Weekly Album Rundown

Here's some albums (besides the ones I've already mentioned this week) that have been on my radar screen for the past seven days. Get 'em while they're hot.

Puscifer - V Is For Vagina - Tool's Maynard James Keenan's solo release. An unusual array of tribal beats and alternative weirdness, with guest talent Herb (Primus) and Milla Jovovich (yes, that Milla, of Fifth Element and Resident Evil fame). Good mood music, and a winner for CD packaging that parodies aircraft safety cards.

Circus Diablo - One of those supergroups of assembled rock star talent, featuring The Cult's Billy Duffy and former GnR skins player Matt Sorum. An entertaining listen, but nothing that's making me beyond excited. Curiously enough, if going with assembled bands, I much prefer the 3/4s Jane's Addiction hellspawn The Panic Channel, even though no one else on the planet agrees with me.

Freeheat - Don't Worry, Be Happy - Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim Reid's side project. This EP is a winner for those who miss the stylized noise of the Chain. Also be sure to pick up the longer release, Back On the Water, which includes both studio and live tracks.

KMFDM - Tohuvabohu - These industrial pioneers are still pumping it out. Their latest is no Nihil, but it sounds great cranked up to eleven nonetheless. Leave it to the Germans to remind us that thrash, complete with intelligible lyrics and guitar solos, is still cool ("Saft und Kraft").

Twin Peaks: Season Two Music and More - Why it took so long for this to be released is beyond me, but fanboys finally rejoice. You'll have to buy the first soundtrack to get this groundbreaking TV show's haunting main theme, but this follow-up disc also comes highly recommended. Spin it in the background and enjoy a cup of damn fine coffee. And buy the show's DVDs while you're at it, dammit.

Monster Magnet - 4-Way Diablo - On deck for me, but I expect good things. Dave Wynforf is out of rehab and ready to r0ck. Kiddies: you can't kill the metal.