Album

Ely, Hancock and Gilmore in full flight

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

No lip-syncing, backing tracks or gimmicks—only consummate talent on these 'live' late-'50s clips from Canadian TV. Cab Calloway ("Minnie The Moocher") is at his most bizarre, Nat King Cole ("Stay With Love") is finger-poppin' smooth and Sammy Davis Jr ("Gypsy In My Soul/Perdido") is a human dynamo, while the gem in this collection is Duke Ellington working in a quintet setting.

Surprisingly radio-friendly vehicle for ex-Santana drummer Michael Shrieve