Knotworking is perhaps not the best choice for a band name, as lines like "don't quit your day job" sprint too easily to mind. To top it off, this is essentially a solo acoustic effort, with Edward Gorch on guitar and vocals. So it's got a folky sound. Gorch's voice has a kind of Cat Stevens/Arlo Guthrie/Michael Stipe twang, and yes, sometimes he wavers on notes in a way that'll drive you nutty. But there's something here, a rainy-day Midwestern feel that'll put you in a pensive mood stat. And that's a nice feeling. "The Eternal Game" is the strongest cut, a clean and simple folk dirge that'll have you hopping trains cross country. "Loyal Servants" introduces more instruments – a piano, electric guitars – and the change in sound is dramatic, while retaining the spirit. Definitely a pick, more so if you just split with your significant other. And don't forget the Kleenex. http://home.earthlink.net/~onemadson

If you weren't around when the real punk invasion happened in the mid to late seventies, when bands like the Clash and the Sex Pistols smacked you in the ears through the speakers, then this release from the Libertines will sound like a breath of fresh air compared to some of the crap on the airwaves lately. And if you were around, then you'll start waxing nostalgic, playing air guitar, heck, maybe even staying up late or having beer for breakfast. There's a definite Brit feel to these songs. Lead singer Belvy K can't hold a note to save his life. But the off-key singing is infectious, even if he sounds dead tired. The kids are just having fun, and they're alright. Throw it on and see how many riffs you can identify (here's one: "No, Your Enemy" owes Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" plus interest). Oy! http://surf.to/libertine

Four crazy kids from Sweden power it up in this energetic mix of punk and pop. Think of the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer" meets the Police's "So Lonely" and you'll get a good idea. Though sometimes the cadence is skewed by some weird drum kicks, the guys pound on like they tossed the Ritalin out of the tour van months ago. Hard to believe they're all vegetarians, but throwing them cheeseburgers might slow things down while they digest, and that wouldn't be a good idea. A song like "Fox" has a Green Day feel to it, while "Penguins and Polar Bears" has the aforementioned Dead Boys/Police thing going for it. Sweden rocks? Who would have thunk it? It's yours for the taking. www.millencolin.com

Continuing in the punk vein (heavy guitars, fast tempos, bad vocals), here comes Osker, a young trio keeping the punk flame burning. The songs rip like chainsaws through Texas teens, and you'll be grinning all the way. The first tip-off that the CD might be leaning in toward punk is the eighteen songs listed on the back. The second is the titles, with short names like "Life Sucks," "Fuck Me," "Asshole," and "Shitface." Safe to say there's no Hemingways here. Songs like "Shitface," "Hey shitface, weren't you the one who told me I couldn't do anything? Hey shitface, weren't you the one who put me down?" They may be a little grouchy, but the teen angst comes through so hard you can feel the bulbous zits on your nose. Rock on kids. www.osker.net

This LA rock outfit was handpicked by Ozzie himself to play the Ozzfest after hearing only a demo. Get the picture? Yes, we see. These songs are heavier than a KFC biscuit without gravy. "Sinner" is a throbbing rocker that occasionally crosses over to hardcore territory, with chunky guitars and enough double-kicks to make Pele happy. Interesting thing here is you can hear the vocals. Sure, they're buried in reverb, but it's not your typical cancerous-throat heavy-metal shouting. The overall effect is a bit disorienting until you figure it out, and then it's just business as usual. It's heavy and dark, but that's the way Ozzie likes it, and you should too, or maybe he'll bite your head off. www.flashpoint12.com

With a name that rolls off the tongue like a cabbie blasting out of Grand Central Station, you'd expect fun, and that's what you get. The opener, "Into the Sea," is an upbeat number, an early Talking Heads/Modern Lovers/Joe King Carasco mix that'll have you hopping around like a crazed lunatic. Fun. "Burning Up" has a Latin flavor until the chorus, and then it's a zany They Might Be Giants approach. It's an eclectic mix to be sure, and you'll be scratching your head wondering what the heck is going on here. Did I say fun? Music to listen to on the way home from Coney Island to keep that wackiness alive. "Kidnapped Again" closes it, and gets points for a great title and hilarious lyrics ("tomorrow night when I'm inside that trunk, I will ask, is this the final time? The answer, no"). Probably best to see them live. www.angelfire.com/ny2/fta

If your forehead is bruised from banging it to bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn, then these lads from north of the border may interest you. Although I've always been suspicious of Canadian rock bands (don't get me started on Rush), Guilt Trip manages to lay it on heavy. The combination of scratching turntables, rapping vocals, and severely distorted guitars ain't my particular cup of tea, but there's only six tracks here, and it's okay. "Cut Off," the opener sounds like the Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains collaborated, and stands as the most interesting cut. "El Camino" is not your average progression, and shows some promise as far as future songwriting. Given the current popularity of the hardcore scene, these kids may do okay. http://listen.to/guilt_trip

There's a '70s influence here, a psychedelic funk that pervades through every cut. The sound is big and layered when it needs to be, like on "Lady," a funky folk number along the lines of Dave Matthews, but with electric guitar riffs breaking it up now and then, giving it a kick. "Rain" is another song that starts simple, with acoustic guitar and keys, quickly building up and getting bigger over time. Production is clean throughout, and the only fault I'd point out is that some of the songs tend to blend together, with similar tempos, similar keys, etc. But at the root, if you like, say, Sly and the Family Stone meets the Black Crowes meets Dave Matthews, then these guys are right up your alley. You owe it to yourself to at least check out the cover, which is good for a laugh.

Sonique, a female DJ out of Britain (and listed as the biggest female DJ in the world – oh, boy) offers up this 12-song CD of house/dance music. It's big in the sense that there are a lot of strings, synthesizers, and delay on her voice. As much as I'm not a fan of this type of music, I didn't feel the need to pull the disc from the player. If you let it sink in, you'll quickly find that the ambience of where you're sitting has turned into that of a shi-shi NYC bar. Though Sonique puts a spin on Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" that misses the mark, "Are You Ready" pulses on nicely, as does "It Feels So Good," the single that brought Sonique into the limelight. As a DJ, she knows how to control the crowd – and that spills over to both songwriting and production. A good pick. http://www.farmclub.com

Think Buckwheat Zydeco meets George Clinton, bring on the hot sauce, toss in a bit of reggae for good measure, and we're off. It's an alluring admixture, and the only thing missing is actually hearing it live in the Big Easy. No matter, it's good Creole fun. Produced in part by Buckwheat himself, Funky Nation features the first artists other than Buckwheat himself to appear on this record label. And if Buckwheat says "otay," you should too. The variety here will lift you up and let you down, from the title opener, at over seven-plus minutes of funking and grooving, to calmer pieces like "Question," a slow, sultry number. "Summer Girl" is just too happy, and if you're not up dancing, check your pulse, because you're probably dead. A fun CD from start to finish. www.lilbrian.com