Lotte Lenya Sings Kurt Weill [Columbia/Sony) Weill's widow in a classy reissue that includes a priceless pairing with Louis Armstrong! 10 (LD)

Junior Brown Mixed Bag (Curb) Junior is one hell of a country picker whose take on Western swing is simply mindblowing. 9 (JC)

Mira Calix Prickle (Warp/Outside) Mood synths, sharp beats, squishy sounds, bleeps, blips and ethereal vocals drop in and out on this ambient EP. The sweet side of Warp. 8 (LC)

Various Brazilified (Quango/Outside) A little late on the Brazilian summer vibe, aren't you, Quango? Eleven carnaval-inspired broken-house tracks you've no doubt been hearing for a while now. 7 (KE)

Various Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection (Alligator) A two-CD set with Koko Taylor, Hound Dog Taylor, Johnny Winter, Junior Wells and a host of up and comers. 7 (JC)

Ef Showtime EP (independent) Local indie pop trio delivers a couple of solid tunes on this five-track EP. A promising start despite some merely adequate moments. 7 (LC)

Various MC Mario.com (Sony) Click here for shit. 1 (RB)

Beautiful Creatures self-titled (Warner) Like the spawn of any cracked-out, incestuous union (glam metal and nu-metal here) this is a brain-damaged embarrassment. For making it to the studio: 1 (LC)

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