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On the singer/guitarist's second, song-oriented solo album, he doesn't stray far from his main band's template -- the chord shapes are familiar (albeit acoustic), Lee Ranaldo's wonky leads are filled in by a violin (however mellow), and Trees Outside the Academy slots in beautifully with Sonic Youth's strikingly consistent 21st-century work.

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Fifteen years ago, the Jesus Lizard were the most explosive live band in underground rock, and David Yow was their manic, often inebriated, and frequently naked frontman. So hearing him come out of retirement with Qui, a noise-prog duo that's been kicking around L.A. since 2000, is a bit like watching Michael Jordan play horse.

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Prior to leaving the group earlier this year, Jason Isbell was the best thing to happen to the Drive-By Truckers since Lynyrd Skynyrd.

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Virginia's Pig Destroyer have been peddling high-octane, face-ripping, black-humor grindcore for a decade, and here they push their sound into an even fiercer realm. Guitarist Scott Hull's sweaty juggernaut riffs practically slice your flesh, but this is also a lyrics band, with J.R.

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Of today's numerous punk bands reminding us that the Jesus Lizard and their queasy ilk didn't die in vain, this quartet of mopes from Allentown, Pennsylvania, might be the best. Their blown-amp sludge punk demonstrates, as noise-rock godfather Steve Albini once put it, "how fucking holy distortion sounds on just about anything." Amen, brother.

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As prog-metal bands multiply like flies on a rotting corpse (Isis, Pelican, Cult of Luna, etc.), these Bay Area vets produce the genre's heaviest album since Bill and Monica. "To the Wind" Rolodexes their skill set, from a gorgeous, spacey intro that mocks imitators with its casual beauty to full-contact rock to Scott Kelly's 29-second, senses-shattering scream.