SYNC MUSIC

Wilco A Ghost is Born Nonesuch

After surviving a coif-graying battle with label execs during the release of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, frontman Jeff Tweedy has regrouped and crafted one fine Steely Dan album as his follow-up. Unlike previous releases, Ghost starts slow and calculating with a pair of sparse ballads. Then the 10-minute-plus “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” has Tweedy’s distorted solos (a whole lot of ’em) bobbing and weaving with a tale about a private beach in Michigan. Except for “I’m A Wheel,” an homage to Replacements-era power-pop, YHF engineer Jim O’Rourke has once again gone nuts on a Wilco record. The all-world Sonic Youth collaborator guests throughout this release that feels so live and spontaneous that it could be mistaken for a band-authorized Red Rocks boot, if in fact the band was into waxing the DMB._Matt Rodbard

   

The Roots The Tipping Point Geffen

Releasing politically angled (yet danceable) records, which for some reason resonate with the frat boys of the land, is kind of The Roots’ bag. After all, the Philly collective is currently touring with fave 311. Party anthem “Boom” is the gooey center of The Tipping Point, an album that picks up right where the challenging Phrenology left off._M.R.

    PJ Harvey Uh Huh Her Island

At this point, swimming from art-rocking dissonance to mystical meditations may seem clichéd for Polly Jean. But it still sounds so damn good. This 13-song gem butterflies — and occasionally punks — the audio senses by providing a spectrum of atmospheric sounds layered with PJ’s tweaking, distorted guitar melodies and sweet vocals. It’s 80- to 20-percent on the mellow side, but it’s 100 percent worth the four-year wait. _Don Sears

    Mission of Burma OnoffOn Matador

It has been 22 years since Mission of Burma's last full-length release (Vs.), but this trio of wicked-pissah Massachusetts art-punks pick up exactly where they left off: Thumping a hybrid of progressive melody, guitar abstractions, tape loops and left-of-center politics in up-tempo songs. After some minor touring in ‘02 and ‘03, Mission of Burma finally returned to studio work with impressive results. This 15-song release begs to be heard, and so does the band's live show. It’s not everyday you get to see old punks in new clothes. _D.S.

    Prince Musicology Sony

The purple Napoleon is back. Way back. If you dig slap-bass with horns, piano and wah-wah guitar jams under lyrical anthems, than this is 4u. It has a straightforward, old-school, harmonized sound of Sly & The Family Stone—with the social conscience. There’s less sexual flamboyance, yet plenty of fresh-groove joy (and a few ballads, zzz). This royal funk master may not be single anymore, but his music is as free as a TV bachelor. Speaking of free, he’s giving away his CD at his live shows, prompting industry experts to wonder if this buzz tactic could be a new industry trend. _D.S.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Sync.