m., trashy, take-your-tits-out, hard and tribal house: none of that versatile listen-at-home-and-dance-if-you-wanna stuff. With more than a touch o' trance, too. 7.5/10 (Genevieve Paiement) Vasquez does a 24-hour set at Stereo as part of Black & Blue on Mon., Oct. 9 starting at noon.

Electronic Twisted Tenderness(Koch)

This sporadic "project" twixt ol' New Order guy Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has never gelled, and it still doesn't on their third collaboration. It's really too bad this time 'round, 'cuz the pop world is ripe for what, on paper, Sumner and Marr ostensibly and respectively bring to the turning table; cool electro-ism married with warm fingers pressing strings. But it's not on paper where Electronic wonk out: this time it's in those intangible places between synapse gap and rehearsal space, heartstring and fretboard, lyric pen and pull for lucre. The songs just ain't there. 5/10 (Chris Yurkiw)

Nnenna Freelon Soulcall (Concord/Song)

Poor Nnenna Freelon, constantly having to live up to comparisons with the jazz greats. Little wonder though, since she constantly delivers inventive jazz that pushes boundaries. On her sixth album, Freelon is once again a risk-taker, enlisting gospel group Take 6 for a near-a-cappella version of "Straighten Up and Fly Right," and adding her own flavour to gospel standard "Amazing Grace." I could compare her smooth phrasing and elegant delivery to Ella, but I won't do that to her. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Maria Schneider Allegresse (Enja/Fusion III)

More beautiful big-band music in the best tradition of the late Gil Evans. On this, her third release as a leader, Ms. Schneider, the composer, presents us with six new compositions recorded in New York last January. The section playing and the solos of people like Ingrid Jensen, Rich Perry, Tim Ries, Frank Kimbrough, Rick Margitza, Greg Gisbert and Ben Monder combine to make this one a keeper. Classy large-ensemble music of the first order. 9.5/10 (Len Dobbin)