A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

Kevin Anthony, "North Star." Pour yourself a whiskey and take in the latest from this native Texan. It's a fine blend of wistful, wide-Texas-sky country and hints of Cajun heat. Made for enjoying on a bar stool with plenty of jukebox quarters in your pocket.

The Clientele, "Bonfires on the Heath." The latest from my U.K. faves is a continued progression from their early four-track dreaminess to more sophisticated, lush and layered compositions. The title track is a halcyon lullaby I'll be using to tuck in those impending winter nights.

Shuga Records in northeast Minneapolis. This is one of the anchor tenants of the 13th Avenue NE. renaissance. Dig some crates or catch a live show on its intimate and almost literally behind-the-counter stage.

KRISTEN HASLER, Minneapolis

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Norah Jones, "The Fall." The Pottery Barn CD queen's conversion to a rockier sound succeeds on several levels, including its warehouse-roomy sonic backdrop (paging Joe Henry!). But its biggest triumph is proving this talent can be a chameleonic artist a la Bob Dylan or Neil Young.

The Guystorm, 501 Club, Nov. 13. The young local quintet's ankle-level stage lights and punky energy did not overshadow its clever and killer music formula, sort of a danceable grunge roar that suggests -- wait for it! -- Franz Ferdinand meeting the Jesus Lizard.

Ike Reilly with Shooter Jennings, "The War on the Terror and the Drugs." Before last Wednesday's seventh annual Thanksgiving Eve gig at First Ave, Reilly pulled another sharp-shooting wry anthem out of his holster, this one on his new album, "Hard Luck Stories." He and Waylon's kid trade verses like whiskey swigs in the twangy singalong, which predictably has more to do with girls than politics.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, Star Tribune