Album

Double album retrospective from Kidderminster's favourite blues band

In many ways, A Certain Ratio were the bridge between Manchester's punk and house scenes. Originally signed to Factory, they had early support slots with Talking Heads (1979) and seminal New York funksters ESG (1980), helping shape the label's electronic dance ethos alongside New Order (albeit without the same commercial success). Despite reaching only No 53 in the album charts, 1982's Sextet received ecstatic reviews for its taut, abrasive swagger—an uncompromising blend of percussive NY dance-funk, avant jazz and African, Latin and Brazilian influences.

As with the first Raimi Spidey film, the music of choice is heavy-to-middling emo rock. Why so? Why not something more web-like and spindly and pretty with lacy filigree? Guess it must've market-tested well first time round or we wouldn't again be subjected to plodding power-sludge from the likes (and boy are they ever alike) of Hoobastank, Maroon 5, Lostprophets and Jet, the last of whom so desperately want to be The Faces that it can only be days before they pen a lyric that goes: "You're breaking my heart 'cos you're stealing my tart".

Songs of alienation and madness from reclusive Chicago genius

Bubblegum pop from Joey Santiago

Achingly beautiful no-fi neo-folk from Iceland

Melodiously laid-back adult pop

1975 album from the late teacher turned crooner

Brilliant session from Baker's tragically short-lived quartet

Tenth anniversary "upgrade" with six bonus tracks from the undervalued Ben Stiller film which caught the narcissism of Generation X nicely. These include New Order's "Confusion" and The Trammps' "Disco Inferno", with which there's no arguing. Also, less happily, songs from Ethan Hawke and Lisa Loeb, whose "Stay", from here, was one of the biggest US hits of the mid-'90s. Fine flurries, too, from The Posies, Dinosaur Jr, U2 and Crowded House, plus The Knack's utterly brilliant (you know it) "My Sharona".