Outkast
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (Arista/BMG)
Let's hear it for the double solo LP. If the outer-worldly antics of Andre 3000 and Big Boi have consistently made your jaw drop, then get ready for an extra-crazy helping of fearless innovation. Our favourite boys from Atlanta drop two self-contained LPs in one shot here, with Big Boi settling in with some Speakerboxxx bump. This is easily the more traditional of the two sides, with Big Boi's ATL drawl let loose over tracks with Jay-Z, Killer Mike, Jazze Pha and Goodie Mob. With a few exceptions, the production is bugged out, soulful and oblivious to your average club sounds. Andre 3000 takes this a few steps further, with only one actual hip hop track on The Love Below. This is a brilliant, convoluted musical journey that largely features Dre singing jazz, soul, rock, and whatever else he can think of. Is hip hop so stagnant that these two have to drop a creative, big-budget bomb like this? You bet. 9/10 (Scott C)

Death Cab for Cutie
Transatlanticism (Barsuk)
Too bland to rock 'n' roll, too tense to revel in carefree pop, too serious for indie rock irony, Ben Gibbard lives on the fringes of the party, observing the awkward wallflowers, capturing those universal moments of rejection and neglect. With occasional attempts at evocative imagery, his lyrics champion the lovelorn underdogs, or at least empathize with them, while his voice emotes with pale, earnest honesty. What Gibbard lacks as a poet or storyteller, Chris Walla makes up with lightly lush arrangements that can swell with waves of guitar or uptempo pop or subtly highlight the patient riffs and piano melodies nestling Gibbard's sweet, simple tunes. 7.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Nada Surf and the Long Winters at Cabaret, Fri., Oct. 17, 9pm, $17.50

Spiritualized
Amazing Grace (Sanctuary/EMI)
Remember flashback shows? Those cheap episodes aired annually on almost every TV sitcom, a compilation of highlights within some flimsy framing device? Well, with a bit of Stooges karaoke around the edges, Jason "Spaceman" Pierce rehashes his searing rockers, gospel anthems and little-boy-lost ballads, minus the passion that made them so bold and compelling on previous albums. He's hardly the first artist to plunder his own work, but unless you've got the hardcore-fan hard-on for the Spaceman-who wrote, arranged and produced every inch of this album-this episode will leave you cold. Click. 5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With Gorky's Zygotic Mynci and Secret Machines at le Spectrum, Sat., Oct. 18, 8pm, $19.50, all ages

Kings of Leon
Youth & Young Manhood (RCA/BMG)
These pretty boys have been diggin' deep into their Nuggets and CCR collections and surface with some hits that should have the denim-and-Kodiaks kids shakin' their moneymakers. This is a good record but, despite the testifyin' of lead singer Caleb Followill, this never explodes into true rock 'n' roll abandon. Not that they don't occasionally scratch the surface of greatness, like in the brilliant ballad "Trani" which could've been plucked right off of Lou Reed's kitchen table, or the Max's Kansas City sound of "California Waiting," but by the end they carve out no truly memorable moments. Kings of Leon may be poised for great things, but that seems to still be a record away. 7/10 (Johnson Cummins)

The Little Killers
self-titled (Crypt)
Whoa, what's this?! A new release from Crypt? This has to be good, if it got Crypt back in the game after five years of playing possum. Well, the Little Killers do Crypt proud-the young NYC act sweats it out on all 12 tracks here. No posing, cool name-checking or reinventing the wheel here, just amped-up Chuck Berry/Johnny Thunders riffs that demand to be cranked. Fans of long lamented Devil Dogs will go to town on this one. This is a real, no-frills rock 'n' roll meltdown that is sure to go great with cheap draft and bathroom sex. Hopefully this will be followed by many more Crypt releases. 8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins) With Scat Rag Boosters at Barfly, Sat., Oct. 20, 9pm

U.N.K.L.E.
Never Never Land (Island/Universal)
Round two for U.N.K.L.E., the studio project of the Mo Wax label's mastermind James Lavelle, and again his little black book is in full effect. His sprawling beat-rock noir is peppered with cameos by the likes of Brian Eno, Stone Rose Ian Brown, QOTSA's Josh Homme and Pulp-meister Jarvis Cocker. Thing is, all are remarkable only for how unremarkable they are. What stands out is the absence of former partner DJ Shadow, whose production skills might have brought greater dimension to Lavelle's grim but funky grey space. Never Never Land's certainly not a failure, but neither is it the event it should have been. 6/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Kid Koala
Some of My Best Friends Are DJs (Ninja Tune/Outside)
The greatest thing about a Kid Koala production is the coupling of Eric San's naturally playful disposition and his undeniable talent on the turntables. This release shows exactly why KK can't be compared to many of the turntablists out there, taking the almost-clichéd "turntables as instrument" notion to bright new heights. "Basin Street Blues" and "Skanky Panky" are perfect examples of that. Although this is short and sweet, keeners will enjoy the 50-page comic, the animated short for "Basin Street Blues" and the travel-size chess game that you may, or may not, use. 8/10 (Scott C)

Ludacris
Chicken and Beer (Def Jam)
The rapid-fire cartoon rhymes of Ludacris have gotten to the point where I actually think that his videos are just as responsible for his continued success as his hook-laden releases. When I say hook, I mean hook. Check "Blow It Out," "Splash Waterfalls" and the ode to ugly groupies, "Hoes in My Room," with Snoop Dogg. Cris relies on the funnier side of things to get him by, and his previous career as a radio personality is ever-present throughout this record. Personally, I like the digs at wack rappers and Bill O'Reilly, but overall, this feels like a comedy record that you'll listen to and laugh at a few times, but eventually it gets tired. 7/10 (Scott C)

Various
Digital Disco 2 (Forcetracks/Fusion III)
Despite what might be the ugliest cover to come out of Germany since David Hasselhoff's Live From Hamburg bootleg, the second installment of the Digital Disco comps from Force Inc.'s minimal club sub-label should provide the perfect lift for anyone bogged down by clicky tech-house. Names like Luomo, Akufen, MRI, Ian Pooley and Dub Taylor & Vital provide 13 tracks of straight-up, hands-in-the-air filtered disco and goodtime house. Those with an aversion to soulful deep vocals are advised to stay away. All others should give it a spin and start working it! 7/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Tony Rich
Resurrected (Compendia)
Who would have thought that the guy voted most easily confused with Babyface on his '95 debut Words could deliver this seamless blend of funk and rock? From the first guitar riffs on "Future Daze," it's clear we're not dealing with the same Rich. He's still the sweet storyteller (witness the down-home "Barbershop" and the spiritual "Within My Soul"), but on tracks like "Free," and "The Only Way 2 Love Me," he uses a harder edge to express his thoughts on personal choice and mutual respect. By the time he hits the closing bars of the live "Yeah! Yeah!," this resurrection is a done deal. Amen. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)

Elvis Costello
North (Universal Classics)
Way to go, Diana Krall. Costello's fiancée must be the lady in the syrupy lyrics, maybe even an influence on the pale-faced jazz and anodyne piano ballads. Is anyone else sick? As classical or "adult" music, this album doesn't match Costello's work with the Brodsky Quartet or even Burt Bacharach, and the sneering, sharp tongue and songwriting prowess of his angry-young-man days have been replaced by dull, wispy tunes, a capable croon and a mouthful of goo. In a word, North is "fine," meaning it'd make fine bookstore ambience or a fine soundtrack to a nice, restful coma. 5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter)

Geoff Keezer
Falling Up (Maxjazz)
This Wisconsin-born pianist, despite his age (33 on Nov. 20), has a lot of depth. While still in his teens, he was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, followed by work with Art Farmer, George Coleman, Benny Golson, Gerry Mulligan, Lodi Carr and Mingus Dynasty. He was the youngest member of the Four Pianos for Phineas group and this is his debut for an important new label out of St. Louis. Over 11 tracks that include a variety of composing styles (Bach, Hawaii, Ellington, the leader), he's joined by the likes of Ingrid Jensen, Claire Martin, Scott Colley, Joe Locke, Steve Wilson and Tim Garland. A well played, diverse outing by a pianist to keep both ears on. 9/10 (Len Dobbin) At Maison de la Culture Frontenac with Christine Jensen, Sun., Oct. 19, 10pm

Various
Festival in the Desert (World Village/Fusion III)
You can be forgiven for missing the 2003 edition of la Festival au Désert-now three years old, the fest happens deep in Tuareg territory, in Saharan Mali. Led Zep's Robert Plant made it, though (his psychedelic blues jam "Win My Train Fare Home" is just one highlight here), as did Malian superstars Oumou Sangaré and Ali Farka Touré, Navajo rockers Blackfire, French world-folkers Lo'Jo and no end of Arabic and African talent. The live recordings are of superior quality and superbly blended, but more importantly, this is one of the coolest music events in the world which you'll probably never see/hear firsthand, so grab this or hold out for the forthcoming DVD. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Mini CD Reviews

Asha Bhosle The Rough Guide to Bollywood Legends: Asha Bhosle (World Music Network) The "brimful of Asha" of which Cornershop once crowed-50 years of diverse material from the undisputed empress of Indian filmi song. 9 (RB)

François Theberge Elenar (Effendi/SRI) More great writing and playing by a large ensemble, led by a Montrealer living in Paris. 9 (LD)

Mojave 3 Spoon and Rafter (4AD/Select) With a soft touch and a steady hand, this Slowdive spin-off band pulls silken chamber country out of space. 8.5 (LC)

Sascha Funke Bravo (Bpitch) Like Ricardo Villalobos' excellent Alcachofa album, here's another push towards a melodic, minimal dancefloor! Hooray! 8.5 (RK)

Ride Waves (The First Time) From the BBC radio vaults, alternate takes of singles and rarities by Oxford's early '90s dream team. 7.5 (LC)

Life of Agony River Runs Again: Live 2003 (SPV/Fusion III) Thankfully, you can end your "life of agony" by merely pressing "eject" on your CD player. 6 (JC)

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