Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, 'House Arrest' (Paw Tracks)

Noise-pop experimentalism: crazy good, or just crazy?

Remember in The Wall when no matter how high poor Pink got, he couldn't break free from the bricks, and the worms ate into his brain?

Talib Kweli, 'Right About Now...' (Blacksmith/Koch)

Feel his pain, boost his rep.

Just before his second solo album came out in 2004 Talib Kweli got onstage at a tiny New York club and previewed a few jams. The Brooklyn rapper slayed. In fact, it seemed crazy that he was still a small enough star to perform there.

Atmosphere, 'You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having' (Rhymesayers)

Emo rapper's got 99 problems. The fact that they're all in his head is number one.

Calling something "emo" is usually just a way of talking about guys who ain't too proud to beg or, y'know, cry. But there's a lot of ambivalence out there fronting as sensitivity. Scratch that velveteen surface and you might find a megalomaniac. That's not the case with Atmosphere's Slug -- except when it is.

Liz Phair, 'Somebody's Miracle' (Capitol)

Former fellatio princess gets on her knees...to pray.

Liz Phair may never make another smart-sexy classic like Exile in Guyville. But two years ago, when the former indie vixen took a shot at teen pop, lots of old-time devotees, especially those of the graying male variety, were apoplectic about her new direction.

Peaches, 'Fatherfucker' (Kitty-Yo/XL Recordings/Beggars Group)

XXX-centric techno producer gets jiggy, meets Iggy.

She's got the magic shtick. There may have been no real electroclash "movement," but there certainly was a Peaches--a thirtysomething, self-producing, omni-horny, androgynous Canadian breathing heavy over the skittle-diddling beats of her trusty fuzzbox.

Tori Amos, 'Scarlet's Walk' (Epic)

Let's go, USA!

Syndicate content