NEW MUSIC

Ferras

Aliens & Rainbows (Capitol Records)
***

Usually a fresh new artist is trumpeted with deafening hype, but this Illinois-born, L.A. habitué has snuck below the radar with this debut. He's a piano man with roots in Elton John and Tori Amos (listen to those glorious chord progressions!) with the stardust of a young Bowie. Tastemakers will compare him (unkindly) to Mika — whom he resembles at times—but the boy's a better, warmer writer. For proof, look no further than the anti-industry “Hollywood's Not America,” but any one of these twelve tunes should sate your appetite for the fine pop hook and turn-of-phrase. —DAN LOUGHRY

Heloise & the Savoir Faire

Trash, Rats and Microphones (Yep Rock Records)
**

Not a fan. And believe you me—I really wanted to be. All the buzz surrounding the debut release from this band seemed to have everything I look for in, well, everything: glitter, gloss, gays, Debbie Harry(!), Scissor Sister comparisons, and go-go dancers. Website after website made note of the fun, theatrical, sexually charged stage shows from this band. So, it was with a trembling hand and racing heart that I imported this disc into my iTunes and popped in my earbuds, only to find that fun, theatrical, sexually charged visuals don't translate to fun, theatrical, sexually charged audios. But I'm not giving up—I'll be back for round two from our girl Heloise. I'm waiting for the magic that everyone in New York seems to be promising—the gritty, the real, the electric, the fierce. But until then, today's Savior Faire is simply comme ci, comme ça. —GEORGE SKINNER

Kaki King

Dreaming of Revenge (Velour)
***

It's been a long time since guitar-based music sounded as outwardly original as it does in the hands of lesbian “hot nerd” (her words) Kaki King. What a fiery, instinctual, exacting player! Most impressive is that her dexterous facility is primarily on the acoustic guitar. Her second release integrates more vocal pieces with instrumentals. Her voice is redolent of Kim Deal or Kim Gordon—thin yet game. Still, it's the guitar you remember: the rhythmic picking, the shimmering glissandos, the mind-bending riffs. Imagine her fingers racing across the strings and you'll experience a rush of vertigo. —D.L.

Torche

Meanderthal (Hydra Head)
***

Hey, metal-gays—yeah, both of you. Here's something new: a heavy thunderbolt of crunching stoner-metal with enough bottom-end sludge to make you think of the Melvins and pop hooks that Nirvana would have probably tried to steal. I know, I said “pop.” But what else can you say about a harder-than-hard band that doesn't ignore song structure and melody? There's no other way to say it, even if that word often conjures up the Pussycat Dolls more than, say—Dio. Anyway, their crushing live sound has been cleaned up a bit for this, their second full-length release, but the most important quality of metal-sheer, brutal-pounding heaviness is in plentiful supply. And I hear that at least one of them plays for our team—but whatever. If a band member goes all Halford offstage, it's no big deal. The real agenda item is that they assault your ears like someone hit you on the head with a cinderblock. —DAVE WHITE

CONCERT CALENDAR

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

The music and energy of The Breeders, Portishead, and Love and Rockets enliven the desert over the course of three days! See the websites below for detailed information. Empire Polo Fields, Indio. Apr. 25-27. $90-269. www.coachella.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Patty Clark

The fabulous Emmy Award winner performs for one night only at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's. A four-course prix fixe is included and reservations are required. Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's. Sat., Apr. 26. 6:30 seating. $50. 818/981-3077.

The Voodoo Glow Skulls

The Inland Empire band proves they still have what it takes after twenty years! The Key Club. Thurs., May 1. 7 p.m. $15. www.ticketmaster.com.

Blind Melon

Following the release of their new album, For My Friends, Blind Melon comes to El Rey to play just for them. El Rey Theatre. Fri., Mar. 2. 8 p.m. $16.50. www.ticketmaster.com.

Homo Must

Colin Meloy

The leader of The Decembrists flies solo into Hollywood, hot on the heels of the release of his live album. The Music Box at the Fonda. Mon., Apr. 28. 8 p.m. $23. www.ticketmaster.com.