Album

Prolific producer Luke Vibert's Cornish disco masterclass

From the intriguing Fran McDormand movie which—as one of its few flaws—suggested Britpop could flourish in LA, an eclectic, rather excellent collection. Whether we needed actor Alessandro Nivola to team up with Lou Barlow on two tracks is debatable, but around them you'll find Mercury Rev's exquisite "In A Funny Way" (one of the best things they've done), Butthole Surfers' wry "Shame Of Life", Steely Dan, Clinic and Sparklehorse. Not eclectic enough yet? Throw in Eartha Kitt growling "C'est Si Bon" and—again, woo-hah—T.

Edward Hopper-inspired second solo album from the former Stone Roses guitarist

Grandiose free-ranging psych pop that just stands the test of time

Cropredy 1997 was a valiant attempt to bring together all the significant Fairport line-ups. At best, this is a memento of the occasion, and should carry a "For Diehards Only" warning. With Ian Matthews absent and Vicki Clayton only a spirited stand-in for the irreplaceable Sandy Denny, this ersatz model sounds unconvincing. Only the Full House band workouts truly pass muster, with both Richard Thompson and Dave Swarbrick in sparkling form. The rest reflects the patchiness of Fairport's work from the mid-'80s onwards, when the band's salad days were over.

Overlooked 1975 album from Lancashire balladeer with overtones of Bowie and Elton

The musical side project of Jack Black and his guitar-playing sidekick Kyle Gass, Tenacious D are a pomp-rocking hybrid of Spinal Tap, South Park and The Darkness. This meaty double-disc set contains a live Brixton concert, the duo's original HBO series, scatological short films and tons more. It's all strong stuff, with cameos by Spike Jonze and Dave Grohl as the Devil. A cult worth discovering.

The Old Weird America rediscovered in Chicago

Produced by T. Bone Burnett, and an essential purchase for White Stripes devotees as Jack White gives five brand new performances. By "brand new", we mean four of them are traditional, like "Sittin' On Top Of The World" and "Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over", interpreted by he of the tight trousers and eye for Renée Zellweger with minimal fiddles-and-mandolins support and a folksy vocal. "Never Far Away" is his own.

Bleakly beautiful drone-grooves from singer-songwriter tipped for greatness