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Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, "Angles" (Strangefamousrecords)

Way back in January, we touted the bearded London poet and rapper Scroobius Pip, with the caveat that he didn’t actually have a cd out yet. Well, that has just changed. The debut album, "Angles," is credited to Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, and it includes all of the songs that have made Pip’s reputation on London’s underground music scene. That reputation is for smart, often pointed wordplay, aided by the friendly beats and charmingly off-kilter singing of Dan Le Sac, and deftly combining humor and a strong social conscience. One of Scroobius Pip’s newer songs on the album, called Look For the Woman, is a breakup song that has the ring of emotional truth to it.--picked by John Schaefer

"Angles" is available for purchase at Amazon.com

Okkervil River, "The Stand Ins" (Jagjaguwar)

Our next CD pick comes from the Austin, Texas-based band Okkervil River. Their new album is "The Stand Ins," and it's a sequel of sorts. The songs here are from the same recording sessions that produced last year’s acclaimed "The Stage Names." But the rich stories on the new album feel like another chapter in bandleader Will Sheff's ongoing musical novel. He's one of the best songwriters in the rock world right now, and this time around, he aims his poison pen at the rock 'n' roll life in songs like "Singer Songwriter."--picked by Joel Meyer

"The Stand Ins" is available for purchase on Amazon.com

Emily Wells, "The Symphonies: Dreams, Memories & Parties" (Creative Control Records)

Many great composers have struggled to write nine symphonies in their lifetimes – think of Beethoven or Mahler. Now, a 20-something singer and violinist named Emily Wells has released an album containing ten symphonies. As you’ll hear, the term "symphony" is used rather loosely here; these are really electronic-folk songs that fuse layers of strings, bass, and drums to create rolling sonic textures. Working in her own recording studio, Wells played up to 21 separate tracks of violin on each symphony, often using an octave pedal to create the tones of a cello or viola. You can hear that DIY feel in the track, "Symphony Number 6."--picked by Brian Wise

The Symphonies: Dreams, Memories & Parties" is available for purchase from MySpace.com