from Panda Bear
In any commentary of Animal Collective alumni Panda Bear's music, it has seemed almost obligatory to draw comparisons to the Beach Boys visionary Brian Wilson. At first I had the feeling that such associations were trite, lazy and only about half-true. With the release of Panda Bear's fourth LP, Tomboy, it has become obvious that the comparison really is too perfect to pass up.
from Bowling for Soup
It's ironic that in their new album Fishing for Woos, Bowling for Soup frontman Jaret Reddick makes a direct reference to Weezer—recent critical reception for the two bands is, essentially, interchangeable.
from Low
Listening to Low's latest album, C'mon, gives you the sense of driving through the desert at night, following your headlights down an empty road as the stars burn with silent intensity above you. It's the kind of album that makes you feel very alive, very sensitive and vulnerable, and very young.
from TV on the Radio
In 2008, when TV on the Radio released its strained opus Dear Science, there was a tension biting across America and the world that has defined much of music for the past few years. Since then, it seems music has not sought to really make anyone feel better, only to make people feel less alone.
from Pusha-T
If you know Clipse, you know Pusha-T. He's one half of the hip-hop duo, and he's released his first solo mixtape, Fear of God.
from Within Temptation
Dutch symphonic rock group Within Temptation is back after four years with a fifth studio album, The Unforgiving, released alongside a comic book of the same name written by Steven O'Connell.
from Anthony David
Anthony David returns with his third album, As Above So Below. The Atlanta native stays in touch with his deep, Southern, soulful roots while paying close attention to the trials of life.
from The Mountain Goats
The genius of the Mountain Goats has always been its ability to effortlessly weave together simplicity and profundity. The band's melodies are straightforward and sound almost as if they'd be at home as the theme to a heartwarming '90s sitcom. (Go ahead and listen to "Genesis 3:23"and tell me that isn't true.)
from The New York Dolls
When an iconic band releases new material, questions often arise about their motives — the stereotype of the washed-up rocker rebounding to semi-fame is becoming increasingly familiar. Although the New York Dolls are most likely sincere in their motivation for releasing Dancing Backward in High Heels, it goes without saying that being a cross-dressing 1970s glam rocker doesn't come with a 401(k).
from Wiz Khalifa
There aren't many rappers hotter than Wiz Khalifa right now. After slowly building a solid fan base of college students and potheads through mixtapes, small concerts and a strong social networking presence, it appears Young Khalifa man decided enough was enough — he's taking his stardom to the next level.
from Roscoe Dash
After several mixtapes, Atlanta-based rapper, Roscoe Dash is finally debuting his first album, Ready, Set, Go. Jeffrey Johnson Jr., who will be just barely over the legal drinking age by press time, included rereleases like "Turnt Up" featuring SODMG rapper Soulja Boy, "Sexy Girl Anthem" and the club-banger "Showout."
from The Strokes
In 2001, The Strokes were hailed as the saviors of rock. The band's debut, This is It, alongside others from the Hives and the Vines, helped reignite the garage rock genre, and rock fans were hopeful for a new dawn. Angles is here, and although it doesn't quite live up to fans' hopes, it's a fresh sound for the New York City outfit.
from Chris Brown
Chris Brown was once simply a young, pretty boy singer and dancer. Now he is something that more closely resembles his rap counterparts. Brown's transformation from innocent (mostly) to bad boy has come full circle with his latest release, F.A.M.E.
from Britney Spears
More than a decade into the career of Britney Spears, any expectations for artistic growth should be thrown aside. It's clear that, unlike her pop diva predecessors Madonna and Janet Jackson, any attempts at lyrical profundity are ignored.
from Three 6 Mafia
Juicy J and DJ Paul of the Academy Award-winning group Three 6 Mafia packed their 10th LP, Laws of Power, with all the needed elements for any southern hip-hop collection: complex beats, bombastic voices and catchy hooks that usually get you to bob your head.
from Peter Bjorn and John
Peter Bjorn and John is a band that seemed to be shackled to a single song. Their 2006 smash hit "Young Folks" reached media saturation, appearing in TV shows, commercials, Kanye West mixtapes and more. It's 2011 now, and any article about the band can't seem to get by without mentioning how great "Young Folks" was.
from Radiohead
It's hard not to feel like a part of history when Radiohead releases a new album. The band is pop royalty, probably the closest our generation has to a Beatles — fearless experimenters whose music has shaped the popular soundscape while remaining utterly unique.
from Toro y Mol
The name Toro y Moi, sort of translated to Bull and Me, is incredibly deceiving. The laid-back air that envelops Toro y Moi's sound evokes images of soaring through a dense fog layering a city, or perhaps attending a classy jazz club in space. A bull is probably the very last thing that could possibly come to mind over the electric malaise explored on Toro y Moi's latest release, Underneath the Pines.
from Marsha Ambrosius
Late Nights & Early Mornings is the debut solo album from Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius, a member of the English R&B act Floetry. The 13-track album boasts production from the likes of Just Blaze, Dre & Vidal and Rich Harrison.
from Lykke Li
Swedish indie pop singer Lykke Li is back with her sophomore studio album. The singer has claimed that Wounded Rhymes, an album about separation, is also personal reflection of her life, almost imitating her diary.
from Modern Skirts
For a while, it seemed like Modern Skirts might join the crazy-long list of notable Athens, Ga., bands: R.E.M., the B-52's, Bubba Sparxxx, Drive-By Truckers, Of Montreal, Widespread Panic and the groups in the Elephant 6 Collective, just to name a few. But on its third album, Gramahawk, the Skirts venture a bit too far into lo-fi territory, ultimately sounding sloppy, immature and even abrasive.
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