Jerry Joseph | Into the Lovely
For a guy who picks horrible band names (Little Women, Jethro Belt, Jackmormons), you gotta give Jerry Joseph credit for his persistence. On the way to his seventh album, he's battled addiction, broke record labels and little fanfare. Whether or not you're into his post-jam attempts at creating indie rock, one thing's for sure: Joseph is a lifer. Into the Lovely stews crunchy guitar distortion in a Jack Johnson-esque songwriter's sensibility. The production values recall effects-smothered '90s bands like the Verve Pipe. Check out the catchy "Swimming to Phuket." - Eric Shea

Everything But the Girl | Eden
Once upon a time (1984 to be exact), there was a New Wave duo that was drunk on 1960s bossa nova, folk pop and nightclub jazz. What stopped Everything But the Girl's debut from only being a stylish exercise in nostalgia were Tracie Thorn and Ben Watt's very English, matter-of-fact narrative songs and their utter commitment. "Fascination," "Another Bridge" and "Each & Everyone" remain fan favorites. This is the U.K. version, the U.S release has a different cover and some different (but equally fine) tracks. - ND

AWOL One | The War Of Art
LA rapper returns with an album that is noticeably more upbeat than its predecessors, which isn't to say that it's giggly. America's political situation rears its ugly head into "The Drums," but AWOL's most effective when he's dealing with everyday life. "Casting Call" chronicles the broken dreams of an aspiring actress, while "Breathe Today" is blunted psychoanalysis. KRS-One guests on "Underground Killz" - Sam C.

Bobby Previte | Coalition of the Willing
Part sixties groovatron throwback, part Bitches Brew-era freakout, part shredtastic guitar rock, and part orchestral saxaphonics. This album is Previte at his best, limbs moving swiftly in time, ridin deep in the pocket, keeping excessively cool. Charlie Hunter puts down his 8-string guitar and picks up a Fender Telecaster and a Fender Bass for the first time ever on record. Even Stanton Moore and Steven Bernstein make appearances.
Previte is on a west coast tour this week with a slammin' Coalition of the Willing all-star band, featuring Charlie Hunter, Marco Benevento and saxfreak Skerik. Another quality ropeadope release, and they're already giving away an mp3 of the first 20 minutes of the first night of the band's tour. So Ropeadope! See you Saturday at the Independent? - TK

At the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival earlier this month, I said, "Well my friends, the time has come to raise the roof and have some fun..." Let us go and see Lionel Richie close down the festival on Sunday!  Everybody sing, everybody dance!   Fiesta, forever!  I just had to see this icon of the 80's, just to see what shape that sweet afro was in, just to hear his pop anthems of childhood, and there were more anthems than you'd think.  And oh what a feelin, we were dancin on the ceiling!  It was Sunday and everyone was at the tail end of a long weekend of music, so he eased us in with "Easy" (like Sunday morning) before busting into funky full band versions of "Brick House" and "Lady (You Bring Me Up)."  I don't think my friends who split realized just how deep his career has been, people around me had no idea he was in The Commodores, a funk force to be reckoned with.  And when Lionel slowed down, hands were held and you reminded you that your girl was once, twice, "Three Times A Lady."  Look, don't get on his case just because of his infamous daughter, or because he cheesed out in the 80's.  Who didn't get a little synth-y back then?  Believe me, if you were there, you would have waved and asked "Hello!  Is it me you're looking for?"  You would have admitted that "Stuck On You" provided a feeling down deep in your soul that you just can't lose.  So many of these songs were irresistible pop pleasures, it looked like everybody was having a ball!   Walking out of the fairgrounds knowing that "everyone you meet, they'll be jammin' in the streets...All Night Long."  Oh, what a feeling!  Guess I'm on my way...mighty glad I stayed. - TK

Gnarls Barkley | St. Elsewhere
As the feature presentation flickers into life, the auditorium lights dim and you're instantly submerged in Gnarls Barkley's world of insanity, shadowy genius, depression and hard-earned revelation. St. Elsewhere is the first collaboration between trailblazing singer Cee-Lo and experimental producer-to-the-stars Danger Mouse. Songs such as this summer's soon-to-be overplayed anthem "Crazy" and "Boogie Monster" are steeped in hip-hop, soul and psychedelia, yet the album manages to maintain a distinctly pop flavor and is as addictive as it is inventive. Cee-Lo soars throughout, and Danger Mouse continues to produce idiosyncratic and cinematic hip-hop. Uncanny and unrelenting, St. Elsewhere is a must see. - Jamie Dolling

The Raconteurs
Seventh son Jacky White is back, this time in the form of The Raconteurs, a pseudo-supergroup with Brendan Benson and two dudes from The Greenhornes. The single, "Steady As She Goes" has been out for a few weeks, but Rhapsody has a pre-release interview with Jack, Brendan and the boys. Even cooler, there's two exclusive video tracks (Steady As She Goes and Intimate Secretary (RealPlayer Required) that RealHomies filmed in NYC. - TK

Gomez | How We Operate
These hard-to-peg Brits sound more like expat transplants with their mix of easygoing U.S. roots rock. This, their fifth CD, is the first studio release on Dave Matthews' ATO (According To Our) Records label, and the connection definitely shows up with their newfound love for the banjo and the brooding vocals of the title track. Still, "Girlshapedlovedrug" has them revealing their U.K. accents and poppier side with pride. - Michele K-Tel

John Zorn | Electric Masada - 50th Birthday Edition, Volume 4 Jarring, cerebral, soaring, discordant, strange, abstract, free, deeply grooving, radical. Zorn, as usual, defies easy categorization on this epic album from his own Tzadik label. Masada is the name given to a catalog of arrangements based on Klezmer/Jewish scales written by Zorn in the 80s. The Masada songs have been performed by a plethora of various musical groupings, with or without Zorn's presence. In my opinion, Electric Masada kicks the most ass. The band might actually be my favorite band right now, maybe of all time? Combining jazz fusion, improvisational mastery, celestial-rocking and chilled-out, futuristic sound scapes, this albums takes you through a fleshy spectrum of celebratory musical experience. The band members (Zorn on saxophone; Marc Ribot, guitar; Cyro Baptista, percussion; Jamie Saft, keyboards; Ikue Mori, laptronics; Trevor Dunn, bass; Kenny Wolleson, drums; and special guest Joey Baron, drums) communicate with deep fluidity, letting the music breath in and out, raging then caressing, hammering then soothing. Alternatively spewing hellacious scalding dragon-fire, then icy oceanic sea-breezes. The music tests the listener. At times too manic, too crazy, too much. But, in true tension/release formula, the turbulent, difficult sections only tend to sweeten the fruit of the melodic, loping phrases. Like any great album, subtle musical nuances reveal themselves with each successive listen. Electric Masada picks up were Miles' "Bitches Brew" and "On the Corner" left off. It leaves the listener on the edge of their seat, thrilled, disturbed, intrigued, and ultimately...inspired. - Ethan K.

Pearl Jam | Pearl Jam
After years of silence (if you don't count the five jillion live albums) the anticipation generated by the new (and self-titled) Pearl Jam record says a lot about the band's stature. Despite their long absence, they still remain one of the most widely-respected bands. And with good reason. On their new disc, Pearl Jam definitely bristles with an energy that has been missing for years. The anger and pure volume doesn't let up for the first four songs, and when Eddie finally does sit down to sing ("Parachutes"), it's a revelation and quite a departure from their usual ballad style. - Mike McG
One Track Recommendation: "Marker in the Sand"

Birdmonster | Birdmonster EP
After hearing the name Birdmonster about ten times, I dove in and surfed their MySpace and have been listening to this little EP they put out on CD Baby. I hear they have a new joint out but I haven't heard it just yet. Looking forward to seeing them live, even just to hear this Resurrection Song live. Short, catchy, and rocking. - TK