Joe Pernice: Chappaquiddick Skyline (Independent)

It's late. You're alone. The phone rings. You rise and it stops. Your heart sinks. Time to put on Joe Pernice, and his solo debut of consummate introspection and bittersweet sadness. The sense of doleful languor which holds sway over this collection ultimately condemns these fragile, precious songs into a fog of almost comic depression. By the 12th track the listener could be forgiven for wondering, hey, life can't be this bad. But as soft-voiced Joe - yes, he of the greatly-lauded Pernice Brothers - points out in the opening song, he hates his life. This is as seductive as US melodic misery gets; a mono-paced, sub-Elliot Smith parade of personal cul-de-sacs. It is not without its joys, if that be the right word. Beers and self-pity are optional.

- Joe Breen

Angie Stone: Black Diamond

It's time to swoon again as another soulful force to be reckoned with enters the arena. Just as Macy Gray and Kelis powered into the fast lane with their debuts, Black Diamond is certain to take the much-travelled Ms Stone in a similar direction. Defiantly mapping out a bittersweet urban soul voyage, Angie Stone's voice is the centrepiece of this lush, magnificent document. She can turn on a purring Seventies love-light on the likes of Coulda Been You just as easily as she can steer a nodding Everyday into organic Lauryn Hill waters. The delights here are on every label, from the chic funky backbeats to her delicately intricate lyrics. Yes, it's beginning to sound like a real good year for soul music.

- Jim Carroll