Out today: Devendra B., Morningwood, Wolfmother
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…
Out today: Flight of the Conchords, Jay Farrar, Sufjan Stevens
Out this week: Air, Exene Cervenka
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…
Out today: Pearl Jam, Amy Millan
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…
Out today: Muse, Big Star box set
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…
Out this week / Big Beatles sale at Vintage
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,…
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Out today: MuteMath, Brendan Benson, Cave Singers
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…
Out today: Spinal Tap, George Harrison
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…
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Out this week: Sonic Youth, Black Eyed Peas
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…











