David Cross
Shut Up You Fucking Baby! (Sub Pop/Outside)
Those with a taste for dangerous comedy will know the name of David Cross who, with his cohort Bob Odenkirk, was behind the hilarious, edgy Mr. Show program. Here’s Cross in 90-minute monologue form—nothing so conceptual as Mr. Show, just flat-out rant mode, channelling the straight-shooting spirit of the late Bill Hicks (note that Cross tours the indie-band circuit, avoiding the deadly dull and unfunny stand-up world). No holds are barred as Cross attacks the Bush regime, the USA’s blind indignation post-9/11, the Christian right, Christianity in general and hell, dumb southern rednecks in general as well. It’s stuff you’d think might get him killed in some places, but hey, he grew up a smart, liberal Jew in fucking Georgia. He knows the score. 9.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Sweatmaster
Sharp Cut (Bad Afro/Fusion III)
Another week, another Scandinavian rock album, this one by Finnish power trio Sweatmaster, displaying their mastery in songs like “I Am a Demon and I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” (never learn English, we love you guys). Recorded by Flaming Sideburns producer Jürgen Hendlmeier at Helsinki’s Kick Out the Jams studio, this short and sweet debut album offers unhinged, John Fogerty/Mick Jagger vocals, driving, precise riffs and ample drum carnage, including relentless cymbal shimmers, always leaving room for good old, rock ’n’ roll tambourine, handclaps and wood block action. Next time, more cowbell. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Andy Votel
All Ten Fingers (Twisted Nerve/Select)
DJ/producer/designer Votel has all 10 fingers in as many pies, not least of which is his label Twisted Nerve, home of Badly Drawn Boy. The musical palette he draws on for this, his first full-length of his own material, is likewise diverse. Votel rummages through a toy box of (often cleverly mishandled) instruments for odd and unseemly sounds. These he patches together to bring an equally silly and sinister flavour to his midtempo groove stews and gogo rockers. It doesn’t always work, falling quite flat at times. But when it does click, as on the lysergic mystery-disco jam “Questions and Sighs,” he gets both thumbs up. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Sigur Ros
( ) (Fatcat/Universal)
Pretty, rich, simple, silly, aimless, ambient, climactic, majestic, minimal, minute, grave, barren, cold, emotive, ethereal, wholesome, melancholic, Icelandic, “Hopelandic,” post-rock, new age, deliberate, drifting, droning, touching, chiming, swelling, soaring, still, staid, unique, inspired, tired, tedious, depressed, deep, remote, regal, reflective, heavenly, heartfelt, alien, flabby, flat, indulgent, uneven, epic, spiritual, funereal, lovely, listless, limited, lauded, forgiven, untouchable, untitled, speechless. 7/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Stars as Eyes
Enemy of Fun (Tigerbeat6)
Still experimenting with IDM/krautrock hybridization, noisy gear geeks Stars as Eyes (from Providence, RI, now based in Austin, TX) downplay the glitch on this sophomore disc, supplementing their synths, machines and samples with live drums, guitars, piano and obscured vocals calling out from under the din. From calming to creepy, clean to chaotic, their semi-formed songs sound like a blind date between Aphex Twin and Add N to (X), equally awkward and playful and, although they don’t have much in common, they get it on in the end anyway. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Cex, Numbers and the Unireverse at la Sala Rossa, Wed., Nov. 27, 9pm, $12

Terranova
Hitchhiking Non-Stop With No Particular Destination (K7/Fusion III)
Dark-hop instrumentalists Terranova have flipped the script on their latest effort and gone all electro-ish on our asses. No doubt influenced by the current sound of their hometown, this Berlin trio (fourth member Kaos is working on his solo album) has managed to twist, hip hop, R&B, dancehall, rock and trip hop into an almost consistent whole. Hitchhiking… is three-fourths bomb tracks and one-fourth lukewarm techno filler, highlights being guests spots by Mike Ladd, Ariane (remember the Slits?) and the vocodered voice of ex-Stereo-MC Cath Coffey (on the extremely hype opener “Breathe”). Definitely worth a listen. 7/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Deadbeat
Wildlife Documentaries (~scape/Fusion III)
With releases already out on labels like Germany’s Background and local imprint Intr_Version, there’s no denying that local minimal techno producer Deadbeat (aka Scott Monteith) is one of Montreal’s fastest rising stars. His latest album on Germany’s well respected ~scape label (home of minimal dubmeister Pole) shows Deadbeat returning to the roots of dub reggae, a sound that has shaped his productions since the get-go. More melodic and song oriented than his last album Primordia, Wildlife… takes the haunting sound of reggae organs, bass and rhythm to their logically processed end with a sound so sweet, smooth and dub-heavy that even the Upsetter himself would be pleased. Ring the alarm! 9.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Missy Elliott
Under Construction (Elektra/Warner)
Whether it was self-imposed, or part of her recording contract, Missy Elliott has shed 40 pounds just in time for the release of her new album Under Construction. Saying more than once that she now values life just a little bit more since Aaliyah died, this LP bumps and cracks with playful ease, with Timbaland conducting some neckbreakers that are impossible to stand still and listen to. Everybody’s already swallowed the infectious “Work It” whole, so it’s just a matter of time before “Back in the Day” with Jay-Z and “Gossip Folks” with Ludicris jump out the box. Missy and her funky flipped lingo are lucky to be having so much fun with a guy like Timbaland at the controls. Their combination is the source of this album’s strength. 8/10 (Scott C)

Tre Hardson
“Roots, Love and Culture” 12” (UpAbove)
After the Pharcyde lost Fat Lip and started making retarded, middle-of-the-road jams with no paydirt, a lot of people wondered if they’d ever be able to get it together to put out some quality again. Well, it didn’t happen, but Slim Kid Tre is here to put in his two cents as a solo artist. This is Tre doing what he’s always done best, rap-singing his way through two songs with considerable weight. “Ayyomyman” works the club-banger steez, crippling people with a fat bassline and crisp drums, while “Roots, Love and Culture” is kinda soft, lazy and soulful, thanks to my man singing. Don’t sound too much like the Pharcyde, but it still sounds good. 7.5/10(Scott C)

Blaze
Spiritually Speaking (Slip N Slide/Fusion III)
Consisting of rhythmic auteur Kevin Hedge and ace keyboardist Josh Milan, Blaze have become associated with the jazzy garage house sound experienced at New York’s infamous club Shelter and global smashes such as Lovelee Dae and My Beat. Spiritually Speaking is an ode to the classic sound of Earth Wind & Fire, replete with classy horn arrangements and a performance by one of EWF’s lead singers Philip Bailey (“Breathe”). Milan goes loco on the keys in “Gloria’s Muse,” “Do You Remember House” is poised to be another crossover doozy and Alexander Hope’s vocals resonate wonderfully. The rest of the tracks consists of ballads and spoken word that broach deep, unifying issues without being too preachy. This album speaks to the feet and the heart. 10/10 (Peter Lightburn)

3LW
A Girl Can Mack (Epic/Sony)
Technically, they should be called 2LW, since little woman Naturi Naughton flew the coop in a very public and bitter fashion. Nevertheless, her vocals remain intact on this set, helping the remaining duo of Little Women sound all grown up. Gone is the innocence of their self-titled debut, replaced by a sex-charged romp down lovers’ lane. Leading the charge is the first single “I Do,” quickly followed by funkafied “I Need That (I Want That)” and equally aggressive “Leave Wit You (I Think I Wanna).” Seems like these little women know exactly what they want. 6.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Dave Hollister
Things in the Game Done Changed (Motown/Universal)
Motown’s renaissance is being heralded by solid artists like India.Arie and this man, Dave Hollister. Though he’s not the wordsmith that Arie is, Hollister compensates with rough and ready vocals that are clearly not studio-produced. On this set he continues the old-school-influenced R&B that’s made his two previous efforts so successful, giving tracks like “What’s a Man to Do” and “Love Hate Relationship” that new-millennium soul feel. When he picks up the pace with “My Everything” and “We Gon’ Make It (Mama E’s Song),” he recalls the joyful sound of classic Motown. 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Nina Hagen
Om Namah Shivay! (SPV/Fusion III)
Long available only through her Web site, this release from the East German freak diva is in stores at last. Don’t expect Hagen by numbers here—her arty, funky-punk, psychedelic sci-fi S&M persona has taken a back seat to her spiritual leanings. The first disc is all Hindu sacred music, mantras for Shiva, Krishna, Ganesh and the gang, which her full, operatic voice (minus the howls and shrieks that raised hairs in the ’80s) is entirely up to. The second disc is a tasty live recording plus a six-minute video. Proceeds go to hospitals in India, Germany and the Ukraine, so you’d do well to pick this up. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Barry Harris Bull’s Eye! (Prestige OJC/Universal) Harris will be 73 in less than a month’s time. A pianist, composer, teacher, he’s been called the “father of Detriot jazz.” Although recorded in 1968 during the hard bop era, this is a straight-ahead bebop session of the first rank, consisting of six tracks. Harris, whose musical heroes include Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, is the greatest living bebop pianist. He’s joined here by Paul Chambers and Billy Higgins, adding, on four tracks, Pepper Adams, Kenny Dorham and, switching to tenor, Charles McPherson. The music here includes Monk’s “Off Minor” and Barry’s tribute “Off Monk,” a great Latin piece, “Barengo,” and three more Harris memorable originals. With everyone at the top of his game, this is one to put on the shelf beside Barry’s Luminescence. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)

Leroy Jones Back to My Roots (Player Productions) » The New Orleans-based trumpeter’s first CD in six years—the title tells the story. 8.5 (LD)

Kimya Dawson I’m Sorry That Sometimes I’m Mean (Rough Trade) Sweet, disturbed, outsider folk from the Moldy Peaches’ green ’fro lady, heard here in the head of a five year old. 8 (LC)

Grooverider Fabriclive Vol. 6 (Fabric/Fusion III) One of the granddaddies of drum & bass takes you back to the sound of yesteryear with this hard-stepping mix. Boum-tchak! 8 (RK)

Palomar II (Self-starter) This estrogenic NYC quartet (apologies to male drummer) takes good-time, punk-pop pep to hyper speed on album two. 7.5 (LC)

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