Carl Craig, 'Carl Craig Sessions' (!K7)
In Carl Craig's nearly 20-year career turning out remixes for LCD Soundsystem, Deee-Lite, Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, and others, he's logged almost as many clients as aliases (69, BFC, Innerzone Orchestra, Psyche, Tres Demented, and Paperclip People, to name a few).
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The Sword, 'Gods of the Earth' (Kemado)
This Austin, Texas band's riffs are so heavy they should be weighed periodically on truck scales, so that they don't violate any interstate cartage laws when the Sword goes on tour.
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Einstürzende Neubauten, 'Alles Wieder Offen' (Potomak)
Biffy Clyro, 'Puzzle' (Roadrunner)
Though they formed in the late '90s, this Glaswegian postgrunge band finally became Britain's next big thing when Puzzle, their fourth LP, debuted at No. 2 on the U.K. album charts in June. It's easy to see why: The trio has an effortless, if colorless, knack for penning solid, accessible guitar anthems à la Foo Fighters.
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Pinback, 'Autumn of the Seraphs' (Touch and Go)
Rob Crow and Zach Smith are perfectionists, and each Pinback album results from years of obsessive labor in their San Diego home studio. Their previous three albums were marvels of sublime prog pop, and there's more of the same here, with the stately piano and rarified vocal harmonies of "How We Breathe." But for a band defined by its
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Modeselektor, 'Happy Birthday!' (Bpitch Control)
Taking their name from a knob on the vintage Roland RE-201 tape-echo machine, the Berlin DJ/production duo of Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary line up a series of ace cameos on their wildly eclectic second album of original material.



