The grooviest new album in the land comes from the wicked Born Again Floozies. They've just released their first full length CD, 7 Deadly Sinners. It was produced by Steve Albini. My personal fave rave here is "Drivin' by the Penitentiary," a note of gratitude to a cruel prison warden. Here's a Live Performance on YouTube, and here's a free mp3. "In my youth, my suffering I tried to escape, but religion said 'no, no, keep on suffering. That's the way you know you're saved."

These Floozies lean toward humor in their act, as evidenced by their name and song titles like "If You Were Dead You'd Be Home Now." There's willful humor even just in the basic instrumental lineup of guitar, tuba and dual tap dancers. Dr Demento fans should definitely be giving this act a listen. On the other hand, some folk are Not Amused.

Funny Floozies they may be, but the playing is obviously no joke. Head Floozie Joey Welch is rapidly developing a national reputation for his unique personal guitar style, which involves a lot of tapping rather than picking.

Certainly, anyone with a strong interest in real guitar playing needs to hear this band. The instrumental "Walking" that concludes the album would be a particularly good example of his style.

Plus, there's no special humor point in perfectly serious songs like the featured single "As I Lay Dying." There's obviously serious compositional thought and effort in even the more humor oriented material, and they also excel in the groove department. The album sounds pretty good on a first listen, and only gets better the more you listen and pick up on the careful nuance.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor even an ugly stroke in 2004 can stop 60 year old Dave Davies from putting out his album, Fractured Mindz. Such things can work either way, but illness appears to have stoked rather than damped his creative drive. I've seen good reviews for this.

There's now a live action musical Bratz movie based on the dolls, and of course a soundtrack. I'm sure it will be socially required listening for all tweener girls.

Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases, courtesy AMG:

Born Again Floozies 7 Deadly Sinners Triple R
Pure Pop for Now People

Common Finding Forever Geffen
Midwest Rap, Alternative Rap, Hip-Hop

Sean Kingston Sean Kingston Epic
Contemporary R&B, Pop-Rap, Urban, Southern Rap

1990s Cookies Rough Trade
Indie Rock

Josh Rouse Country Mouse City House Bedroom Classics
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Stevie Barr with Friends Along the Crooked Road Arhoolie
Contemporary Bluegrass, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Bluegrass, Traditional Bluegrass, Old-Timey, Contemporary Folk