Album

The mould-breaking Nashville singer-songwriter gets a marvellous best-of

Alter-ego of The Be Good Tanyas' Trish Klein and Montreal's ex-Fear Of Drinking singer Allison Russell, Po' Girl dish out an invigorating mess of blues-jazz and country grit. There's enough hair in the harmonies and a looser approach to distinguish the duo from the Tanyas' buffed-up chirpiness, plus plenty of silver-spun beauty. Klein's voice sounds folk-mountain fresh throughout, while Russell drizzles the likes of "Wheels Are Taking Me Away" with sleepy clarinet.

Many are now admitting that the title may have been the funniest thing about Christopher Guest's latest piss-take of the earnest. Problem being that its chosen genre of cheesy '60s folk is barely remembered in the UK: Dylan and co presumably blew away the artists Guest is targeting. Also, he clearly nurtures an affection for these nerds.

They're comprised of Chris Abrahams (keyboards), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Tony Buck (drums), and have been in existence on and off since 1987. You might think "jazz trio", but this remarkable group goes far beyond that. Their methodology is to improvise slowly on and gradually develop melodic and rhythmic motifs.

Ardent art-rockers with a preacher's conviction

Two original Mercury LPs from '60s one-hit wonder. But what a hit

Timely reissue on Aphex Twin's label

This Chicagoan is unique in being an astonishing violin virtuoso devoting himself almost entirely to pop music. Founding Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire in the mid-'90s, his best work (2001's The Swimming Hour) takes in Appalachia, jump-blues and orch-pop in a flash-flood of American tradition. With Mark (Lambchop) Nevers producing, Weather Systems distills that same musical heritage into a new, supple-fresh language of strings, glockenspiel, wurlitzer and tape loops.

Curious Blair Witch-style project from US avant-grungers

Japanese freak-rock bonanza