Has more melody and memorable riffs than the band's previous two albums.

The 11 tracks breeze by in a blaze of exuberant, pop-tinged glory.

Every song becomes her own, with each one having just the right amount of torch and twang.

One of the prettiest albums of the year.

Put [the covers] all together and you get an idea of Low's surprising range and versatility.

Chock-full of catchy songs.

"Blueberry Boat" will confuse first-timers with its cartoonish feel, but repeated listens start to reveal the subtle complexities that each song brings to the table, regardless of their seemingly short attention spans.

While dancehall novices may find some of the material redundant, "Back to Basics" is a traditional dancehall album in every sense of the word. It's rhythmic, sexual and unapologetically raw.

Stringfellow is one of the most underrated songwriters of our generation, and while "Touched" may still remain his all-timer, "Soft Commands" could most definitely be considered his textbook.

Beneath the occasionally shambling arrangements and fuzzy overdubs, though, lie some great songs.

Returns to hip-hop basics.

Stone's soulful, sassy vocals are once again the centerpiece of another well-crafted effort.

Some of its most appealing material in recent memory.

Far more '70s-style easy rock than rap/rock bombast.

One of the most shiny and potent--albeit melancholy--synth-pop albums of the year.

Overall, it's a solid, unashamedly honest portrait.

Robinson's lyrics get a bit too precious.

While the songs have a tendency to run together with an overall sameness, the album as a whole is greater than its individual parts.

Despite these minor flaws, "The Hunger for More" serves its purpose in establishing Banks as a new voice in hip-hop.

Paint-by-number grooves, coupled with nonexistent hooks and forgettable melodies, do not result in an album that requires repeated plays; that is unfortunate, since a few Timbaland-produced tracks demand just that.

Its most difficult and uncompromising album to date.

A moody, yet seemingly sprawling album of (mostly) instrumentals that rely on the evolving crescendo to make a statement.

Each song is meticulously constructed, and feels like a musical soundtrack to lush, magical worlds.

Shows his growth as an MC.

As nihilistic and hostile as ever.

An unexpected but dazzling return to the top form of the later Beach Boys years.

With the sonic reach of Pink Floyd and convincing, explosive pop in the vein of Rogue Wave and the Apples in Stereo, "Ta Det Lugnt" is thick with variety.

Hardly anything here makes an impression after repeated listens. What's worse, even fewer tracks possess the spark or invention for which Phish is revered.