A perfect commingling of the spirits of dub reggae and mid-'70s soul and groove jazz.... NdegeOcello's finest moment on record thus far.

It isn't often that one finds an American artist with such a mastery of collage technique and a desire to incorporate traditional folk instruments and melodies.

While it's not as diverse as Spanish Dance Troupe or as immediate as How I Long to Feel That Summer in My Heart, Sleep/Holiday is just as lovely and heartfelt, and another fine addition to Gorky's Zygotic Mynci's body of work.

The most amazing thing about A People's History is the diverse styles represented throughout.

Like David Byrne's underrated orchestral epic The Forest or Philip Glass' Koyaanisqatsi, Systems/Layers is cerebral and human, transporting you without insulting your intelligence.

Buy this with the full confidence that you are getting your money's worth.

The two have captured a cohesiveness that was lacking on previous Azure Ray albums.

At its best, on songs like "Monologue for an Old True Love" or the Nancy & Lee-styled orchestral country duet with Eugene Kelly, listening to Amorino provides nearly as many musical thrills as listening to a good B&S record.

Neither a retreat nor a leap forward, Instant 0 in the Universe is pleasant and nowhere near as trying as some of the group's recent work, but it's one more Stereolab release that is equally difficult to dislike or fully embrace.

Beet, Maize & Corn is a dramatic reinvention of the High Llamas.

Shows a serious artist crafting his medium.

Dear Catastrophe Waitress [is] the richest musical offering yet from Belle & Sebastian.

An utterly compelling, even riveting, selection of tunes that go from bright to opaque, to dark and back again by album's end.

The icing on the cake is in the little details.

The Ladybug Transistor is a return to form for the band and is right up there with its best work. That ranks it right up there as some of the best pop music being made today.

While many will no doubt see this as an unfocused record, those who take it on more of a song-by-song basis will value it as a respectable addition to RZA's body of work.

Comes off as a mix between the White Stripes' bluesy insouciance and AC/DC's cockeyed swagger.

The best record of his career.

It's the group's maturity as musicians as well as songwriters that make Transatlanticism such a decadently good listen from start to finish.

It's far from a bad listen, nor is it embarrassing, but it's entirely too predictable, coming across as nothing more than well-tailored, expensive mood music.

The appeal of Life for Rent is what makes Dido appealing -- she's unassuming and gentle, but her songs are so melodic and atmospheric they easily work their way into the subconscious, and the records are well-crafted enough to be engaging on repeated plays.

Bianchi may be as gloomy as ever, but after moving from California to Texas and from Tiger Style to Mush Records, Her Space Holiday maintains its lush IDM-powered indie pop.

While The Civil War isn't as exhilaratingly disorienting as A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure, it's another triumph; history may repeat itself, but Matmos never does.

Despite solid songwriting, glimmering production, and a broad palette of emotions, Breathe shows the Leaves' potential more than anything else.

Just a set of productions that prove, once again, Bell is the most imaginative producer in British techno.

There's a sharpness that was absent before, a shift in focus and time that's strict in design.

Unlike his previous two releases, Wainwright's musings seem less focused and a little meandering on a handful of the songs.

Bristles with the independent spirit that put both punk and hip-hop on the map.