From Dublin, New York, Toronto, Paris

A guide to keeping up with what’s best in pop music on a record budget of $25 a month. November

The Waterboys’ “Fisherman Blues” (Chrysalis)--For anyone touched in recent years by the mainstream rock idealism of Bruce Springsteen and U2, this is a highly recommended next step.

Sonic Youth’s “Daydream Nation” (Enigma/Blast First)--Across the accessibility spectrum from the Waterboys, this New York quartet--an offshoot of New York’s experimental No Wave/Noise movement--combines a touch of punk energy and lyrical pop sensibility with some of the most aggressive and striking guitar-dominated rock textures of the ‘80s.

Singles: UB40 and Chrissie Hynde’s “Breakfast in Bed” (yet another seductive remake of the old Dusty Springfield track), the Bangles’ “In Your Room” (as sexy as “Manic Monday” was disarming) and Tone-Loc’s “Wild Thing” (uproarious).

December

Cowboy Junkies’ “The Trinity Session” (RCA)--Besides introducing some affecting original tunes on this major-label debut, Toronto’s Margo Timmins’ boldly tackles material associated with such country giants as Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, and she demonstrates the talent to get away with it. This is country music the way you’ve never heard it--slow, whispery, exotic and vital.

The Bulgarian State Radio and Television Choir’s “Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, Vol. Two” (Elektra/Nonesuch)--This isn’t as easy for most Western pop fans to relate to as the South African sounds popularized by “Graceland,” but the choir sings with such captivating purity and strength that the album serves as yet another liberating guidepost for those eager to stretch their musical boundaries.

Kassav’s “Vini Pou” (Columbia)--Closer to the infectious, spirit-lifting music of “Graceland,” this group of Caribbean musicians, now based in Paris, specializes in zouk , a spicy blend of West Indian dance music and high-tech studio techniques. It’s sung in Creole, but there’s no mistaking the message.