The mostly one-man-show of Time is another amalgamation of the vintage rock stylings that are his stock in trade.

Cox followed his muse and ran with it, and what resulted is a collection of music that's as intriguing as its creator.

Tango remains the constant for Bajofondo, but the 17 tracks offer quite a few variations on a theme.

If this is indeed a swan song for Brooks, it's like calling it a career with a championship-winning shot at the buzzer.

Matt Berninger's murmuring, stream-of-conscious narratives are delivered with convincing melodrama, with few clunkers. [26 May 2007]

Unified Theory -- while recalling the sounds of such bands as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Rush -- offers up a bold and psychedelic modern rock set.

On the first part (Elephants), she sticks to brooding breakup ballads with long, languid piano chords and lush string arrangements, the perfect soundtrack for the lovesick....The mood changes radically on the second part, when Yamagata emerges with gritty, garage-rock tunes a la PJ Harvey, delivering defiant hooks with the energy of someone taking revenge.

Wild, unfettered and bone-shatteringly loud, "Blue Cathedral" will stir any fan of extreme guitar mania.

Its growth feels genuine and, unlike Sum 41's punk peers, its musical maturation doesn't come at the expense of that all-important snotty 'tude.

On their sixth album, Foo Fighters have renewed their membership in the "if it ain't broke . . ." school of songwriting. And essentially, there's nothing wrong with that.

Joining fellow hotly tipped Brooklyn bands Vampire Weekend and Yeasayer, MGMT (pronounced "management") merits just as much attention for its psychedelic experimentation as it does for its melodies and hooks.

Fire Songs proves the Watson Twins are a strong songwriting team, and one that has earned its time in the spotlight.

A new high point for the already accomplished Walker.

From the hipster head-bobber 'Nothing to Worry About' to the melancholy closer 'Last Night,' the trio takes a minimalist approach to creating beats and accompaniments, making its simple voices more affecting and the subtle production all the more charming.

Starsailor is one of those wonderfully rare bands that manages to be gentle and sensitive while also rocking admirably.

The Scottish quartet offers guitar-rich tunes that are as remarkably literate as they are emotionally challenging.

Musically and lyrically, "Clothes Drop" is more pop-oriented, melodic and restrained, and is all the brighter for it. [24 Sep 2005]

Man Man exhibits a varied flair for macabre theatrics that includes a veritable world's fair of chaos and creation.

A debut recording as fine as this one deserves immediate attention.

Thanks to Allen's still-sharp lyrical wit and an exceedingly crafty production job by Greg Kurstin, It's Not Me, It's You is hardly the grown-up buzz-kill it might have been.

Immediately alluring without sacrificing eclecticism.

One of the prettiest albums of the year.

The former Police guitar whiz surpasses himself with this survey of Charles Mingus as he gives the great man's compositions an utterly individual spin.

I'll Be Lightning is a low-key charmer.

It's muted, but intoxicating stuff.

The album is a call to arms for the digital age, and 20 years into its career, Green Day's ambition continues to dazzle.

Every one of these 15 tunes is a living, breathing creature, from the haunting, modal-tinged blues-waltz (with cello) of 'Rake' to the jaunty fingerpicking and mouthy dialogue of 'Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold' (a duet featuring son Justin Townes Earle) to the eternally elegant Tex-Mex anthem 'Pancho and Lefty.'

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.