By refocusing on the dancefloor, the Rapture remains a step ahead.

Whatever their inspiration, new cuts like the oddly pretty 'Lose You' and 'Billionaire,' the latter of which features a fiery cameo from Shunda K of Yo Majesty, throb with unexpected vitality.

Sonic sap threatens everything here, but Edmonds usually manages to stave off Hallmark ickiness with an ear-tickling detail or two.

Raitt's eternal vocal effervescence and enthusiasm continue to amaze and astound.

Kweller shines apart from his identically named buddies [Ben Folds and Ben Lee] and proves his songwriting chops.

It doesn't take anything away from his historical weirdness to say that None Shall Pass has some of his most understandable hip-hop to date, as long as you don't worry much about what he's trying to impart.

His relationship [with Miranda Lambert] gives Startin' Fires its verve and spirit, a love-struck recovery from the heartbroken pall that hung over 2007's "Pure BS."

Asking for Flowers is filled with literate and provocative lyricism, vivid characters and cinematically engaging scenarios.

"Stars of CCTV" is that rare British import that lives up to the advance billing.

The group aims to shed the "freak folk" misnomer once and for all with a gorgeous collection of rustic folk rock.

The aptly titled "Now You Know" shouldn't be perceived as the end of Martsch's indie rock affiliation, but the sound of an artist delving deeper, and in doing so, hitting his stride.

It's an icy blast of electro-pop that channels the genre's most quirkily beautiful moments and ups the ante with the unmistakable influence of the duo's film-scoring heroes, Vangelis and Angelo Badalamenti.

[It] sounds more like a continuation of Pinback's 2004 high-water mark, "Summer in Abaddon." This is, of course, a good thing. [27 Jan 2007]

The blues- and country-influenced songs on Break Up the Concrete are an engaging departure from the group's earlier hits, while Hynde's dynamic alto voice gives the set the unmistakable Pretenders identity.

A more focused effort that never sacrifices the band's manic intensity.

The Notorious film soundtrack not only assembles the best of the Notorious B.I.G.'s work, it includes gems like the rapper's first demo tape, two new tracks from Jay-Z and a 'One More Chance' remix featuring B.I.G.'s son, CJ Wallace.

Warpaint mines the same Allmans-to-Zappa synthesis of influences that's been the Crowes' stock in trade but finds the group fortified by sharp songwriting and lace-tight, live-sounding performances.

For the most part, "Mr. Beast" finds Mogwai quite comfortable in a genre they've helped define.

Even visionaries lose sight at times, as Pierce does on "Let It Come Down," an album that can only be deemed a fractured opus.

White Rabbits recruited Spoon frontman Britt Daniel to produce It's Frightening, an appealingly audacious move that reveals just how tightly these guys define their sound. That self-awareness is apparent in the band's music as well--nothing seems out of place in these tidily arranged soul-punk tunes, most of which revolve around piano and bass rather than guitar.

Cuts like 'In Your Words' and 'Grace' cover an impressive amount of sonic ground, from delicate acoustic atmospherics to full-on rhythmic pummeling. Yet with frontman Randy Blythe's guttural growl--not to mention his bile-soaked lyrics about religious hypocrisy--this is hardly a bid for an active-rock breakthrough.

"Long Walk Home" passes the ultimate soundtrack test: it stands alone beautifully, capably supporting the work of director Phillip Noyce while at the same time feeling like a natural and fluid extension of Gabriel's own distinctive artistic vision.

The music's full of warmly engaging jangliness throughout, even if some of the 19 tracks tend to blend together.

Ne-Yo still has a way with melody, managing to upgrade his offerings while showing that the writer in him ain't dead either. [5 May 2007]

Although this two-CD manifesto isn't completely immune to the current bar-lowering--disc one is heavy on wispy, lo-fi throwaways (one exception: an intimate acoustic version of the Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman")--there's more wheat than chaff.

The musical doesn't begin production until 2010. The time lapse is confusing for listeners of the narrative, which focuses on a young woman named Eve. But Murdoch, who lends his vocals to two of the album's 14 tracks, plays his strengths as the man behind the music.

Each of Ladd's compositions are moody yet ethereal.

Even though "Doctor's Advocate" has its failings, it's a prescription that comes recommended. [18 Nov 2006]