The Conga Kings Jazz Descargas (Chesky/Fusion III) With Candido, "Potato" Valdes and Giovanni Hidalgo on board, this is a Latin jazz lover's delight. 9 (LD) R.L. Burnside Burnside on Burnside (Fat Possum/Sonic Unyon) Well, well, well, it's R.L. live. "Snake Drive" alone will give you a face peel. You need this! 9 (JC)

Heather Duby Elemental self-titled (Sub Pop) Ethereal vocals float over dense, danceable fun on this eclectic electro EP. 9 (LC)

Jelo Live.mix @ baseline, halifax, n.s. (2 Wars & a Revolution/Koch) 2 Wars' breakout breakbeat kid kicks off the label's "Project" project in fine style. 8 (RB)

The Cranberries Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (MCA/Universal) Another exercise in sleepy mediocrity by the fruity Irish concoction that's way past sell-by. 4 (LC)

Alice Cooper Dragontown (Spitfire/EMI) The onetime innovator has turned into a self-parody. Truly sad. 4 (JC)

Bowfire self-titled (EMI) Subtitled "A total violin experience." Track one: "Fiddler in the 'Hood." Yes, it's that bad. 2 (RB)

Full length reviews...