RE: VIEWS

BILL BAKER - EP (Independent)
Bill Baker, the freshest face on the NYC music scene, has self-released his debut solo EP, and with songs like \"Devil In The Moon\" and a style with the heart of Springsteen and the swagger of Ryan Adams, Baker is sure to become a permanent fixture in the world of independent music. For more info, email him here.
THE GRADE: A
- Marie LeClaire

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THE PHENOMENAUTS - RE-ENTRY (Springman Records)
Members of Reverend Horton Heat, Devo, Southern Culture on the Skids, and The B-52s had an orgy. Nine months later, The Phenomenauts\' Re-Entry was born. This disc is ten kinds of music in one! It’s space-aged surf rock! It’s rockabilly punk! And more! Order your copy today!
THE GRADE: B
- Wayne Chinsang

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KYLE HOLLINGSWORTH - NEVER ODD OR EVEN (Sci-Fidelity Records)
Hollingsworth (better known as the keyboardist/pianist for String Cheese Incident) has created a fine instrumental album on this, his first solo album. Slightly less funky than (but in the same vein as) Medeski Martin & Wood, Kyle’s organ-infused soundscapes are great to both work and rock out to. I especially dig the third track, \"Seventh Step\".
THE GRADE: B+
- Wayne Chinsang

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GENERAL PATTON VS. THE X-ECUTIONERS - GENERAL PATTON VS. THE X-ECUTIONERS (Ipecac Records)
One of the most prolific musicians of our day, Mike Patton, aligns himself with three of the most influential DJs in history, The X-Ecutioners. The result is nothing short of amazing. Part hip-hop and all funky, this self-titled gem is my favorite of the new year. Perfect!
THE GRADE: A+
- Wayne Chinsang

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LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - LCD SOUNDSYSTEM (DFA Records)
Two discs of DJ dance tunes set in motion to an Eighties vibe and a disco-punk rhythm. Mixed by James Murphy and Andy Wallace, these 15 tracks take you from the bizarre (\"Daft Punk Is Playing At My House\") to the chill (\"Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up\"). So completely all over the place, it\'s beautiful.
THE GRADE: B+
- Wayne Chinsang

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THE SOUL REBELS - REBELUTION (Barn Burner Music)
This isn\'t your typical hip-hop album because these motherfuckers have a brass section! The perfect blend between hip-hop and jazz, this album has the funkiness of the former and the subtleties of the latter. Reminiscent in parts of Us3 and the now-defunct Soul-Fu Villains, Rebelution is the hybrid music you should be listening to instead of that rap-metal shit.
THE GRADE: A
- Wayne Chinsang

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COACHWHIPS - PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY LIVE AT THE MING LOUNGE (Narnack Records)
Coachwhips are a lively rock \'n\' roll band who like it gritty and dirty. Their distorted vocals add to the chaotic thrashing of their garage sound. If you like your music clean and pristine, don\'t pick this record up! If you like nitty-gritty rock with a bit of White Stripes, go get this now!
THE GRADE: B+
- Das Bork

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JOSH ROUSE - NASHVILLE (Rykodisc Records)
Nashville easily fools one into thinking that it\'s something it\'s not. Starting with pedal steel and a country tone, the album falls flat. But pushing through successfully, I made it halfway, where Rouse lets his sad, sleepy, Sunday morning lyrics and sounds give the album an entirely different and wonderful feel.
THE GRADE: B-
- Bethany Shady

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JOHNNY MADDOX - DIXIELAND BLUES (Universal/Crazy Otto Music)
This 1959 reissue from one of the leading ragtime piano players of all time, Johnny Maddox, is solid gold! Hot! Maddox, now 77 years old, chose this record as his favorite from his 50+ years of playing music. And it\'s obvious why. The music is timeless, and it\'s great to see a PR company pimping something that isn\'t current day white-boy rock. Maddox is the roots of ragtime, and his legendary status is set in stone with this release.
THE GRADE: A
- Wayne Chinsang

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THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - PUSH THE BUTTON (Astralwerks)
The Chemicals are back, and they\'ve done it again with Push The Button. I know the mid-to-late Nineties were a big time for DJ acts, and I know audiences fell by the wayside as the years went on. But this album is proof that anybody that was a fair-weather friend to this genre is nothing but a punk bitch. Push The Button is familiar, yet still manages to progress. And besides, any album that features a track with Q-Tip is fine by me.
THE GRADE: A
- Wayne Chinsang

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COULIER - COOL, COOLER, COULIER (Stick Figure Records)
Seriously, with song titles like \"There’s A Monster (Riff) Under My Bed\", \"So, This Is Your First Time With A Dude?\", and \"I’m Down With Brown Town,\" you owe them a listen. Especially if you like imagining that The Melvins, Rancid Yak Butter Tea Party, and Bad Brains had a love child.
THE GRADE: A
- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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JUPITER SUNRISE - UNDER A KILLER BLUE SKY (Undecided Records)
Gee, I had no idea They Might Be Giants recorded a Weezer album. Probably because they didn’t. But if they did, I know what it would sound like. Not bad. Not my cup of tea, but not bad.
THE GRADE: B-
- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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DIAMOND NIGHTS - SO FANTASTIC (Kemado Records)
So Fantastic reminds me of when I hit all the best clubs back in the early Eighties, snortin\' coke and picking out which delicious piece of eye candy would satisfy my completely trashed, teased-hair, too-much-eyeshadowed sweet tooth. I am lying, of course. I was about five then. Whatever.
THE GRADE: B
- Sal Swayzo

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ADRIAN BELEW – SIDE ONE (Sanctuary Records)
The first of three new Belew albums we\'ll receive this year. A brilliant showcase for his many facets, juxtaposing noise guitar with the best pop melodies ever recorded. Side One once again proves Belew stands alone in a sonic landscape that only he can create; jaw-dropping in its beauty and power.
THE GRADE: A
- Night Watchman

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WONDERFALLS – THE COMPLETE SERIES (Fox Home Entertainment)
The best new series you never saw. Cancelled before it had a chance, Wonderfalls is Amélie meets Ally McBeal meets Arrested Development. Hilarious and touching, it\'s sad Wonderfalls never got the chance it deserved. But now you can own all 13 episodes, including the nine that never made it on TV.
THE GRADE: A+
- Night Watchman

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LAURENT GARNIER - CLOUD MAKING MACHINE (Mute Records)
If Prince and Pink Floyd made an album together using nothing but synthesizers it would be Cloud Making Machine. Funky and bluesy in a keyboard kind of way, it has a kind of trippy, Fatboy-lite vibe. Not fast enough for glow sticks, but it might be good to mellow out to.
THE GRADE: C
- Night Watchman

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AUDRA KUBAT - SINCE I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC (Times Beach Records)
Yes, Audra Kubat is beautiful. Get over it. Above and beyond that, she is a talented musician and songwriter, and her newest release, Since I Fell In Love With The Music, proves that looks only go so far. Part folk and all spiritual, Kubat reminds us of the humanity of our lives, with tracks like \"Already Gone\" and \"One Day\". In short, it\'s a beautiful voice and message to go along with her pretty face.
THE GRADE: B+
- Wayne Chinsang

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ROCKET SCIENCE - ETERNAL HOLIDAY (Modular Recordings)
If all the members of The Clash were mentally retarded, this is what they would sound like.
THE GRADE: D
- Bethany Shady

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MARTHA WAINWRIGHT - BLOODY MOTHER FUCKING ASSHOLE (Querbes Records)
I have officially changed my last name to Wainwright. This family continues to amaze me. Martha lives up to the Wainwright name with her own spin on folk-rock and a voice that carries you into your own personal heaven. This EP is a great preview of her full-length album, due out in April.
THE GRADE: A
- Bethany Shady

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MAYA AZUCENA - MAYA WHO? (Nu Media NY)
Neo-soul? Nope. This is just plain soul, the way it’s supposed to sound. Sexy, funky, and a wedding ring away from being my musical bride. Maya’s about as independent an artist as you can get, too, so buy her album.
THE GRADE: A+
- Vinnie Baggadonuts

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MARS BLACK - FOLKS MUSIC (Team Love Records)
A folk music label putting out a hip-hop LP? Makes more sense than you think: grass-roots movements, screaming \"power to the people!\" Good thing Team Love recognized that. Otherwise, you might never hear Mars Black strum the English language over E. Babs\' beats.
THE GRADE: B
- Vinnie Baggadonuts