Sound Bites

Son, Ambulance, Key. They did a split with Bright Eyes--oooh! Their press hype sheet uses the word bricolage--oooh! They have one of those pretty, sweatered indie girls who looks like a hep librarian--oooh! Despite these three strikes, Son, Ambulance puts forth on Key a refreshing gale of highly mannered piano pop so lush you'll feel like you're being swaddled in wet banana tree leaves. Come in for "Paper Snowflakes," stay for "Taxi Cab Driver."--AK

The Ying Yang Twins, My Brother and Me. Ah, the Yin Yang--eternal symbol of universal balance and harmony. Compare that with the Ying Yang Twins--temporary symbol of everything that's wrong with Southern crunk. I know you gotta represent the Dirty South and everything, but there's simply no excuse for pronouncing strip club, "skrip club." And no matter how "crazy drunk" you are, it's hard to pass off a 10-song album that's more than half remixes as a true longplayer.--NB