The new Black Rebel Motorcycle Club disc, Howl, is a very pleasant surprise. After their disappointing sophomore disc, I’d lost faith; by going in a totally different direction, they’ve restored it. Less affected cool + newfound country/folk/blues/gospel leanings = much more interesting music. Hopefully they’ve also changed from being notoriously lousy interviews, because I may have to follow up on this.

Promising developments on the local scene, courtesy Paper Bag – the new Deadly Snakes and Fembots arrived in the mail, and they’re both rather good. The former is more of an immediate grabber; the latter, I suspect, will be the one for the long-haul. In any case, there’s no lack of evolution on both fronts.

I suspect I’ll change my mind, but the New Pornographers’ Twin Cinema isn’t quite doing it for me so far. Since Electric Version was a grower, I’ll give it time.

Poor Pete Doherty. He broke up his first band, is in the process of screwing up his second, can’t shake the crack (and possibly the smack), got blasted in the U.K. for his wacked-out Elton duet at Live 8, may or may not have a home…and now this.

Last week was apparently hip-hop week ‘round here, and now you can enjoy it with the k-os interview and a K’Naan disc review in the usual place. Look for a K’Naan interview in the next little while – then I’ll go back to my usual, narrower taste.