Nirvana Bleach (20th Anniversary Edition) (Sub Pop)
Marking the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana’s debut album, Sub Pop re-issues the platinum certified Bleach, cut for about 600 dollars in Jack Endino’s studio over just a matter of days. This expanded CD includes a never-before-released…

What Will We Be

Devendra Banhart What Will Be (Warner Bros.)
It’s everything its predecessor was not: straight-forward, cleanly produced, consistently laid-back (to nearly Jack Johnson proportions) and free of ambition.

Morningwood Diamonds and Studs (Morningwood)
Riff-shredding, lovably raunch-friendly rockers. They mold elements of hard-rock, punk, new wave…

Flight of the Conchords I Told You I Was Freaky (Sub Pop)

After a glorious first season that earned the HBO show six Emmy nominations, the Kiwis’ second run doesn’t quite pack the same comedic punch. Some would say it was because the…

Air Love 2 (Astralwerks)
For part of Air’s last tour, the French electronic duo played shows with only drummer Joey Waronker as support, forcing them to strip its songs down to their essences. They stick with that lineup on Love 2, which marks…

Pearl Jam Backspacer (Island)
Pearl Jam made peace with their hard rock past on their eponymous eighth album, but its sequel, Backspacer, is where the group really gets back to basics, meaty riffs channeled into a brighter, cheerier package.

Amy Millan Masters…

Muse The Resistance (Warner Bros.)
With its titanic guitar solos, symphonic suites, and multi-layered melodies, Muse’s fifth album operates under the assumption that bigger is better. The album takes its cues from Queen, its lyrics from science fiction novels and its delivery from…

The Beatles The Beatles: Stereo Box Set (Capitol)
This reissue campaign corrects almost all the problems of the original 1987 CDs: the sound and artwork are improved, and all the original mono and stereo mixes finally see the light of day. NOTE: Today,…

MuteMath Armistice (Warner Bros./Teleprompt)
This long-awaited follow-up to the New Orleans quartet’s 2006 debut is a winner with solid songwriting and production. Darren King stands out on drums in the long closing track, “Burden.”
Pageant, Oct. 23

Brendan Benson My Old, Familiar Friend (ATO)
My Old, Familiar Friend…

Spinal Tap Back from the Dead (A2M)

This album doesn’t attempt to pass itself off as a rock record. The concept is this: a reunited Tap celebrates the 25th Anniversary of This Is Spinal Tap by launching an unplugged and unwigged tour that…

Sonic Youth The Eternal (Matador)
(Playing under the St. Louis Arch July 17)
SY’s first album for Matador Records, this hard rocking LP ranks as one of their more inspired efforts in their 28 year career.

Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (Interscope)
Led…