Bedingfield’s second U.S. release sticks mostly to love odes and peppy self-help bromides, which occasionally veer close to Colbie Caillat’s lake of goop. It would be irksome if not for the uniformly strong pop and R&B songcraft.

There’s nothing like a concept album for faking musical maturity.

Usher has called Here I Stand his “grown and sexy” album, and he’s half right. Apart from a couple of A­up-tempo tracks by Danjahandz (“Appetite”) and Scandinavians-of-the-moment Stargate (“What’s a Man to Do”), the production is cocktail-lounge crunk, full of splashy cymbals, jazzy electric guitar and tinkly pianos.

Much of Voyage to India is a soporific swath of happy-hour wallpaper. [#11, p.127]

Beans's themes may be everyday, but thankfully his wit isn't. [Nov 2004, p.129]

The tearjerkers flow free on their sixth studio album. [Jan/Feb 2007, p.88]

If Borrell's originality ever equals his confidence, Razorlight might be as good as he thinks they are. [Nov 2004, p.141]

A folk-rock anti-Midas, he reduces everything he touches to a molten core of sadness. [Dec 2005, p.151]

Even when he tips the sensitivity scales too much... Rice’s innate, anti-lite-FM intensity saves him.

Travis may have grown serious, but at least it hasn't gone to their heads. [Nov 2003, p.122]

Though Loeb can weave a pleasant, elaborate melody, her originality wavers. [Apr/May 2002, p.115]

Loewenstein manages a decent impersonation of, well, Sebadoh, undercutting his bright melodies and morose shrugs with caustic bass lines. [#8, p.118]

Anything involving a string section is disastrous, but a couple of choruses are suitable for both raucous fist-pumping and rampant pouting.

A new, liberating vulnerability marks the more reflective songs. [May 2006, p.110]

Chinese Democracy's non-existence is so well-known and ingrained, the source of so many jokes, that its actual existence can only be a letdown. That is until you hear it. Then, somewhat astonishingly, 5,475 days, at least $13 million, fourteen studios, twenty or so musicians (including five guitarists and a harpist) seems just about right.

Without a target for their ire, TBS opt for sheer emo relentlessness. [May 2006, p.111]

When he’s in command, Barzelay seldom feels the need to be so subtle. But don’t sweat the details and many of the tracks will fall into place eventually.

JSBX still crackle like firecrackers soaked in kerosene. [Jun/Jul 2002, p.114]

Too bad, then, the album drifts off into the ambient sighs and murmurs of their recent movie-soundtrack work, minus the diverting visuals.

A set of piano-based chamber rock so tense and acidic they need to let off steam every two or three songs. [Apr 2005, p.124]

[OK Go's] sophomore album rocks most amiably when wordy frontman Damian Kulash loosens up. [Sep 2005, p.135]

Split[s] the difference between guaranteed hook appeal and a decent simulation of emotional truth. [Oct 2004, p.129]

E=MC2 is Carey's most-fun album, and her best.

Those in search of a gloriously moronic keg-party soundtrack will wet themselves with pleasure. [Apr/May 2002, p.112]

The music is sexy in the dirtiest possible way, which makes up for the band's stoopid posing. [May 2003, p.114]

Here the pleas and tirades strive heavy-handedly, little aided by the Blokes' equally unsubtle barroom marches. [Apr/May 2002, p.112]

He took three years to produce this follow-up, and the labor shows, for good and ill. [August 2007, p.117]

Trying to express her actual feelings, instead of inhabiting a fantasy, she leaves us looking for an authenticity and vulnerability that isn’t in her skill set.