Album

Alaska – Happiness

Ironically titled debut from Brighton-based trio

Chris Whitley – War Crime Blues

Previously available only at gigs or on the Internet (along with the similarly acoustic Weed), War Crime Blues is a masterclass in bottleneck guitar and mud-caked Mississippi stomp from this most distinctive of guitarists. There are similarities to contemporaries like Chris Smither in the wounded delivery, but the Texan's style is more aggressive, his accentuated strums—like sudden lightning forks—more akin to the late great Tucson guitarist Rainer Ptacek (see "Ghost Dance" and the title track).

Sheer Heart Attack

New volume of basement lo-fi by unreconstructed rocker in folk clothing

Wreckless Eric – Bungalow Hi

Typically idiosyncratic but highly welcome return

Ravaged Beauty

Polly Harvey and Nick Cave help create her most potent album since Broken English

The Residents

THE RESIDENTS' COMMERCIAL ALBUM ON DVD

Edgar Broughton Band

Previously unreleased 1969 prequel, plus Edgar and co's last two albums on Harvest

Michael Chapman – Dangerous When Sober: A Potted History 1966-1980

Live recordings and demos from the East Riding's favourite ragtime rocker

The Creation – Psychedelic Rose

Cult '60s mods unearth lost '80s set

Ray LaMontagne – Trouble

Immaculate debut from late developing troubadour
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