Album

Hugely promising new find

Imagine if the Doors, The Byrds or Love had, long after their late '60s heyday, reconvened to record a quartet of brilliant albums, the first a double LP of classic, even epic, proportions issued just months before punk broke.

Nostalgic compilation of first three albums from late-'60s raga rockers

The blues continues to pour down in reissues, compilations and box sets. Century Of The Blues is superbly assembled to commemorate the centenary of the day in 1903 when WC Handy encountered a "lean, loose-jointed negro" playing a guitar in the style he was the first to name "the blues". There's no attempt to claim the music as a contemporary art form, for the selection ends mid-century. Even BB King, the only name here who's still working, is represented by a 1950 recording.

Zappa's late-'70s antics and muso wanking redeemed only by sexy claymation

Freak chart-topper proves he's no one-trick pony

Latest album from lowa-based erudite John Darnielle

Glasgow driving instructor's eclectic love-in

The Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy complete, plus selective Daevid Allen solo cuts over three CDs

First extracurricular project from New Order bassist, plus EP tracks, demos, remixes, new recordings and bonus CD of old but unreleased material