SIBYLLE BAIER Colour Green (Orange Twin)

Had kindred soul Cat Power heard this back in the day, she wouldn't have worried quite as much about what the community might think. Exquisitely powerful in their raw, dusky beauty, these songs were recorded in the early '70s by the then youthful mother of two on a home reel-to-reel early in the a.m. after her work as a theatrical actress. Elf Power band members brought to light these dark gems, which lived in a closet until Baier's son passed copies to J. Mascis. (Kimberly Chun)

TODD SNIDER That Was Me 1994–1998 (Universal)

That Was Me gathers early recordings from the Nashville-dwelling singer-songwriter, whose circle of fans includes John Prine and Kris Kristofferson. He trades mainly in acoustic guitars, harmonica solos, and wry lyrics — the latter hinting at a sense of humor that's expertly showcased by his novelty tracks, including the self-explanatory "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues." (Cheryl Eddy)