Pawn Shoppe Heart
Detroit's Von Bondies may never be able to successfully disentangle themselves from the shadow of theWhite Stripes, not so much because Jack White produced the band's first album and took them around the world, but because the punch-up between the two groups' front men is destined to go down as one of the most infamous moments in the annals of rock 'n' roll. At least the Von Bondies attempt to move on with their sophomore release,Pawn Shoppe Heart, shedding the makeshift garage-punk sound of their hometown and recruiting formerModern LoverandTalking Headsmember Jerry Harrison as producer. The results are staggering, with tracks like "C'mon, C'mon" and "No Regrets" bouncing on big glam riffs and bruised blues wailing, while the band breaks through the door sounding at once shameless and victorious. --Aidin Vaziri