The Raveonettes “Lust Lust Lust” (Fierce Panda)

The Raveonettes third album Lust Lust Lust is the sound of a band rescuing their career from the clutches of cliché and getting back the magic that made them so exciting originally. The duo of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo recapture the fire, mystery, and dirty glamour of their early records and add a sharper melodic sense on a batch of songs that will stick to you like a sharp knife between the ribs.

American Music Club “The Golden Age” (Merge)

The first American Music Club album since the band reunited for 2004’s Love Songs for Patriots, The Golden Age finds singer-songwriter Mark Eitzel delivering more of the literate, brooding and melodic pop that garnered AMC such a cult-following.

Ray Davies “Working Man’s Cafe” (V2)

Ray Davies’ second solo album Working Man’s Cafe gets an American release this week. Whereas his debut album Other People’s Lives took him over a decade to craft, Working Man’s Cafe was knocked out quickly — it was released just over a year after his debut. Appropriately, it has a looser feel which is also a good fit for this batch of songs, which are more immediate and directly reference life in the 21st century, ranging from tales of digital disconnection to allusions to Davies’ stint in a hospital after being shot in New Orleans.

Nick Lowe “Jesus of Cool” [Bonus Tracks] (Yep Roc)

Nick Lowe’s classic debut Jesus Of Cool gets the deluxe reissue treatment from Yep Roc this week, as the original album is augmented by a bunch of bonus tracks, including the original version of his subsequent hit “Cruel to Be Kind.” For any lover of pop music, whether it’s pure or not, this is an essential release

Allison Moorer “Mockingbird” (New Line)

Allison Moorer and producer Buddy Miller put together an all-star cast to deliver a covers record. Ms. Moorer tackles everything from Nina Simone (”Sugar In My Bowl”) to Ma Rainey (”Gin House Blues”) to Patti Smith (”Dancing Barefoot”) to Kate McGarrigle (”Go Leave”) to Julie Miller (”Orphan Train”) her sister Shelby Lynne (”She Knows Where She Goes”). It’s an eclectic selection by a singer capable of interpreting each of these tunes through her own firebrand style.

Other releases:

Atlas Sound “Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel” (Kranky)

Experimental Rock, Indie Rock

Cryptacize “Dig That Treasure” (Asthmatic Kitty)

Experimental, Indie Pop, Experimental Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental

Roky Erickson & the Explosives “Halloween” (Steadyboy)

Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Proto-Punk

The Grand Archives “Grand Archives” (Sub Pop)

Indie Pop, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Headlights “Some Racing, Some Stopping” (Polyvinyl)

Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Levon Helm “Levon Helm & the RCO All-Stars/American Son” (Raven)

Roots Rock, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll

B.B. King “Live” (Geffen)

Modern Electric Blues, Soul-Blues, R&B

Jim Lauderdale “Honey Songs” (Yep Roc)

Americana, Alternative Country, Progressive Bluegrass, Progressive Country

Morcheeba “Dive Deep” (Ultra)

Downtempo, Trip-Hop

The Mountain Goats “Heretic Pride” (4AD)

Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Panther “14 Kt. God” (Kill Rock Stars)

Indie Electronic, Indie Pop

Source: AMG