Pete Rock feat. CL Smooth Back on the Block (BBE/Rawkus) Finally! 10 (SC)

Dusko Goykovich In My Dreams (Enja/Fusion III) A laid-back outing from this trumpet-playing veteran of the Woody Herman Band, with Bob Degen on piano. 9 (LD)

3 Mustaphas 3 Play Musty for Me (Kartini/Outside) A decade of liveness from the O.G., fez-clad, Balk'n roll weird beards. Take it to the freedge! 8 (RB)

Ghostland Interview With the Angel (Columbia/Sony) Trio of U.K. session musicians do their own thing, melding Celt-pop with morose, ornate, orchestral pieces. Guests include Sinéad O'Connor, Jane Siberry and Brian Eno. 8 (LC)

Jay Dee Fuck the Police (Up Above) Prime J Dilla spitting rhymes that slap, backed with a beat that rolls and claps. 8 (SC)

Migala Arde (Sub Pop/Warner) Dusty, heat-rashed bordertown balladry in the vein of Calexico--from Spain, no less. 7.5 (RB)

Paladins Palvoline No. 7 (Ruf/Fusion III) Album seven from San Diego's '50s rock 'n' roll revivalists is truly retro, complete with that Sun Records echo and Jerry Lee Lewis piano--and a few straight-ahead country tunes. 7 (LC)

The London Quireboys This Is Rock 'n' Roll (Sanctuary/EMI) Imagine Rod Stewart fronting a weak Stones-Aerosmith hybrid. Hey, you're sick too? 4 (LC)

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