@willkimbrough, coincidentally i was listening to sandanista the other day--it’s a lot to wade through but i think it’s unfairly maligned, with fully 75% of it being close-to-genius, albeit in a drugged out way. you also prompted me to revisit "funky kingston"--he’s the only guy who can get me to listen to a john denver song.
my random picks:
roseanne carter, "interiors"--really frickin depressing record. "dance with the tiger" is a perfect pop song.
salem 66, "a ripping spin"--they can just barely play their instruments, but they’re much smarter than your average riotgirls and the songs are there.
swervedriver, "future ruins"--most of these reunion albums blow, but these guys were always more tuneful than the norm and this is as good as their early 90s stuff.