HONORABLE MENTIONS

"The Rough Guide to the Music of the Balkans"
(World Music Network)
Half-Roma predecessor to "The Rough Guide to the Music of Balkan Gypsies," switching abruptly midway through to nice folk-harmony ensembles (Toni Iordache, "Hora de la Bolintin"; Mostar Sevdah Reunion, "U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu").

Ry Cooder
"My Name Is Buddy"
(Nonesuch)
The musical tail of a cat whose best friend is a leftist mouse -- OK, I'll bite ("Red Cat Till I Die," "Cat and Mouse").

Northern State
"Can I Keep This Pen?"
(Ipecac)
Three fine Long Island witches, whose words ace their music, sing more and rap less ("Things I'll Do," "The Three Amigas").

"The Rough Guide to Latin Arabia"
(World Music Network)
Sub-world-class performers put across not by their top tunes but by their shared history -- Moorish Iberia, montunos included (Maurice el Medioni featuring Roberto Rodriguez, "Oran Oran"; Salamat, "Mambo el Soudani"; Cheb Sahraoui, "Je Suis Naif").

Linda Thompson
"Versatile Heart"
(Rounder)
Wiser than her ex, nicer, subtler -- but, admittedly, less dynamic ("Beauty," "Give Me a Sad Song").

1990s
"Cookies"
(Rough Trade)
More like the Strokes than the Strokes were ever like Television, with simpler riffs, cheaper laughs and the occasional soupcon of LCD Soundsystem ("You Made Me Like It," "Cult Status").

Rufus Wainwright
"Release the Stars"
(Geffen)
To prove he can, he sets just one of this career-topping aggregation of florid melodies to electric guitars, and damn my heterosexual ears for liking it best ("Between My Legs," "Nobody's Off the Hook").

"North Africa: The Greatest Songs Ever"
(Petrol)
The mysterious super-Sahara of Gallic Islam -- now that's my idea of trance (and sometimes electronica too) (Gnawa N'Joum Experience, "Kami Ni Mantabub [DJ Click Remix]"; Setona, "Sawani").

Richard Thompson
"Sweet Warrior"
(Shout! Factory)
Folk-rockin' Sufi hates GWB even more than he hates that lady gangster (no, not Condi, nothing that realistic) ("Dad's Gonna Kill Me," "Johnny's Far Away").

Maurice el Medioni Meets Roberto Rodriguez
"Descarga Oriental: The New York Sessions"
(Piranha)
Algerian Jewish pianist joins Cuban Jewish percussionist for elegant salsa avec French accent and Arab tinge ("Oran Oran," "Moi Je T'aime Toujours").

"Gypsy Caravan: Music in and Inspired by the Film"
(World Village)
Unusually faithful aural depiction of must-see movie (Taraf de Haïdouks, "Mugur Mugurel"; Juana la del Pipa and her church congregation, "Te Necesito").

Teddy Thompson
"Up Front and Down Low"
(Verve Forecast)
A considerable guitarist whose voice fuses two gene pools deflects his songwriting problem with country covers ("Change of Heart," "Walking the Floor Over You").

"The Rough Guide to North African Café"
(World Music Network)
Fine Bordeaux available; kif not even a rumor (Cheb Balowski "El Dia"; Tarik, "La Foule").

CHOICE CUTS

They Might Be Giants
"The Mesopotamians" ("The Else" [Idlewild])

Garth Brooks
"Please Operator (Could You Trace This Call)" ("The Lost Sessions" [Pearl])

Meat Puppets
"Light the Fire" ("Rise to Your Knees" [Anodyne])