Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

If BRMC had a dollar for every comparison to the Jesus and Mary Chain, they could quit this whole rock 'n' roll thing and buy an island. Fortunately, they haven't packed up their tiki torches yet. On Baby 81 they depart from the rootsy route of 2005's Howl and go back to what they do best -- cranking out grainy bits of straight-up, raucous rock. The return of drummer Nick Jago helps guide explosive choruses intoxicated with layers of acoustic and electric guitars. The sprawling "American X" and piano-heavy "Window" prove these guys are far from giving up the rock lifestyle.