Mac minions will find this electric-flavored, band-sounding album pleasing, but there's also the avant ambience that's Buckingham's stock in trade.

The group may still rely on catchy vocal refrains, but the growth of Lazzara's songwriting has made its fourth effort a brisk, enjoyable outing.

A timeless, feel-good album that could easily slide into your papa's Sam Cooke and Percy Sledge collections, yet still sounds contemporary.

Songs like 'Calm Like You' and 'Black Plant' positively swing, and despite the presence of a 22-piece orchestra, the lyrical bite and brisk pacing mean things never topple into cheesy pastiche. Moonlighting hasn't been this much fun since Bruce Willis had hair.

Along with absolutely stunning MC'ing across the board, "Quality" heralds the long-awaited return of the DJ to street hip-hop.

An artistic experiment that stretches the band's sound while meditating on the film's menacing malaise.

"Machine" is ultimately flawed when the Kahuna boys abandon uptempo techno for atypically hymnal pastures.

Though a few more lively tunes would've been welcome, October Road marks the return of an artist who is as creatively vital as ever.

Fun, thoughtful, and dynamic-

A relevant addition to System's catalog.

Oberst's fourth full-length is a bleak, bipolar journey through his emotionally charged mind, with melodramatic midnight ballads, dusty piano, and the occasional sexy violin.

Finds her pushing her already considerable talents to new heights.

Even Björk's misses are more exciting than most of what we currently call hits. [12 May 2007]

A milestone effort.

Although little on Hymn and Her finds Earlimart venturing into new territory, there's a familiarity felt throughout that remains comforting, and sometimes that's just enough.

With Steve Turner's guitar a buzzing hangover and Mark Arm snarling with irresistibly creepy restraint, Mudhoney's eighth studio album finds the band rocking like it's 1988 . . . or 2008.

[It] flashes with moments of greatness. [9 Dec 2006]

Although much of the album is about saying goodbye to the past, Morrison uses the performance to breathe new life into the songs with a band that can follow anywhere he leads--jazz, folk or soul.

The Hold Steady's first live disc (and documentary DVD), recorded in 2008 at Chicago's Metro, is a raucous 17-track scorcher that finds Finn's speedily spat monologues working surprisingly well onstage.

Henry's superb Civilians succeeds not only as a melodic collection of poignant short stories, but also as a potent picture book of America gone wrong.

In her bid to be a little bit of everything for everyone, some of the unique flavor that has made her a star is sadly diminished.

Its most fully realized set to date.

Release couldn't be more lovely if it tried.

The third in a trilogy of introspective masterworks sees no decline in genius but an uptick in rockability. [20 Aug 2005]

The first half of "Living With the Living" offers well more of everything that's made Leo and his Pharmacists such post-punk studs. [24 Mar 2007]

The dabbling in different sounds and textures results in a surprisingly cohesive effort for DMST, and one that successfully sustains interest throughout. [3 Mar 2007]

A number of songs significantly pick up the pace for a change. [12 May 2007]

Joni Mitchell's first album of new material in nearly 10 years is a return to the form that made her a star.