Hard on the heels of his recent collaborations with pianist Brad Mehldau, jazz guitar icon Pat Metheny returns with the first album by his trio of the past few years. Bassist Christian McBride and drummer Antonio Sanchez are more than able accompanists for Metheny’s still-fleet fingerwork. All the moods that we’ve come to expect from Metheny over the years are present: “Son of Thirteen” is a melodic, post-bop number that showcases the liquid phrasings the guitarist elicits from his favored hollow-body Gibson; “Is This America? (Katrina 2005)” protests the Bush administration via the often-unpleasant shrieking of his guitar synthesizer. The lovely, quiet “Calvin’s Keys” is the standout track on a disc that doesn’t open up new ground but should please long-time fans. A Japan tour is surely in the offing. DG

Out of the Fukuoka underground and onto Sony’s marquee “indie” imprint Ki/oon come Does. Led by jagged-voiced singer/guitarist Wataru Ujihara, the trio sometimes sound like melocore king Ken Yokoyama, at other times remind one of avant-rockers Zazen Boys, and ably combine elements from the proto-metal of Black Sabbath to the grunge of Smashing Pumpkins. While some of the 12 songs on Subterranean Romance tread tired ground, Ujihara at moments displays a clever mastery of the rock vocabulary. “Bus ni Notte” (Ride the Bus), for example, launches in with Ujihasa singing coolly against a Spartan bass line before the song erupts in washes of guitar distortion. A bonus live DVD recorded last summer at Shinjuku Loft also has occasional moments of inspiration. Does will appear Mar 28@Unit. DG

Multilingual Italian superstar Eros Ramazzotti has enjoyed sustained success over 20 years, crucially because it’s hard to listen to his falsetto without becoming absorbed, gripped by its passion and uplifted by its energy and vigor. Ramazzotti’s technique was unmistakable even from his earliest recordings, and this extraordinary double set is a kind of reconfirmation of his caliber. As if the first disc of collected hits wasn’t enough, E2 overflows with new ideas on its second disc, which features new recordings. “Musica E” is remade with the London Session Orchestra, a barely recognizable “Dove ce Musica” is rocked up with Steve Vai and, on disc two, Santana, Take 6 and the Chieftains contribute to a wide range of fresh material that should prove stunning for fans and newbies alike. Robert Poole

Three-piece Tokyo rock band Cabllets’ debut is as sharp as the clothes they don on the cover: a tad sophisticated, all in sync, a bit off-kilter, scraggy yet pulled off with admirable credibility. Opener “52.0” offers straightforward Japanese indie melodies and chords galore, but this is a tight unit, and the musicianship is delightful. “Dazzling” sounds as if lo-fi-era Blur took to covering Kobukuro songs, while “No Tuesday” and “Twilight Human” are alternative rock in debt to Dinosaur Jr, revealing that behind the Cabllets’ distinctly fashionable image are three men with an impressive knowledge of rock history. If a male band was to challenge Chatmonchy’s crown as queens of alternative rock, Cabletts are the great pretenders. RP


Got something to say about this article? Send a letter to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.

Listen to the Metropolis Podcast, the coolest guide to what goes on this week in Tokyo.

Looking for international friends? Check Japan, Inc. Friends now - it's 100% free!