REVIEWED BY CHUCK ARNOLD
ALT-FOLK
He may not have John Mayer's juice among the soccer-mom set, but M. Ward has plenty of hipster indie cred. The singer-songwriter opened for the White Stripes on tour in 2005, coproduced this year's solo debut by Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis and pulled in guest turns for Post-War from Neko Case and My Morning Jacket's Jim James. With Ward's hushed, moody vocals, acoustic-guitar-driven atmospherics and a mysterious allure befitting a man who keeps his first name to himself (it's Matt), this disc sneaks up on you and catches hold. His lyrics, some of which address the aftermath of war, also deepen on repeat spins. On the Ryan Adams-esque alt-country ditty "Chinese Translation," he sings, "If life is really as short as they say, then why is the night so long?" No matter, Post-War is the kind of album you meditate on through the night while the rest of the world is asleep.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Chinese Translation"
Waterloo to Anywhere
ALT-ROCK
As drug-addled British star (and on-again, off-again Kate Moss beau) Pete Doherty has moved on to Babyshambles, Libertines co-leader Carl Barât has gotten back to the business of making good, solid garage-rock—minus all the drama—with his new band. With Libertines drummer Gary Powell also on board, as well as Libertines fill-ins Anthony Rossomando (guitar) and Didz Hammond (bass), there is a familiar grime to Dirty Pretty Things. Plus, cuts like "Bang Bang You're Dead" seem to be targeted at Doherty, who is not missed as much as you'd think.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Doctors & Dealers"
Adieu False Heart
REVIEWED BY RALPH NOVAK
FOLK
Over the years, Linda Ronstadt has teamed up with collaborators across the musical spectrum from Aaron Neville to Emmylou Harris. None of her collaborations has been more original, focused or melodious than this pairing with Cajun singer Ann Savoy as the Zozo Sisters. With the two swapping lead vocals and harmonizing on traditional romantic tunes that are intelligent and idiosyncratic, there's nary a false note.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Parlez-moi d'amour"
Modern Times
REVIEWED BY STEVE DOUGHERTY
CRITIC'S CHOICE
BLUES-ROCK
On his satellite radio show, His Bobness airs a surprising range of influences, from Muddy Waters and Little Richard to Tammy Wynette and Frank Sinatra. But it seems the old Bard is longing for a new muse. "I'm wondering where in the world Alicia Keys could be," he sings with sly humor on the kicking, Chuck Berry-riffing opener "Thunder on the Mountain." The shout-out is just one of the charms of this gem, which bristles with the kind of lyrical jolts you won't get from James Blunt. "I can hear a lover's breath ... Sleep is like a temporary death," he sings on "Workingman's Blues #2." But it's the music, exquisitely performed by Dylan and his five-piece swing-and-shuffle band, that really dazzles. Knowing well the limits of his hot-peppers-and-sandpaper voice, Dylan growls, purrs and even croons through this enormously tuneful set.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Thunder on the Mountain"
This Crazy Life
POP
Given this 21-year-old Philly native's aim-for-the-rafters voice, it's no wonder that, at 11, she won the lead role in Annie for that musical's 20th anniversary national tour. On her debut album, Joanna Pacitti puts her powerful pipes to work on pop-rock tunes that position her somewhere between Kelly Clarkson and Christina Aguilera. (In fact, This Crazy Life was executive-produced by Ron Fair, who helped launch Aguilera's career.) While it's all pretty solid stuff, what this girl really needs is a killer song to take her to the next level.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Let It Slide"
For more information on where to find our Download This picks, go to www.people.com/downloadthis
If you like M. Ward's Post-War, check out last year's even better alt-folk disc from Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning (left). The two acts have shared the same stage: Ward toured with Bright Eyes on 2005's Monsters of Folk caravan and even did a stint as guitarist for the Conor Oberst-led band on 2004's Vote for Change trek.
Under the Influence of Giants, Under the Influence of Giants
Loaded with funky rhythms, infectious melodies and high-pitched harmonies, UTIOG is an ultra-groovy mix of influences from the Beatles to the Bee Gees.
Kelis, Kelis Was Here
After her '03 hit "Milkshake" gave the mainstream a taste of her blend of soul, funk and hip-hop, Kelis's fourth disc establishes that the sassy singer is here to stay.
OutKast, Idlewild
Continuing as hip-hop's deliciously outré duo, André 3000 and Big Boi ingeniously incorporate period stylings on the soundtrack to their new movie musical set in the Prohibition era.
Raul Malo, You're Only Lonely
This intensely romantic album showcases Malo's haunting vocals on an eclectic range of covers, from the Etta James standard "At Last" to Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home."
PIMP YOUR RIDES
The Grammy-winning Garza brothers—Henry, 28, JoJo, 26, and Ringo, 24—have a new album, Sacred, and a new business, the Texican Chop Shop, in their hometown of San Angelo, Texas.
GETTING IN GEAR The Texican Chop Shop, which the Boys bought in January, can be seen in the video for Sacred's first single, "Diamonds." The shop is managed by Ringo's father-in-law, Hector Garcia, and staffed by longtime friends of the brothers. "It's a body shop that takes care of all customizing needs for a car or motorcycle," explains Henry, who worked on vehicles there before things revved up for Los Lonely Boys. "It's pretty weird to work at a place and come back and own it. We just want to give something back." Adds JoJo: "It was also for the love of cars. These old cars deserve respect. We have friends who are skilled painters and [bodywork] men. This is their stage."
ON THEIR FAVORITE RIDES For JoJo, it's his gold '66 Chevelle. "When I was 15 years old, my dad showed me this car," he recalls. "I fell in love with it. I got my first job that summer as a roofer, trying to get the money to buy it, but I fell short. Ten years later, there it was at this shop. I didn't hesitate [to buy it]." Ringo's black '67 GTO is what really gets his motor going. "I saw it one time in a movie and really liked the way it looked," he says. And Henry's favorite? "It's my '72 Cutlass," he says. "It was my first ride. I had it before any success. My wife helped me get it with some money she got from working at Wal-Mart. That's why it's real special."
The 23nd annual Video Music Awards will air live from Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on MTV. Here's who we'd like to see get some love.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Christina Aguilera "Ain't No Other Man"
Madonna "Hung Up"
Panic! At the Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Dani California"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
With red-hot style, the Chilis memorably cover the history of rock.
BEST MALE VIDEO
JAMES BLUNT "You're Beautiful"
Nick Lachey "What's Left of Me"
Busta Rhymes with Various Artists "Touch It (Remix)"
T.I. "What You Know"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
We'll take Blunt over West for laying his emotions—and his torso—bare in a clip that captures the ache of unrequited love.
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
CHRISTINA AGUILERA "Ain't No Other Man"
Kelly Clarkson "Because of You"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland "Promiscuous"
Madonna "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie"
Playing a '40s vamp, a glam Xtina atones for that "Dirrty" mess.
BEST GROUP VIDEO
The All-American Rejects "Move Along"
Fall Out Boy "Dance, Dance"
Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
Panic! At the Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS "Dani California"
Morphing into 10 bands, the Chili Peppers have our vote, but props to Fall Out Boy for showing punks can bust a move, too.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
