CD | THE LUCKY ONES
Mudhoney / Sub Pop
Jesus Christ on a Slippery Stick, it’s Mudhoney! Let’s all go smash our heads against the punk rock as Mark Arm and company tear us to shreds with their aggressively fuzzed-out guitars. Sure, they haven’t changed much in two decades. But that’s because they’re absolutely timeless, embodying a pure Platonic ideal of everything that is good and holy about rock and fucking roll—and if they ever sound too familiar, it’s only because the raw sound of squealing feedback has been burned into your immortal soul. Along with mathematics, Mudhoney might be the only constant truth in the universe—and thank God for that. This album will totally kick the crap out of everything in your collection that isn’t by Slayer.

CD | NO, VIRGINIA…
Dresden Dolls / Roadrunner
Remember when the Dolls were mildly interesting, if only because they dabbled in a tastily accessible baroque variation of Weimar-era cabernet pop? Yeah, me neither. I don’t know how long they’ve been gagging on Randy Newman’s balls, but this shit has to stop right now. If I wanted to listen to Newman’s Trouble in Paradise, I’d kindly go hang myself, thank you very much.

CD | RINGER
Four Tet / Domino
I don’t like Four Tet. He hits way too many clichés, layering the same repetitive melodies overtop a standard 4/4 beat. Honestly, you don’t even need to purchase this middling EP—just go to iTunes, download the thirty-second sample, and loop that shit over and over again. You’ll get the exact same effect and save yourself six bones in the process.

CD | AFTER THE BALLS DROP
Les Savy Fav / French Kiss
Have I ever told you guys how much I love Les Savy Fav? They just might be the perfect band; they’re like a drunken Fugazi with a better sense of humor, or the much missed Dismemberment Plan with a pale, naked fat guy. This live album is a great document of the loud, sweaty energy Harrington and the boys exude on stage, full of vim and vigor and pure balls-to-the-wall RAWK. It’s download only, available from your favorite online music retailer.

CD | SUPREME BALLOON
Matmos / Matador
Say what you will about Matmos, but San Francisco’s favorite sons always produce an album that’s… interesting. Their schtick for this go-around is that all the sounds on the disc are crafted from synthesizers. To their credit, they manage to create fascinating new soundscapes from the too-familiar tropes of straight-up Detroit Techno, channeling Juan Atkins through a refreshing musique-concrète filter. It’s worth a look.