Ghostface Killah, 'Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City' (Def Jam)
It's a cold, hard world and a Ghostface Killah needs a Ghostface girl -- the kind who'll wear a nurse costume when you get back from a long night at the studio, rock the foxy librarian look on a lazy Sunday, who'll kill for you and die with you, write to you in Rikers and call you on your bullshit, take long walks and communicate in parks.
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Wilco, Frankly.
Eminem, 'Relapse' (Interscope)
It's been five years since Eminem's last record, Encore, and on occasion, the world has felt somewhat empty without him. But that's nothing compared to the emptiness he feels.
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Rancid, 'Let the Dominoes Fall' (Hellcat/Epitaph)
"We're still around," Tim Armstrong growls over Lars Frederiksen's peppy guitar blitz as these lovable mosh-pit lifers kick off album number seven. The sunny brutalism of Rancid's East Bay ska-thrash has lost nary a step and their ethical-emotional rigor is as sweet as it is pure.
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Chester French, 'Love the Future' (Star Trak/Interscope)
Chester French are kind of undeniable, which is good because you'll probably want to deny them. Harvard brats bankrolled by Pharrell, singer D.A.
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Field Music, 'Field Music' (Memphis Industries)
The Northeast England port town of Sunderland got its first punk-rock anthem in 1987, the Toy Dolls' highly ironic "Nowt Can Compare to Sunderland Fine Fare." The timing was auspicious.




