On the Record

Kasai Allstars, The Streets, All Girl Summer Fun Band

Rating: Excellent, like John Oates’ mustache.

With a background that highlights the turbulent history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Kasai Allstars’ verbosely titled In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic is a captivating album. The third installment in the hailed Congotronics series, the album reinvents musical traditions from the members’ five ethnic groups to create a dense array of sounds, textures and rhythms. Combining traditional thumb pianos and xylophones with electric guitars, the Allstars have created a visceral album that speaks of myth, oppression and hope. (Katherine Silkaitis)

Rating: Solid, like the Liberty Bell.

“I’d want to go to Heaven for the weather/ But Hell for the company” goes the refrain of the second track of the Streets’, aka Mike Skinner’s, fourth key-heavy album Everything Is Borrowed. On his MySpace blog a couple months back Skinner promised a more positive vibe on the new album, and he delivers in spades. Many of Borrowed’s tracks are reminiscent of something as bright and breezy as Len’s “ Steal My Sunshine.” Terrible as that sounds, Skinner salvages it, as he always does, with his cute-as-a-button English accent, copious use of “Oy” in place of “Yo” and clever, clever lyrics. (Brian McManus)

Rating: Excellent, like John Oates’ mustache.

Playing power pop that’s both sophisticated and comforting, All Girl Summer Fun Band lives up to its name. Part Blondie, part Bikini Kill, the group combines fuzzed guitars, coy vocals and the emphatic can-do attitude of riot grrrl to create a sound that’s fresh. Despite the catchy melodies and soaring harmonies, the songs deal with topics like greed, death and relationships. The result is an album that’s both light enough to hasten away the doldrums and substantial enough to give you reason to keep listening. (K.S.)