musicpickweeklylarge.jpg Why ramble? We've got shows to get out and see. We could put up a whole narrative about the state we were left in after NEMO and BeanTown Jazz swept through this weekend. But not now. Monday 10/2 bostonistico.jpg Built to Spill with Helvetia Built to Spill delivers Indie Rock from when they first hit our radar on college radio and they actually were an indie band. They've been with Warner Bros. for what seems like forever but are still cranking out good sound. The Roxy $18, 8pm Built to Spill: myspace Helvetia: website | Dusty Rue.mp3 Tuesday 10/3 bostonistico.jpg The Cat Empire The guiding principle of genre-bending Aussie band The Cat Empire is summed up on their website: "when the hip hop community dances to Gypsy, the jazz purists jump to hip hop, the Latinos bop to reggae, (and) the rastas shake to Latin . . . everyone wakes up a little bit happier." Sounds like a damn great philosophy to Bostonist. Recorded in Havana and produced by Jerry Boys (Buena Vista Social Club), TCE's new album Two Shoes is rousing mélange of Latin rhythms, roof raising hip hop and grime beats, jazz swing, reggae sunshine and, as you might expect, a whole lot more. Paradise Lounge 18+, $17, 8pm doors website | myspace | purchase Wednesday 10/4 bostonistico.jpg Spank Rock First Hollertronix (Diplo, Low B) put Philly on the map as the hip hop party capital of the world. But Spank Rock (check their new album YoYoYoYoYo) threw in dirty rap and the Baltimore cub scene. Along with the wonderfully warped Plastic Little, Spank Rock have been doin' their nastee utmost to make "party rap" and "City of Brotherly Love" synonymous. Add to the party the funky, mashed-up electro soul pop hip hop sound of Lilly Fairchild. Hailing from Beantown and other points New England, LF features Samuel P. Nice on turntables, Daddy Wrall on the vox, The Great Dunlap on flute and keyboards, and Trick Johnson on bass. Think Morris Day and Andre 3000 channeling Sly Stone and Bel Biv DeVoe. LF's new album, appropriately titled Album, is, according to their website, "a musical journey from Memphis Soul to New Jack swing, with a drive through Paisly Park on the way to your underpants." Yowza! With The Phase Rock. Great Scott 18+ $10, 9pm Spank Rock: website | myspace | put that pussy on me.mp3 | Rick Rubin video on YouTube | purchase Lilly Fairchild: website | myspace | one of those girls.mp3 | one love mash-up.mp3 The Phase Rock: myspace bostonistico.jpg The Teeth/Age Rings The Teeth make their way to Mass Ave and Brookline every once and a while – sometimes it's the Middle East other times it's TT's. Everytime it's enjoyable. $6, 9pm doors T.T. The Bears The Teeth: website Thursday 10/5 bostonistico.jpg Ben Monder Trio Guitarist and New England Conservatory faculty member Ben Monder has performed jazz around the globe with a diverse array of greats like Jack McDuff, Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, and Paul Motian. But as the New York Times' Ben Ratliff notes, "what he plays with his own group comes from another planet." With Chris Lightcap (bass) and Ted Poor (drums). Regattabar $16 7:30pm website Friday 10/6 bostonistico.jpg Regina Spektor If you missed the great Regina Spektor at Axis in April, here's your chance to see the "Soviet Kitsch" anti-folk / punk chanteuse as she graces Avalon. Avalon All Ages, $20, 7pm website | myspace bostonistico.jpg Take You Higher - A Sly Stone Tribute Sooz @ Exploit Boston is leading the Boston Rocks! Outing this week to Harper's Ferry to catch the eight piece ensemble formed in tribute to Sly and the Family Stone. We're not much into the cover or tribute band, but we'll make an exception for Take You Higher. If you're going to check it out why not join the posse with an rsvp? Harper's Ferry Take You Higher: website | myspace bostonistico.jpg Humanwine Bill's Bar continues the series of their WFNX sponsored local music shows this week with Humanwine. Bill's Bar $5, 9pm Humanwine: myspace | purchase Saturday 10/7 bostonistico.jpg The Brazilian Girls As is oft noted, not one of the four Brazilian Girls is, in fact, Brazilian. And only one band member is a woman. But that woman, Sabina Sciubba, sings in five different languages (sometimes in the same verse). And while we're not sure about Sciubba's claim that "the future of this planet as we know it, the human and animal kingdom, and the plants, depends solely on (the BG's new) record (Talk to La Bomb)," we surely don't dispute that the band's funky fusion of electro, dub, pop, disco and punk makes for one of the best, ass-shaking parties around. Paradise Rock Club 18+, $20, 8pm doors website | myspace Monday 10/9 bostonistico.jpg Gin Blossoms You loved them in 1993, you'll love them in 2006. Go for nostalgia if nothing else. Middle East Downstairs 18+ $18adv/$20dos, 7pm doors Gin Blossoms: myspace | website Matt Durutti assisted in assembling this week's selections