By Paul V.

Ying Yang Twins -- Wait (The Whisper Song) -- TVT

Check this: A rap song that doesn't smack you in the face with bravado nor boggle your ears with bells 'n' whistles. Nope, this -- the quietest track ever to hit the Top 40 -- is nothin' but a Neptunes bassline, a finger snap, a howl, and a moan. And baby, this whisper is screaming sex.

White Stripes -- Get Behind Me Satan -- V2

On their fifth album, the White Stripes put out a challenge to their fans -- to see who's in for the long haul, or who simply enlisted in the Seven Nation Army -- as this is the duo's very brave and somewhat odd stretch-out-and-experiment effort. The familiar squalls of grinding guitars are replaced by the tickle of ivories, the scratch of maracas, the plinking of xylophones and marimbas, the playful strumming of acoustic guitars, the chime of a glockenspiel. By pushing other instruments into the foreground, and creating a mix full of space and surprise, Jack White stays true to the band's aesthetic vision, while mapping new trails away from their guitar/drums formula. After a quick pomp 'n' stomp jolt with opener "Blue Orchid" (a Zep-worthy flurry of fuzz and falsetto), the disc settles nicely into its new wardrobe. But that's not to say this record has no balls at all (it does), and despite White's evident love for Delta swamp blues, there's plenty of Mod influences too, like "Take Take Take," which sounds like a funky nod to The Small Faces. "The Denial Twist," meanwhile, is Jack 'n' Meg at their signature best -- raucous rock surfing along on piano breaks and staccato guitar. Regardless of opinions on this new sound, there's no denying that Jack White remains an amazing songwriter. Classic rock readers should think of this as their Led Zeppelin 3 or Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street moment.

Missy Elliott -- The Cookbook -- Goldmind/Atlantic

Before pre-heating my oven to check The Cookbook, I tried to clear my palette and taste it sans expectations. It was tough -- "Get Ur Freak On"... "Work It"... "Pass That Dutch" ... ficki ficki ficki. While I was fairly disappointed with Missy's last full effort, even on her worst day she cranks the crunk deffer and doper than most on their best days. Fortunately here, Missy is still on the old school tip she loved so much on "Under Construction," snatching late '70s/early '80s funk, electro, and freestyle spices to season her tasty jams -- and invites Ciara, Mary J., Slick Rick, Fatman Scoop, Tweet, and M.I.A. into the kitchen. Lead single "Lose Control" is an outer-space thrill ride anchored by Cybortron's "Clear" -- still a dizzying rush to this day. And Sugarhill Gang's "Apache" remains an energizing and horny cacophony on "We Run This," ending with a cue from Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" with some marching band blasts. Elliott does some fierce name-dropping and sexy/sassy pop-culture referencing, namely on the badunkadunkdunk "Meltdown." Plus, now we know -- Missy is a major size queen for those big "magic sticks." OK, some bad points: a completely forgettable duet with Fantasia and an unfortunate letdown from the Neptunes on the inexplicably weird "On & On." While there are plenty of tunes that move the party (and a sweet vocal turn on the smooth "Teary Eyed"), there's nothing seriously mind-blowing. But that's just us being gluttonous ... right?

TSAR -- Band-Girls-Money -- TVT

TSAR is a much-loved L.A. band, on a mission to single-handedly keep the spirit of Hollywood's famed Rainbow Room alive and kicking, but with a handful of Silver Lake boulders crashing through its windows. Reeking with the rebellion of The Stooges and the glam-pop swagger of T-Rex, Dead Boys, and New York Dolls, TSAR resurrects the '70s underground with hell-bent determination. Unlike the Weezer-esque sugarcoating of their debut, this sophomore set is in your face and happy to kick it out as straight ahead rock 'n' roll. The songs on Band-Girls-Money are short, sweet, and tight power-pop stabs, with a sashay reminiscent of Dream Police-era Cheap Trick -- executed full-tilt on the revved up "Everybody's Fault But Mine." The title track practically kicks the door down and invites itself into your living room. Front man Jeff Whalen's tongue is also firmly planted in cheek, as his punchy lyrics never cross into serious songwriter terrain, leaning fairly humorous and playful (ya don't pick a record title like Band, Girls, Money to emulate, say, Rage Against The Machine). Nope, the very essence of the band is summed up in that title -- and it's all about breakneck guitar solos, cock-rock lyrics, torrential drumming, and party anthem choruses to die for. With infectious rawkers like "The Love Explosion," "Superdeformed," and "Startime," TSAR could easily win over any fans of The Darkness or even Guns 'N' Roses, before Axl got all puffy and braided his hair.Catch Paul V. spinning tunes in Silver Lake: "MegaMonday" at MJ's, Dragstrip 66 (second Saturday each month at The Echo), Spit (third Saturday each month at Faultline), and "Milkshake" Thursday nights at MJ's. Tune in for his "Smash Mix" on Indie 103.1 FM on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.dragstrip66.com.