CORIN TUCKER BAND
Corin Tucker is living the dream of the '90s. When she's not making a cameo on IFC's "Portlandia" with former Sleater-Kinney bandmate Carrie Brownstein, she's fronting an indie supergroup with Sara Lund (Unwound), Mike Clark (Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks) and Seth Lorinczi (Golden Bears). On the band's second album, "Kill My Blues," Tucker revisits her favorite riot grrrl themes, like Joey Ramone and feminism, except times have changed -- Joey is dead and feminism is stuck in a deep rut. Some of the songs try too hard, like the jerky opener "Groundhog Day," but there are plenty of strong surf and dance tunes, like the disco of "Neskowin" and the dramatic closer, "Tiptoe." Make no mistake, though: The main attraction is still Tucker's firestorm voice. Locals Prissy Clerks open. CHRISTINA SCHMITT
JOAN OSBORNE
Osborne may be best known for the quirky, God-imagining 1995 hit "One of Us." But if you saw her singing with the Funk Brothers in the movie "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" or heard her new album "Bring It on Home," you know that this Kentucky-reared woman has a way with blues and R&B. On her third (and best) album of vintage blues and soul covers, she sounds sassy, smoky and deliciously soulful. She can handle the nuances of the slow, smoldering "Broken Wing," the shouting fervor of the roadhouse boogie of "Roll Like a Big Wheel" and the down and dirty blues of "Shake Your Hips." JON BREAM
MINUS THE BEAR
Ten years after dropping its debut LP, "Highly Refined Pirates," the emo-y indie band released its fifth full-length last month. And guess what? They still kinda suck. Mushy and bland, the Seattle quintet is the cream corn of alt-rock. "Infinity Overheard" does little more than deal in early-aughts nostalgia, but if you're into that sort of thing, have at it. Likeminded but less boring opener Cursive also dropped a new disc this year with "I Am Gemini," featuring the downright danceable single "The Sun and Moon." Caspian also performs. MICHAEL RIETMULDER
