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"Bleach" is Nirvana's toughest set of songs, but as it offends with noise and griminess, it surprises with pop flashes and repetitive relaxation. The choruses seem ripped apart from the verses, jarring but complimentary, and Kurt Cobain (excuse me, Kurdt) had an undeniable way with a simple distorted guitar riff. The 20th anniversary edition comes with a live concert recorded in 1990. Check it out on Sub Pop's site.

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The 10th anniversary edition of "Sadstyle" by S (aka Jenn Ghetto) is out on Aviation Records and features some new (old?) songs. It's a winning slice of lo-fi bedroom pop, truly a release to cut holes in the cuffs of your sweater sleeves to. Check it out at CDBaby.

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Aurora Avenue label Light in the Attic Records is back with another set of Betty Davis reissues, immaculately packaged and fully liner-noted. The gutter-funk of "Is It Love or Desire" (1976) is paired with writings by superior Pop Conference presenter Oliver Wang. And if you think Betty Davis cares whether it's love or desire, think again. Check it out at LITA's site.

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This is it, the rawest of the raw. Of the four Betty Davis reissues put out by Light in the Attic, "Nasty Gal" is the most confrontational, the dirtiest. It's a shocking listen, hearing this woman vomit sex and power all over the place. It was made in 1975 and was never available on CD before now. John Ballon, the guy who wrote the Betty Davis cover story for Wax Poetics, did the liner notes. Check it out at LITA's site.