By Paul V.

Prince - Black Sweat - NPG

With any luck, Prince will have a Madonna-style comeback in '06. And if this single is any indication, it's a high-heeled shoe-in. This jam -- minimalist beat-box, Dr. Dre wiggly synths, and coy come-ons -- is the closest we've come to Prince flogging his purple again. It'll "make you scream like a white lady," bitch.

The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You - New Line

Has the 21st century new wave revival worn out its welcome? Have we had just about enough of all these new baby bands trying to make us believe it's 1982 again? I'm split on this debate, but when it comes to Sweden's The Sounds, I say keep bringing it on. Mainly because rock music needs a sense of humor lately, and definitely needs to feel fun again, and The Sounds deliver both with aplomb on their sophomore set. Like gorgeous star-making blondes before her (think Blondie's Debbie Harry or Berlin's Terri Nunn), singer Maja Ivarsson combines sex appeal with cheerleader spunk and just enough garage grit. Lead single "Song With A Mission" kicks off with a cowbell count-off and cranks out angular guitar chords and a sing-along chorus that sticks to your head like Crazy Glue. It's a near-perfect slice of pogo dance rock. Perky synths rule this record with no apologies, wiggling their way in and out of key tracks like "24 Hours" and "Painted By Numbers." But really showing some diversity is the painfully beautiful ballad, "Night After Night." With it's simple piano line and Ivarsson's weary-eyed vocals, it sounds like a direct descendant of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps" (and check out the very Strokes-like rock version of this -- it's the hidden bonus track). The other standouts are the funky-punchy "Tony The Beat" and "Don't Want To Hurt You," making this a solidly exuberant and bubbly effort.

Herb Albert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights: Re-Whipped - Shout Factory

Your parents owned the original record, and you most likely know every track by osmosis. Whipped Cream was a landmark in 1965, not only for its very provocative-at-the-time cover art, but its amazingly sexy mélange of jazz, pop, salsa, bossa nova and Dixieland, and it set a new standard for stylish instrumental music. It's truly an all-time classic album that still influences artists 40 years post-release. Not content to merely hand off his originals for contemporary reinvention, Alpert actually recorded tasty new trumpet solos for every track, personally revisiting each one with the signature sound for which he is renowned. But the remix team -- which includes the likes of Ozomatli, Medeski Martin & Wood, Mocean Worker, John King (of The Dust Brothers) and Thievery Corporation -- has done a sup-Herb job of reinventing these songs without losing any of the original charm. Every track works, which isn't something you can say for other projects like this. Some of the best remixes come from noted film composer Anthony Marinelli, who absolutely thrills with his take on both "Green Peppers" and "Lollipops & Roses." And King's super-swanky retooling of "A Taste Of Honey" is as sweet as it comes. Even after all these years, Alpert -- who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year -- still sounds wickedly groovy, man. If you're having a cocktail party, you can't go wrong with this playing in the background.

Sia - Colour The Small One - Astralwerks

It took the finale of HBO's Six Feet Under to light the torch for Sia. Her track "Breathe Me" provided the emotional soundtrack to the montage of each character's demise, prompting ears around the globe to perk up and ask: Who did that song? Interestingly, "Breathe Me" has been around for nearly two years on her second CD, but it's only now being released here in America. And, oh yeah, she was also the stunning voice on Zero 7's debut. So with that out of the way, let's get to this dazzling and mesmerizing disc. Sia's voice is what it must sound like when an angel has an orgasm -- it's a burst and a thrill, but it's restrained and almost majestic, a whisper that screams, or a feather that tickles. With the album's simple arrangements, gentle acoustic/electronica instrumentation, and that glorious voice, Sia constructs a set of music that oozes melancholia, yet somehow induces joy at the same time. Opener "Rewrite" works the sad verse/sunny chorus formula to perfection, while "Sunday" uses a "Strawberry Fields"-type harmonium and builds into orchestral trip-hop. It's a mostly sleepy affair until the semi-beat laden energy of "Where I Belong" sparks it all back up. And who can resist the bonus tracks -- two plush remixes of "Breathe Me" that close up shop. If you dig Mazzy Star, Massive Attack, or Imogen Heap, Sia is an essential addition. Sweet dreams, my love.

Catch Paul V. spinning the tunes in Silver Lake: DRAGSTRIP 66 (second Saturday each month at The Echo), SPIT (third Saturday each month at Faultline), and at MJ's on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Tune in for his "Smash Mix" on Indie 103.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. For more info or to e-mail, visit www.dragstrip66.com.