Alien Ant Farm, 'TruANT' (El Tondi/Dreamworks)

Nothing "nü" under the sun for rap-rockers.

Two years ago, Papa Roach protegés Alien Ant Farm proved nü metal could be funny on purpose with their frisky cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal.” But even as the song began climbing the charts, the band hit a run of bad luck that nearly derailed their career.

Joe Budden, 'Joe Budden' (Def Jam)

Much-hyped Jersey MC backs up the buzz.

There is no evidence to suggest that Joe Budden can bend spoons with his mind.

The Used, 'Maybe Memories' (Reprise)

’Nuff respect to the other talented, hard-working, heavily pierced young men of the Used, but it’s all about Bert McCracken. Flaunting a loose-cannon glower somewhere between Jack Black’s and Kurt Cobain’s, venting the torments of his soul while spewing the contents of his stomach, he’s rock’s premier Utah spazz.

Stills, 'Rememberese' (Vice)

There are Canucks in Brooklyn, dear friends, and they’re a stubborn bunch, refusing to choose between disco bass lines and jangly Peter Buck arpeggios. The first EP by Montreal transplants the Stills features fewer songs (three, plus one remix) than this four-piece outfit has members, but it packs a lot of moody reverie into 15 minutes.

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