Sound Bites

Faithless, No Roots. If you sorted through the band's 1998 crowd-pleaser Sunday 8pm for the big dance floor hits, you might feel restless at first with No Roots, which flows more like a proper album. The dark yet emotive acid house/dub compositions of producers Rollo Armstrong and Sister Bliss are consistent in quality and grow with each spin. Don't skip the breakbeat be-bop remix of the politically charged single "Mass Destruction" at the end.--MP

Madras, Dimestore Raves EP. Madras plays the kind of chiming, earnest rock that can make you forget it's even there--in the way you'd get used to fresh air or sunlight dancing on your face. Dressed up in bright tones and dreamy hues, Dimestore Raves is often pretty and occasionally gorgeous--as on the sparkling anthem "Go->On."--AK