Album

Tirelessly horny MC returns to his dancehall roots

Don Letts soundtrack to early-'80s NYC

Best-of compendium from mid-'90s indie should-have-beens

Given the unfolding and increasingly tragic saga of The Libertines, it's a miracle this record even exists, let alone has any artistic worth. For, in the two years since their extraordinary debut album (2002's Up The Bracket), the story of this erratic but enthralling group has taken in serious drug addiction, a prison sentence and—during the making of this record alone—three failed attempts to get frontman Pete Doherty through rehab. Indeed, on the eve of release, Doherty has temporarily been removed from the Libertines line-up. The second Libertines album is all about this.

Superb debut from string-laden troubadour

Britpop nearly-man gets pastoral

Ravishing pop debut from Malmo four-piece

Big Star man's missing 70s years

Career anthology that runs out of steam halfway through

Sixth terrific solo album from hedonistic, nihilistic Seattle survivor