The Most Wonderful Time Of Year – Scott Weiland – Completely useless not entirely unpleasant bunch of Christmas standards by the STP frontman. Grade: C+
Violence Begets Violence – Jedi Mind Tricks – I caught the hip hop twosome at Ring The Bells a coupla years ago and liked them fine, but this is a little bit more of the same. Still, the duo can tag team and the samples are as expected. Grade: B
The Sinatra Project, Vol II – Michael Feinstein – I prefer him covering Gershwin and anyone some of the choices are less Sinatra then… well, everybody else. I mean, "Hallelujah, I Love Her So"? But some, from Sly Masterson to Nelson Riddled are first rate interpretations. And best of the lot:, a just about perfect "I'll Be Around". Grade: B
Double-Wide Dream – Casey Donahew Band – Country rock ordinaire. The songs aren't terrible but the vocals are really weak. Grade: B-
Tarot Classics – Surfer Blood – Four track EP of unvaryingly high indie pop rock LA style quality. Grade: A-
Baby Kills – The Kills – Three song EP, the acoustic version a standard bearer. Are they getting poppier or what? Grade: B
A Map Of The Floating City – Thomas Dolby – No longer blinded by science, now he suffers from nyctalopia on a surprisingly good album which manages to look backwards and forwards at the same time as he plays effortlessly with textures and, sounds, time and place. Grade: B
4Everrevolution – Roots Mauva – Limey rapper with a taste for dub. An acquired tatse. Grade: B