Art BrutArt Brut Vs. SatanDowntown RecordsIndie pop band Art Brut’s third studio album “Art Brut vs. Satan” can easily be described as a genuinely fun album. As you listen to it, the singer’s quirky style mixed with the great guitar riffs just make you want to run around without a care in the world. The further you get into the CD, you get the impression that the band had fun while recording the album. Full of songs dealing with adolescent exploits and the wish to never grow up, the band’s playfulness rings true throughout the album. B—J. CLAPP
Booker T.Potato HoleAnti RecordsRock and Roll Hall of Famer Booker T. Jones is back with his first solo album in 20 years with backing instrumentals featuring the Southern rock band Drive-By Truckers. Taking the role of a frontman rather than a bandleader, Booker T. provides a surprisingly fresh listen without losing sight of Jones’ roots. Many of the original tracks sound like they could be standard tunes, but an instumental cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” is easily the highlight of “Potato Hole.” B+—B. Bourgeois 
Crank: High VoltageLionsgate”Crank: High Voltage” is so epic audiences will never want to watch another action movie again. In the sequel to “Crank,” Jason Statham plays Chev Chelios, a B.A.M.F. who survived a Chinese poison and a fall from a helicopter only to have his heart stolen and replaced with an artificial one that requires shocks of electricity. Full of bloody violence and tons of naked women, this movie isn’t meant to impress the audience, even though it boasts amazing cinematography. It is balls-to-the-wall insane and entertaining. A—C. VOGELS 
Depeche ModeSounds of the UniverseCapitol RecordsWith the recent spike in 1980s-influenced dance music, who better to release an album than the mopey dance originators, Depeche Mode? With their 12th album “Sounds of the Universe,” Dave Gahan and the gang revisit their old stomping grounds complete with Moog synthesizers and drum machines. The album can be cheesy in its own charming way, but some tunes sound like B-sides from 1983’s “Construction Time Again.” Gahan’s strong vocals and Martin Gore’s songwriting sharpen this nice piece of nostalgia. C+—B. LEJEUNE 
Jane’s AddictionA Cabinet of CuriositiesRhino RecordsWith the newly reformed Jane’s Addiction ready to begin a summer tour with Nine Inch Nails, it is only proper that a collection of some of their older work be released to a new wave of fans. “A Cabinet of Curiosities” features live and demo versions of songs from 1986-1991 accompanied with a DVD of some of their music videos. The demos and live versions only echo what the new Jane’s Addiction sounds like, and hopefully new material will rise up after collaborations with Trent Reznor. B—J. CHENIER 
PepperKona GoldLAW Records”Kona Gold” features a live recording of a sold-out show at Fox Theater in Boulder, Colo., in August of 2008. The recording captures the raucous live and uncensored performance of songs from their 2002 album, “Kona Town,” plus a few extras. The band, originally from Hawaii, incorporates reggae and rock into an infectious blend of party music. The recording, while a little rough at times, captures the energy  of the show, and the crowd sounds ecstatic. Gems include “Stormtropper,” “Tradewinds,” and “Officer.” Turn it up and wish you were there. B+—J. LEBLANC