Uncut

PiL bassist's latest genetic experiments on music from planet dub

Catch-all NYC trio's long-overdue follow-up to 1997 debut National Chain

Booty-shakin' mini album from the new Timbaland

"Songs of murder, mob law and cruel, cruel punishment" get the once-over

Raised in rural New Mexico, Dameon Lee—aka Lowlights—gravitated first towards power pop with Albuquerque combo Scared Of Chaka. In 1999, six albums later, he set about beating a more sepulchral trail of his own. Co-produced by Dustin (Rocketship) Reske, this painterly debut is a sad-slow delight. Nothing maudlin about it either. Lee's voice has an autumn-leaf warmth, carried on swirls of organ noise, understated pedal-steel and shadowed by the faint harmonies of Angela Brown.

Since big brother Steve first recruited her to sing backing on 1991's The Hard Way, Stacey Earle's gradual career curve has included two unadorned solo albums (1999's Simple Gearle and 2000's Dancin' With Them That Brung Me) before finally sharing centre stage with 'im indoors, Mark Stuart, on 2001's Must Be Live. This new offering is simply the best thing either have ever done. Stuart's classic country voice meshes with Earle's honeyed purr superbly, but it's the bold instrumentation that truly glows.

Perfect '70s pop pastiche from Nashville-based singer-songwriter

Alaskan folk-poet turns pop princess

Disappointing return for literate New York quartet

Focused and cohesive melodic rock