Washington Social Club
Catching Looks (Badman)
Oh, what menacing covert schemes will these Americans get up to next? I've been exposed to this D.C. quartet's power-pop energy fields and absurdly likeable signals twice, and already I'm hopelessly hooked. Martin, Olivia, Evan and Randy are the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human beings I've ever known in my life. Their smart, brash, hook-laden anthems exist to dance, pogo and raise a fist to, and while I may be punished for saying their sound sometimes verges on the Big and Shiny, you're punishing yourself if you don't lend them your ears. 8.5/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) With the Vans Warped tour at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Friday, Aug. 13, 1 p.m., $38.50

Various
Rock Against Bush Vol. 2 (Fat Wreck Chords)
Again, not the greatest comp. But with Sleater-Kinney, No Doubt, (International) Noise Conspiracy and Foo Fighters adding their rare tracks to those of obvious Fat Wreck calls like Rancid, Green Day, Sick Of It All and Jawbreaker, it's a notch up from Vol. 1. The real score is again the bonus DVD - videos from Bad Religion and NOFX, a sweet bit with Will Ferrell aping Dubya and cool docs like Uncovered, Unprecedented and Unconstitutional. Rocks harder than Kerry did on that Harley, anyway. 7.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

The Hooks
Model B (independent)
Bloodshot Bill
Rockabilly Trash (independent)
Get ready for some low-riding, sleaze-draped rock from the musical wing of the Hooks, a collective of visual artists and alumni of local bands like the Paper Heroes, General Rudie and Agent Cooper. Their debut LP (launching tonight) kicks in hot and heavy at cruise speed before shifting into urgent overdrive and vocal-cord-wounding climaxes, wrapping up in park with brain-damaged mumbling and a half-baked ballad. Speaking of mental impairment, the Hooks are crazy fools to follow the manic solo stylings of Bloodshot Bill, our local rockabilly rep and the musician with his own brand of pomade (Nice 'n' Greasy). Recorded by punk perennial John Isherwood, his new LP tightens up and trots out all the time-honoured riffs, afterhours anecdotes, Kingly crooning and cartoon warbles, screeches and cackles that you love. Hooks 7/10, Bloodshot Bill 8/10 (Lorraine Carpenter) Together at Petit Campus, Thurs., Aug. 19, 9 p.m., $5

Sasquatch
self-titled (Small Stone)
Along with New York's Tee Pee label, Detroit's Small Stone is a premier sludge-rock imprint, and they don't disappoint with the debut from this Los Angeles trio. Sasquatch don't reinvent the wheel, they just follow the path carved by Fu Manchu's simplicity and the hypnotic, testosterone-fuelled groove of Kyuss. In fact, singer Keith Gibbs sounds almost identical to Kyuss's John Garcia, but Sasquatch prove innovation is overrated and just get down to some serious stomp. Head and shoulders above most of the bong-bubblers worshipping at the altar of Sabbath.8.5/10 (Johnson Cummins)

The Doers
Ready Set… Do/I Can Enjoy Almost Anything (Red Cat)
Bassist Mike Watt unleashes his "thunderbroom" on four songs here, but the Doers don't need to advertise Watt's presence as they are really on to something. Watt does seem like an obvious choice, though, as moments of the Fall, Minutemen and most notably Firehose all shine through even before Watt plugs in. Heck, even the cover art smacks of Minutemen illustrator Raymond Pettibon. The Doers carve out their own sound, however, through the duo vocals of Sean Maxey and Kathy Dube. If you're still worshipping Double Nickels on the Dime (and you should!) then see what the Doers can do for you. 8/10 (Johnson Cummins)

Syntifik
The World I Live In (Urbnet)
While Syntifik may be the first hip hop voice to put Vaughn, Ontario, on the map, don't let that cloud your perception of this more than talented MC. With his deep voice and confident flow, he shows that even living on the outskirts can have its merits. From the opening lines of "For My Fam'" to the appeal of joints like "Let Me Live" and "Choose Carefully," you get the feeling that he not only plans to be around for a while, but that he intends to grow with the talents that he's been given. Not a bad debut from the Vaughn side of the tracks. 7.5/10 (Scott C)

James T. Cotton
The Dancing Box (Spectral)
After impressing punters and pundits alike with several shit-hot 12-inches under his Cotton moniker, the Ann Arbor producer Tadd Mullinix has finally released a proper Cotton full-length. The result is some of the darkest, most introspective techno to come out in a long time. Take the upbeat, diamond-edged acid jack of early Chicago Trax records, Vulcan mind-meld that with some deep, swampy and soulful Detroit techno, tweak knobs and enjoy! Starting off with the thunderous "Press Your Body" single, Mullinix never lets up for a second as he culls from every old-school drum and vintage synth sound library, tweaked just enough to keep it fresh. If you're a fan of old-school Plastikman then pick up this late-night mindfuck! 8/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Jimi Tenor
Beyond the Stars (Kitty-Yo/Fusion III)
Finnish freakazoid Tenor cements his move from Warp to Kitty-Yo with this remarkable effort. One of the most ambitious, original figures in the Scandinavian e-jazz scene, Tenor's latest might not go quite as far out as the title suggests, but damn near, anyway. Calling in the UMO big band, the Aventur-choir for some tingly, cosmic choral touches, and Rhythm Taxi for a pair of ersatz Afro-beat episodes, Tenor delivers magnum-calibre jazz-funk, black-candy freakouts of epic scale and veritable cathedrals of kitsch. Beyond the Stars dazzles, dupes and defies the conventional wisdom of his genre. 8/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

August Engkilde
Presents EPO (PopScape/Fusion III)
With its wispy female jazz vocals and leftfield electronic noodlery, this album immediately brings to mind Herbert vocalist Dani Siciliano's late 2003 effort Likes. On Presents EPO, vocalist Frida Asmussen keeps things abstract and slightly Björk-y. Melding Latin, dub, jazz and only touches of IDM successfully often requires the help of great musicians. Luckily, Engkilde had some great co-producers and talent (EPO is actually the name of the music collective founded by Engkilde) who all step up to the plate and bring a polished, cohesive sound that only a good ensemble could produce. 7.5/10 (Raf Katigbak)

Little Tempo
Fireblender (M)
Japan has a long history with dub reggae, and the latest chapter's a good one. Little Tempo push the envelope of the form, applying Naoyuki Uchida's precise and expansive dub production to tunes that range from the playful, extroverted "Splash Metal" to the grim, secretive title track. The real key is the pedal steel guitar, clarinet and particularly the chiming steel pan that constitute the focal instruments. Takeshi Toki's pan playing brings much more than just a twist of calypso to the proceedings, and the closer "Love" is devoted purely to Gen Tamura's aching lap steel. 8.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)

Beenie Man
Back to Basics (Virgin/EMI)
Beenie Man's been at this since youthman days. Sure, 2002's Tropical Storm was an overly-desperate crossover attempt, but apart from a pathetic Sean Paul imitation on "Get on Bad," it would seem that Jamaica's favourite former child star might finally get his due. "Dr. Know" (Pretty Pretty riddim) and "Dude" (Fiesta riddim) are standouts, thanks to production from Dave Kelly, and "Good Woe" is one of the best singles on the infectious Coolie Dance riddim. If for some reason you tire of gal tunes, "Back Against the Wall" proves that Beenie can be as eloquent about ghetto suffering as he is about his sexual prowess. 8/10 (Erin MacLeod)

McKay
self-titled (Go Beat)
After holding down the backup vocals at the Amp Fiddler show last week, Stephanie McKay was good enough to put this record in my hand. This Bronx native teamed up with Portishead's Geoff Barrow to create McKay, a superb LP mixing the sometimes creepy head-bob of Barrow's production with McKay's ample soul. Encompassing everything from reggae flips to Portishead double takes, as well as some truly classic hip hop soul joints, McKay seems to have been overlooked by a few. Keep an ear open for this girl and her beautiful voice, coming to a stereo near you. 8/10 (Scott C)

Nina Sky
self-titled (Universal)
Mis-Teeq
self-titled (Warner/WEA)
"Move Ya Body," by the twin sisters who are Nina Sky, is a top contender for this summer's top jam. Sporting a dancehall-flavoured rhythm, the song epitomizes hot, sweaty summer nights. Nothing else here ignites this much heat, though "Turnin' Me On" comes close by simply duplicating the hit track. The twins also get props for teaming with legendary soul singer Betty Wright on the empowering "You Deserve." Meanwhile, the self-titled album by British trio Mis-teeq takes the best cuts from their first two British releases, adds some savvy remixing and voilà, a set that crackles with funk-lite attitude. They also incorporate dancehall beats, though they do it more consistently, which ultimately makes for a more satisfying groove. And isn't that what summer's all about? Nina Sky 7/10, Mis-teeq 7.5/10 (Gerard Dee)

Illinois Jacquet
The Illinois Jacquet Story (Proper Box/SRI)
This influential tenorman died on July 22, at the age of 81. The four-CD set at hand compiles 69 tracks, from a 1944 Jazz at the Philharmonic concert to a 1951 studio session, both involving jazz impresario Norman Granz. In between are a 1945 remake of "Flying Home," "Robbins' Nest," "Black Velvet" and a plethora of blues and "rhythm" tunes like "Lester Leaps In" and "Cottontail." Jacquet kept good company over those years - you'll find Ray Perry, J.J. Johnson, Joe Newman, Leo Parker and Fats Navarro among the horns, and pianists including Sir Charles Thompson, Nat Cole, John Lewis, Carl Perkins and Hank Jones. Others include Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Johnny Otis and "Papa" Jo Jones. 10/10 (Len Dobbin)

Mini CD Reviews

Craig Russell Rhapsody for Horn and Orchestra (Naxos) Russell is a 53-year-old classical composer whose influences, ranging from Copland to Machito, Tito Puente and Bird and Diz, are on display here. 8.5 (LD)

Vive la fête Schwarzkopf Remix EP (Surprise/Fusion III) I was sad that this single wasn't about General Stormin' Norman, but the cover of Tom Tom Club's "Wordy Rappinghood" more than made up for that. 8 (RK)

Gravenhurst Flashlight Seasons (Warp/Outside) Folk on Warp? Yes, but Bristol's Nick Talbot takes the sad-cum-sinister path, pretty vocals and arrangements roaming ominous woods without leaving breadcrumbs. 7.5 (LC)

Otep House of Secrets (Capitol/EMI) The bludgeon of frantic metal and throat-ripping vocals mixed with sultry goth-diva wailing and spoken-word uncertainty works (the torture-chamber chatter and howls of agony help). 6 (LM)

Shyne "More or Less" 12" (DefJam/Universal) If you're like me, you've always liked Shyne's butter delivery, but this is lost... 6 (SC)

Hazen St. s/t (DC Flag/Sony) New York "hardcore" supergroup with Good Charlotte handpicking the members. I'm not kidding. 4 (JC)

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