Spring/Summer Preview III

The Cowboy Junkies are back this week with At The End Of Paths Taken, whose eleven songs were tracked in the same Toronto church that served as the band's first recording studio in 1986. "Going in [to the church] and plugging in and playing, it brought back a lot of memories," says singer Margot Timmins. "The amazing thing was we suddenly remembered, 'Oh my God, this church sounds so good.'" Margot's brother and chief songwriter, Michael, recently gave a track-by-track explanation to NME, and AllMusic.com gives the album a big thumbs up.

Dinosaur Jr. reunited in 2005, but the guitar-tastic band hasn't released anything new until this week. Beyond, which hits stores today, is the first album from the original lineup in nearly 20 years. J Mascis' signature leads are back, and tracks like "Almost Ready" revive the pre-grunge rock that the trio perfected in the '80s. Check out some selections at the band's Myspace page, or catch a show on their current tour... just remember to bring ear plugs. That Mascis boy is loud.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club took a quiet approach to 2005's Howl, but upcoming release Baby 81 brings back the raw, rough-edged sound that made them an influence on the harder songs from U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. When you've pleased Bono, you know you're good... and the Black Rebels are certainly that. What's even better is the band's generosity, which they've flaunted by posting their entire album on Myspace. Way to kickstart our rock and roll hearts, Bikers.