Not only does this album hum with the magic that endowed the pair's past hits ("Let's Stay Together"), it shows that talent isn't the sole realm of the young.

This is by far the moodiest, mellowest stuff MacKaye has ever been involved with.

Whether it is described as danceable rock, rock-infused dance or sinister Britpop, Kasabian has made an excellent debut album.

In the end, the group proves that its unflinching lyrics and memorable melodies are well suited for songs about warring lovers and war itself.

Even when you can't understand what he is breathily crooning, Prekop is a master at setting just the right mood.

We haven't heard such a melodic Swedish act since ABBA.

This sounds very much like the record Deana Carter has always wanted to make

Sadly, the album is reminiscent of everything he has already done.

"Some Cities" is less epic, but no less important, than its predecessors.

The 77-minute-long "Frances" unfolds upon multiple listens, sometimes threatening to collapse under its own pretensions (meandering musical passages, sound effects), but ultimately, it is an ambitious and rewarding album.

Like British counterpart St. Etienne, Ivy deftly merges melancholic tales of the heart with happy-go-lucky beats.

A gorgeous collection that is equal parts country and rock, joy and (more often than not) pain.

The bottom end booms like a cannon, the dual guitars masterfully shriek and Halford's screeches tingle the spine.

The marriage of material and performance maintains high consistency and purpose.

Though one can't help but miss the complementing presence of Stone Roses guitarist/songwriter John Squire, "Solarized" is a strong and enjoyable offering from this Manchester icon.

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

His voice has thankfully improved from record to record; like grain alcohol, it's gruff and eye-opening, well-suited for Crooked Fingers' pop-folk tangents.

Tori Amos delivers some of the most accessible music of her career, coupled with beautifully obscure lyrics.

[It] finds him eschewing his signature peak-hour beats and dancefloor rhythms for primarily ambient sounds—with rock and jazz flourishes.

Indeed, "Awake" is Lee's strongest album in years; so good that you can even forgive the Har Mar Superstar cameo.

[It] hints at a more complex approach to songwriting without abandoning the qualities that made us pay attention in the first place.

The end result is what Ride's "Nowhere" would've sounded like had it been produced by Frank Zappa in 1972.

Each of Ladd's compositions are moody yet ethereal.

There are certain instances when Francis' politics overreach, like on the annoying "Dance Monkey,” but for the most part, “A Healthy Distrust” is this artist's most impressive album yet.

Far and away the group's most determined work of its 15-year career.

Taking all the best parts of Jeff Buckley, Devandra Barnhart and Rufus Wainwright, Bird can be noisy, charming, frivolous, haunting and playful all at once.

The true star is Antony's raw, emotional voice, one in which you can almost hear actual feelings being conveyed.

This winning collaborative combination makes "Before the Poison" even stronger than its 2002 predecessor, "Kissin' Time," but with production and arrangements that are minimalist, dark and desolate.