By Paul V.

Singled Out

Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland -- Promiscuous Girl -- Geffen

Whoa, Nelly! After stumbling on her sophomore CD, Ms. Furtado rebounds like an eagle, dropping a hella infectious, Neptune-worthy hip-hop groove, dope vocal interplay with Timbaland, and the kind of creamy, sassy funk you'd expect from Missy or Kelis. This one is spelled s-m-a-s-h!

Dixie Chicks -- Taking The Long Way -- Sony

Here's a secret: I've never owned a Dixie Chicks record before. In fact, I've never even listened to a DC record before. From afar, though, I dug them—they always struck me as eschewing the clichés and cartoon-like wretch of most country music. So much has changed since lead singer Natalie Maines made her infamous "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas" statement back in 2003. And after the death threats and near career-suicide from pissing off the far-right wing-nut redneck types three years ago, these fierce and talented women have made an outstanding, highly personal new effort. Their voices are just beautiful, and the trio (with guidance from Rick Rubin and appearances by John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tom Petty's Heartbreakers) offers a bit more folksy rock and a little less twang. Most of the tracks live in the mid-tempo, slow-burn range, and among the many highlights: the haunting love ballad "Lullaby," the Lucinda Williams-worthy "Voice Inside My Head," the bluesy-gospel prayer "I Hope," the rollickin' “Lubbock Or Leave It,” and the biting comeback hit "Not Ready To Make Nice," which sets the tone for this proudly potent CD. Maines and the Chicks deserve much credit for writing this standout track, because it would've been much easier to just blather out a load of mea culpa apologies in the hopes of winning back their old audience. Instead, a whole new world of fans awaits them—and that should include you.

Tiger -- Baby Noise Around Me -- Souvenir

Copenhagen's Tiger Baby drops their sophomore CD this month, and it's a real treat. Feeling very moody yet clearly danceable, they might remind you of a sexually charged St. Etienne, a more organic sounding Ladytron, a slinkier Dot Allison, or a less glam-obsessed Goldfrapp. These tracks caress your brain and your booty with a saucy mix of synthpop beats and fuzzy, shoe-gazing atmosphere. From the ethereal bounce of “Girlfriend” to the bass-thump electro of “Parkova” to the infectiously cheerful electro-gurgle of the waiting-to-be-a-smash “Profusion”, they mix the sexiness of underground European dance clubs with some mainstream appeal, and bottle it into a sweet 'n’ sour 11 track album. A contender for single consideration is the breathy and buzzing “In Your Heart,” where singer Pernille Pang showcases her lovely, floating quiver of a voice that manages to impart a lot of emotive power despite her delicacy. Meanwhile, “At Least I'm Honest” might remind you of classic New Order, circa 1985. And speaking of New Order, even though Joy Division's “Love Will Tear Us Apart” is one of the most-covered tracks of all time, Tiger Baby offer their take on it too, turning the somewhat serious tone of the original into a more playful, iconoclastic romp (this is a U.S.-only bonus track, by the way). There's just something completely unpretentious and charming about this record, and it won me over by first spin. Check it out for yourself and feel the love, too.

KT Tunstall -- Eye Of The Telescope -- Virgin

Glasgow's KT Tunstall, who is all the buzz in the UK, finally gets a proper release here in America, and her debut is a caffeinated blend of crisp acoustic guitars, raw grooves and sublime melodies. Her influences sprout up from broad musical spectrums, varying from Bowie and Tom Waits to Lou Reed and PJ Harvey, and her quirky songs seldom follow the typical verse/chorus structure, while her lyrics are complex and ultra personal. Tunstall's blues roots fall over the songs like flecked glitter, such as "Stoppin' the Love," which feels like a rich, New Orleans coastal gumbo. Then gears change as she hearkens a rock-leaning Norah Jones with honeyed purr laments like “Silent Sea,” “Through The Dark,” and “Heal Over.” Upping the tempo to a swampier groove, “Another Place To Fall” proves she can handle a big anthem. If there are any drawbacks, it's that KT sometimes comes off too Edie Brickell (“Under the Weather”), has shades of Melissa Etheridge (“Another Place to Fall”), or on other occasions she's playing in the same sandpit as Fiona Apple (“Universe & U”). But, in between all of this you get some irresistible ingenuity in the form of the single that's now a VH1 staple—“Black Horse & The Cherry Tree.” All told, it's a fine debut, but you can definitely sense that KT needs a few more releases under her belt to find her true, less derivative-sounding soul/self.

Catch Paul V. spinning tunes in Silver Lake: Dragstrip 66 (second Sat. each month at The Echo), Spit (third Sat. each month at Faultline), and “TVOD” Wed. at Faultline. Tune in for his “Smash Mix” on Indie 103.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.dragstrip66.com.