JAMES REED

Cafe Tacuba, "Cuatro Caminos" (MCA)
Mexico’s premiere Rock en Espanol band has made its masterpiece. This is a goody bag of surf guitar, electronica, and alternative rock, and it’s a watermark for Latin music.

Benjamin Biolay, "Negatif" (Virgin)
Serge Gainsbourg’s spirit, minus the excess, enlivens the sophomore album from this young French pop singer. You’ll swear you’re sitting in the coziest French lounge.

Juana Molina, "Segundo" (Domino)
In case anyone wanted it, Molina fills the world’s need for a beguiling cross between Beth Orton and Joni Mitchell ... en espanol.

Buena Vista Social Club, "Hecho en Cuba" (Escondida)
Before they became superstars, the members made some of Cuba’s most vibrant music in the 1930s and ’40s. This collection highlights the best of those early recordings.

Susheela Raman, "Love Trap" (Narada World)
Raman’s second album is perfect for dinner parties or late-night chats around the fireplace. Raman infuses classical Indian rhythms with tinges of soul, blues, and jazz.

Julieta Venegas, "Si" (BMG Entertainment)
As in the past, Venegas wields a mean accordion on her latest CD of Latin pop songs that are catchy and layered.

Celso Fonseca, "Natural" (Six Degrees)
Fonseca comes into his own as an enchanting interpreter of bossa nova, samba, and even the American Songbook. Joao Gilberto’s heir apparent has arrived.

Various artists, "600% Dynamite!" (Soul Jazz Records)
From the UK comes this brilliant compilation of Jamaica’s leading artists of early and modern ska, rocksteady, dancehall, and reggae.

Mariza, "Fado Curvo" (Times Square)
This rising star of fado expands her repertoire to include contemporary takes on the centuries-old artform, all wrapped up in the thunder of her commanding voice.

Marta Gomez, "Solo es Vivir" (Big Sur Records)
"Solo es Vivir" showcases Gomez’s considerable talents as a Latin-jazz singer and songwriter and proves she was more than competent to open for Mercedes Sosa at Berklee Performance Center in September.