An enjoyable compilation capturing a specific time, ‘Heavy Metal: Music From the Motion Picture’ arrived just before rock and pop became mechanical.

Billie Rainbird’s debut album, produced by former Toto drummer Simon Phillips, emerges as something diverse, thought provoking and memorable.

Bill DeYoung caught up with Tom Petty during his fertile collaborative period with Bob Dylan, but most of their talk went unpublished. Until now.

Over the years since Lou Reed released ‘Metal Machine Music’ in July 1975, many others have followed him into noise, distortion and atonality.

“I’m Only Sleeping,” with its hallucinogenic quality, vivid yet surreal lyrics, creative guitar solo and unusual recording effects, still sounds like no other song in the Beatles’ catalog.

In addition to his own terrific bands, Terry Edwards has worked with PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, the Blockheads and Robyn Hitchcock.

The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco blissfully combines the jazzy intellect of Steely Dan, the sharp wit of 10cc and the irresistible power pop of Squeeze. “Clean Break” is a lost track from ‘Pretzel Logic’.

With ‘Yamiyo Ni Karasu’, the transition from ma-do to Satoko Fujii’s exciting new quartet Tobira becomes complete.

Talk about a buzz kill. Yes’ cover of Stephen Stills’ “Everydays,” though situated between two of their best early songs, just doesn’t work.

Given Solitaire Miles’ musical education, her Susie Blue persona may come as a surprise to some, but it is hardly a lark – and this proves it.