Rabih Abou-Khalil The Cactus of Knowledge (Enja/Fusion III) Another magnum opus from the oud master! 10 (LD)

Big in Japan Destroy the New Rock (Honest Don's) Or have a nasty go, anyway. Song one by this munk-pod power trio: "Dig That Stupid Sound." Yeah, yeah, I dig. 8 (RB)

Semisonic All About Chemistry (MCA/Universal) Well-crafted, emotive pop-rock by this Minneapolis trio. Some truly lovely moments here, too bad it degenerates towards album's end. 7 (LC)

Steve Fisk 999 Levels of Undo (Sub Pop) A pretty good album but Sup Pop, you're freaking me out. Please don't make dance music. 7 (CH)

Various Blow Soundtrack (Virgin/EMI) Skynyrd, Stones, Cream and sundries. Fuck, my teeth feel like they're invisible. 7 (RB)

Trick Daddy Thugs Are Us (Slip and Slide/Warner) You just can't fuck with the South these days. Somebody should've told ya. 6 (SC)

The Living End Roll On (Reprise/Warner) Punk variety-pack (one skin, one ska, one Rotten) produce vaguely anthemic poser punk. Few merits. 4 (LC)

M.C. Mario Mixdown 2001 (Sony) Mr. Pro-tools surprises us all with yet another collection of flavourless progressive remixes of Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Lara Fabian. 3 (KE)

Melanie B Hot (Virgin/EMI) As with "J.Lo," T&A can only carry your watery R&B so far. Stick with Spice. 3 (LC)

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