This new one’s comparable in many ways to the Lips’ last joint, the magnificent Soft Bulletin, presenting their robo-bumpkin, philharmonic, acid folk rock in what’s again almost a concept album. Fed into by concurrent film-score projects (one of “epic C&W,” the other sci-fi melancholia), Yoshimi’s main inspiration was the sudden passing of their Japanese friend Yoshimi, a record-store owner in Osaka. The album’s first act pits a karate girl against a love-struck killer robot in a candy-coloured arena of eros/thanatos before wandering off into frontman Wayne Coyne’s kind-bud epiphanies about mortality and love. “It’s Summertime” is in fact something of a letter of condolence to Yoshimi’s sisters. Grand yet intimate, ambitious yet naïve, truly beautiful stuff-the soft-focus sunset sensation of the summer. 9.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Fuad and the Feztones In the Valley of Kings 7” EP
(Ricochet Sound)
With all the understanding of and sensitivity to Islamic culture of a wine-soaked knight from the Crusades, fake Egyptian frat rockers Fuad and co. dish out their first platter (in “hieroglyphic sound”!). Stuffing four tunes into seven inches of black wax-remember those?-the fezzed ones deliver thick, greasy, collegiate R&B numbers that never spare the requisite sax. Fuad’s nerdy snarl and Rich N. Ready’s nifty bass stylings will strike a chord with Gruesomes fans. Upbeat, fun and well-assembled-it’s Tut-uncommonly good! 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Record launch at Jupiter Room, Fri., July 19, 10pm, $5

Original Sinners self-titled (Nitro)
Still rocking and rolling after all these years, X’s Exene Cervenka brings some gold ol’ raunch to her new ensemble-ex-members of the Distillers, Sluts for Hire and Dementia 13-with a little ranch on the side. This is where that L.A. punk spirit meets country melodies and vocal inflections, giving Cervenka ample room for her distinctive harmonizing, with bassist Kim Chi taking up the other half. More caffeinated and barbecued than Canada’s cow-punk acts, the Original Sinners offer a hot, hard-hitting debut, albeit not all that original. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Will Smith Born to Reign (Columbia/Sony)
Jada Pinkett is singing on this record. The Fresh Prince has a duet with his wife called “1000 Kisses” and it’s sweet and all, but does it belong here? No. There’s a full orchestra and string ensemble that show up on more than one tune, bringing some much needed live instrumentation to this whole thing, but does it impress? No. The only thing I’m impressed with is that Will Smith is so rich and famous that he’s calling his own shots. The shots may miss the mark more often then not, but, yo, somebody’s gettin’ paid. This record is the ace in the hole at a Grade 6 birthday party. Enjoy. 5/10 (Scott C)

Patrick Dream & Nav Bhinder Bombay 2: Montreal Live (Bombay/Koch)
Pat & Nav pull out all the stops for a second excursion into their orchard with a fluid mix of a dozen Bombay bumpers, some never released. Things commence with Miguel Graça and Ottawa’s Trevor Walker collaborating on a samba-flavoured kicker accompanied by well-placed keyboard parts. Graça’s fine-tuned input also figures prominently on some trippy, bassy, percussive housers, including his facelift of the Roy Davis Jr. Afro-jazzer “Watch Them Come.” Marked by horns, synth parts and a terrific drum programming scheme, “Second Wind” is a standout churned out by up-and-comer Rise Ashen of Ottawa. Derrick Carter and Chris Brahm also contribute to the soup, which makes it hearty and satisfying. 8.5/10 (Peter Lightburn)

CD launch at Exit, Fri., July 26, 10pm

Minus 8 Minuit (Compost/FusionIII)
With no disrespect to Compost or Minus 8’s Robert Jan Meyer, Minuit seems to fall into the growing dogpile of forgettable ambient jazz, peppered with healthy Brazilian overtones. This record is indeed pleasant to listen to, but the sweetness only comes when you actually stop listening and concentrate on your drink, your conversation or that bug on the wall. Not surprising that Minus 8 is trying his hand at movie soundtracks, music that co-exisits with action and reaction, and comes to life with the help of the visual medium. Unfortunately, there is no visual aid included with this LP, so you’ll have to come up with your own. 6/10 (Scott C)

Polmo Polpo The Science of Breath (Substractif/Fab)
Polmo Polpo is on some next shit. Unlike many of his contemporaries in experimental techno, Sandro Perri (as he is called by his mum) finds little enjoyment in simply sitting behind a laptop and clicking a mouse (as should be evident by his amazing live shows). Working with layers of cello and lap steel guitar, Perri breathes a new, organic life into the sometimes cold world of cutting-edge dance music. With its rich textures and dubbed-out, underwater atmospheres, The Science of Breath is eight tracks of heady electronic soundscapes in a Detroit vs. Atlantis stylee. Sweet. 8/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Truth Hurts Truthfully Speaking
(Aftermath/Universal)
Her breakaway hit “Addictive” may catch the ear, with its Eastern rhythms flowing over a standard hip hop beat, but elsewhere on this debut disc, it’s business as usual. The guest stars-Rakim (“Addictive”), DJ Quick (“I’m Not Really Lookin’”) and BET’s animation homegirl, Cita (“Queen of the Ghetto”)-provide some rap flavour, but for the most part, Truth Hurts (aka Shari Watson), provides a lot of attitude and surprisingly little truth. Even “The Truth” is more who-did-who-wrong drama than insight. Truthfully speaking, don’t expect much from this one. 6/10 (Gerard Dee)

Arto Lindsay Invoke
(Righteous Babe/Festival)
After winning a Latin Grammy earlier this year for producing the latest from MPB star Marisa Monte, Braziyorican guitarist/singer Lindsay returns with his second release on Ani DiFranco’s label. Maybe it was the time back home in Brazil (much of Invoke was recorded there), but there’s less of the Big Apple grit that so perfectly balanced the soft samba sounds on the previous record Prize. Which is not to say that Lindsay has abandoned the NYC avant-noise on which he cut his teeth. It’s there in the odd, diaphanous textures and mysterious soundscaping onto which he lays his neo-tropicalia. Still, Invoke never quite engages the way Prize did. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Various Secret Ellington (True Life)
This is indeed Ellington of the little-known variety-of the 14 tracks, 12 are newly uncovered songs by Duke and Herb Martin for the 1958 production of Saturday Laughter, one that didn’t make it to the stage. The CD has five instrumental tracks played by the likes of Joe Lovano (a duo with Joe Beck on alto guitar), Eric Alexander, Bob Kindred and Joe Locke. The vocal tracks feature Judi Silvano, Freddy Cole, Ian Shaw, Jeffery Smith and Karen Oberlin. The arrangements are by Beck, Shaw, Arturo O’Farrill and James Pearson. What could be more rewarding than new Ellington material played and sung with feeling and love? Try the two versions of “Only Yesterday” and be sold! 10/10 (Len Dobbin)