ALT-ROCK
Before Coldplay became the big daddies of Brit pop, there was the Verve. "Bitter Sweet Symphony," their sweeping 1997 masterpiece, remains one of the towering achievements by any modern British band. But the group broke up in 1999, with lead singer Richard Ashcroft going on to pursue a solo career. On this reunion album, the blokes hit their stride right away on the first four tracks: Opener "Sit and Wonder" recalls Achtung Baby-era U2; "Love Is Noise," the standout single, is a pumping anthem; "Rather Be," recapturing their sense of grandeur, sounds like it could fill the heavens; and "Judas" is all moody atmospherics. But Forth loses some of its momentum in its second half, and some of the songs go on too long. Even so, too much of the Verve is definitely better than none at all.
Comme Si De
Rien N'Était
FRENCH POP
As the cover girl of the September issue of Vanity Fair, Carla Bruni—a former model who is now the first lady of France—is heralded as possibly "the new Jackie O." But it's doubtful that J. F. K.'s wife could have ever produced such a sultry set of folk-pop. This mostly French album (the title of which means "As If Nothing Had Happened") is an alluring affair full of lilting cadences and come-hither coos. No matter what the language, Bruni clearly possesses a certain je ne sais quoi.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "La Possibilité d'une Ile," a poem set to lush music
For more information on where to find our Download This picks, go to people.com/downloadthis
• That sunny, Regina Spektor-esque tune from the Ugly Betty and Old Navy ads comes courtesy of Aussie singer Lenka. Just can't get enough? Her self-titled debut drops Sept. 23.
STAIND The Illusion of Progress
These alt-metalheads don't display much progress on their latest. What's worse, though, is that they don't rock out much either, going heavy on power ballads. At least the country-tinged "Tangled Up in You" stands out.
NATALIE WALKER With You
With her electronica-infused pop and ethereal vocals, this singer comes off like the American answer to Dido or Jem. But despite chill grooves like "Over and Under" and "Now or Never," she never really heats up.
THE ROY HARGROVE QUINTET Earfood
This versatile trumpeter, who has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Erykah Badu, freshly updates the sound of '60s post-bop jazz, brilliantly blending beats in crisp originals that pop and swing.
LOW VS. DIAMOND Low vs. Diamond
On their full-length debut, this L.A. band mines the same neo-new wave territory as the Killers; lead singer Lucas Field even evokes Brandon Flowers. But "Actions Are Actions" is one of the few real gems.
• Rapper Shwayze (above right), 23, teams up with Whitestarr's Cisco Adler, 29, for the MTV reality show Buzzin' and a self-titled debut.
HOW DID YOU TWO COME TOGETHER?
CISCO: He woke up on my couch.
SHWAYZE: I was like, "Yo, want to make beats?"
CISCO: Really, we needed a link to the 20-year-old chicks after I broke up with Kimberly [Stewart].
HOW'RE THE LOVE LIVES SINCE THE SHOW?
SHWAYZE: I'm still single, but I've gotten some better looks.
CISCO: You got a Pussycat Doll's number! I'm moving on to supermodels only.
HOW'D YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME SHWAYZE?
SHWAYZE: When we started, Cisco was like, "Dude, you need a rap name." So he kind of just knighted me.
CISCO: There are too many Aaron Smiths [Shwayze's real name].
HAD YOU BEEN WATCHING DIRTY DANCING?
CISCO: It had nothing to do with Patrick Swayze. But Point Break is one of the best classics of all time.
SHWAYZE: Road House too. I love Patrick Swayze!
CELINE’S INFERTILITY STRUGGLE: MY PRIVATE HEARTBREAK
Daily injections, painful tests and four failed IVF attempts: The singer, 41, reveal her dreams for a second baby. ‘I’ll try until it works’
