"Dean of American rock critics" Robert Christgau returns with another handy consumer guide and podcast on the Village Voice web site.

This edition includes recommendations for Amy Rigby (read Audio File's comments about Amy and download "Dancing With Joey Ramone"), Balkan Beat Box, Brakes, and The Rolling Stones.

If you're familiar with Christgau, you know that Robert has quite an interesting handle on the English language. Here are some of my favorite words and phrases in this month's guide:

- Describing Amadou & Mariam: "For social content, they take on the danger truck drivers pose to giraffes, hippopotamuses, elephants, chickens, and children".

- On Cantankerous: "Like the Lords of Acid after the cops broke up the party, these masked dancehall-industrial Brits sing about sex and money as if they'd as soon kill a rich guy as hear him squeal".

- Delivering a knock-out punch to Coldplay: "Conceived as a pop alternative to U2 and Radiohead, however, they're an argument for death metal."