NOISE

Yeah, we have pretty good dynamics. It's really easy to communicate with three people, and it's easy to have spaces in the music. I think you find a lot of bands don't give stuff a lot of space, but we like to have stuff that's pretty spacious, and with three people that's easy to do. On the other hand, we also all love going nuts and making a hell of a racket, going full-on hard at times, so it's a good balance.

Wolfmother gets compared to Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath a lot, but were Aussie countrymen AC/DC more of an influence for you?

I fully grew up on AC/DC. One of my older brothers was lucky enough to see them at a school disco for like $5, and he'd always tell me about it. My friends chipped in and bought me the AC/DC box set when I was about 12, so I've been listening to a lot of that for a long time. But there's a lot of good bands from Australia. I really like The Saints, a good punk rock band. Radio Birdman. Nick Cave is probably our biggest export—so credible and widely accepted.

Your debut album is still relatively new in the U.S., but I understand you've been playing some of those songs for three and four years. Are you feeling the itch to record new material?

We're always jamming on new riffs and stuff, playing around, but I think we're still enjoying touring and playing lots of new places, to people who haven't seen us before. But if we had the opportunity, I think we'd definitely like to lay some new music down. It'll probably happen sometime next year. I reckon we've got another six months of touring first, though.

1. The Sonics: "Don't Believe in Christmas" (Here Are the Sonics, 1965) Try believing when you're stiffed on the gift front.

2. Deerhoof: "Xmas Tree" (Halfbird, 2001) "When your hands are free/Someone feed my Christmas tree." For that creepy-themed shindig you've been planning.

3. John Cale: "Child's Christmas in Wales" (Paris 1919, 1973) Would that this could wipe "Deck the Halls" from the Earth.

4. Casiotone For the Painfully Alone: "Cold White Christmas" (Etiquette, 2006) Be the hippest dude at your office party with this one loaded on your iPod.

5. The Fall: "No Xmas for John Quays" (Totale's Turns, 1980) Man law: Every Christmas ditty should kick off with an F-bomb.

6. Sparks: "Thank God It's Not Christmas" (Kimono My House, 1974) Let's see the carolers try this one. 7. Steve Earle: "Christmas in Washington" (El Corazon, 1997) Who doesn't love a dose of politics under the tree?

8. The Kinks: "Father Christmas" (Misfits, 1978) We're not suggesting anyone kick Santa's butt ... tempting as it might be.

9. The Walkmen: "No Christmas While I'm Talking" (Bows + Arrows, 2004) Shout the title at store clerks.

10. Mogwai: "Christmas Steps" (Come On Die Young, 1999) This one's lyric-free, so we'll play it all year long.

CORINNE BAILEY RAE


CORINNE BAILEY RAE (3 stars)

The British-born vocalist hovers between the airy pop-jazz of Norah Jones and the jaunty neo-soul of Erykah Badu on this 2006 debut LP, which includes a couple of could-be adult contemporary hits. U.K. critics must be hard up for heroes, however, if they truly believe Rae merits comparison to the peerless Billie Holiday.

BARENAKED LADIES


BARENAKED LADIES ARE ME (3 stars)

Fans have had two previous albums to get used to BNL Version 2.0: older, more introspective and nowhere near as goofy as they were in their Stunt heyday. When judged solely on their pop merits, the Ladies' new tunes are offbeat and inventive, just not particularly memorable. Kudos, though, for the impeccable grammar ("Shall I take back all my attacks?") highlighted on the epic "Maybe You're Right."

Shooter Jennings and The .357's


Live at Irving Plaza 4.18.06 (3 stars)

This enjoyable but entirely superfluous live album draws pretty evenly from Jennings' two studio releases, presenting tunes with an energy that rides roughshod over the nuances of the original versions. Jennings' band is rock 'n' roll all the way, minimizing the country sounds that make up much of his appeal.