DOOM SOUL

Cold Specks I Predict a Graceful Expulsion (Mute/EMI)

“Born all in the dark wormy earth, cold specks of fire” is the line in Ulysses from which Canuck singer/songwriter Al Spx, who lives in London, takes her stage name. While not as challenging as Joyce’s novel, Expulsion is still a gothic-soul masterpiece, every track a lost Southern hymn inhabited by a ghost seeking God’s touch. Listen to the piano notes of “Winter Solstice” as they crescendo into a sumptuous chamber-rock arrangement and tell me you’ve heard anything like this. ★★★★☆

NOISE POP

Crocodiles Endless Flowers (Frenchkiss)

The Jesus and Mary Chain remain a touchstone for this San Diego quintet on its third grittily melodic album. Sure, there are a few twists, like the girl-group vocals on “My Surfing Lucifer,” which humorously drags a Jan & Dean-like tune into a dirty beach sand pentagram, and the haunted pipe organ of “Bubblegum Trash,” in which frontman Brandon Welchez teases a lover: Oh my starving one, I could be your sugar. Sweet-and-sour guitar-pop rarely goes down this easily. ★★★☆☆

PSYCHE ROCK

Aqua Nebula Oscillator Third (Tee Pee)

Here’s something different: dark and dirty Parisian rock for those who enjoy loud guitars cut with occult-themed lyrics (H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard). The band loves to brag to journalists about how they live and work in a cave. After hearing the primitive yet mind-blowing grandeur of thumping instrumental “Apocalytoads,” I think these guys might actually be onto something, even if punkier numbers such as “Black Sun” could benefit from better production values. Or maybe just better acid. ★★★☆☆

Disc Scan

Upcoming albums on Jarret’s radar …

JULY 3: Leave it to Faith No More honcho Mike Patton to record experimental Italian composer Luciano Berio’s avant-classical ode to the poet Dante, Laborintus II. JULY 5: Local weirdo-rockers Black Camaro finally turn the ignition key on their first full-length in seven years, Black Camaricans, with a free release party at the Royal, 10 p.m. JULY 10: Having parted with Matador Records, post-punk icons Mission of Burma release their third post-reunion album, Unsound, on their own label. JULY 17: Sludge-metal quartet Baroness from Savannah, Ga., returns with a more accessible and pop-oriented sound on the highly anticipated Yellow & Green, which includes catchy single “Take My Bones Away.”