The Faint, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head
(Showbox at the Market) In 1999, when the Faint released their breakthrough Blank-Wave Arcade, most indie-rock bands weren’t using synthesizers as anything more than doorstops. For the Faint to resuscitate new wave with some morbid, sexy, and above all smart twists, was a bold move, and they pulled it off with aplomb. Their follow-up, 2001’s Danse Macabre, was just as good. Then, around the peak of a revival that they helped start, the band faltered with 2004’s Wet from Birth, which added acoustic strings to their sound, but lacked the intense sex-and-violence thematic punch of their previous two albums. Their new album, Fasciina- tiion, is just as disappointing. And what do the Faint get for presaging the electro wars of the early 21st century? Openers Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head. Oh well…. ERIC GRANDY

The Breeders
(Neumos) After 20 years of brilliantly slack narco-pop, the Breeders still can’t get so much as a paragraph without someone mentioning the Pixies (oops) or their own 1993 hit single “Cannonball” (damn it). Actually, though, they have a deep, outstanding catalog. This year’s Mountain Battles synthesized the better moments of Last Splash and Title TK, and stands as one of the best things to drop in a year full of great rock records. I’m not out here crying for a new Pixies album as long as Kim and Kelley (and Jose and Mando) remain one of America’s most consistent bands. And, yeah, Kim Deal is still cooler than Kim Gordon, Karen O, or any other “K” in the book. Get it right. LARRY MIZELL JR.

Danielson, Cryptacize, Bart Davenport
(Vera Project) Daniel Smith is the leader of the Danielson cult, er, I mean band, and his family members are his bandmates. Live, they’re quite a vision to behold. Back when they were a Tooth & Nail act (they love Jesus), they used to wear matching nurses uniforms (“visual reminders of the spiritual and emotional healing taking place,” according to ye ol’ Wiki), but for this tour it’ll be a colorful take on what looks like a mailman’s outfit. Musically, the band are just as weird. Take “Flip Flop Flim Flam”: It sounds like a druggy kids-show theme song. Chimes, sprightly drumming, cartoonishly high vocals singing about little piggies and toe jam… basically, it’s a G-rated freak show with Bible references. MEGAN SELING

And all the rest can be found here!