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CRITIC'S CHOICE
ROCK
Eighteen years after the major-label machine helped turn them into grunge gods with their now-classic debut, Ten, Pearl Jam has cut out the middleman for their ninth studio album. Not coincidentally, the self-released Backspacer finds the veteran rockers recapturing some of the raw edge and energy of a hungry young band selling CDs out of the trunk. Indeed, some of these songs sound as if they could have been recorded in a garage, and 11 tracks race by in less than 37 minutes, giving the album an unfussed-over feel that is true to the indie spirit. But while playing it fast and furious on cuts like "Supersonic," there are also mellower moments like "Just Breathe"—a tender, folky ballad that could be an outtake from Eddie Vedder's Into the Wild soundtrack—that hit the melodic sweet spot.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "The Fixer," a restorative rocker
Barbra Streisand
Love Is the Answer |
JAZZ-POP
An album of jazz and pop standards is pretty, well, standard these days. If you're only going to buy one such disc in 2009, though, this should be it. Barbra Streisand, her voice still like buttah, makes this one something special. Love Is the Answer, produced by Diana Krall, provides lush, intimate settings for Streisand to inhabit with all of her interpretive powers and technical perfectionism. The CD takes its title from a line in "Make Someone Happy," glowingly rendered here. But it's the diva's dramatic reading of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" that will really blow you away.
Patty Loveless
Mountain Soul II |
COUNTRY
After lovingly covering country classics on last year's Sleepless Nights, Patty Loveless continues to explore traditional territory on this sequel to 2001's Mountain Soul. Venturing into bluegrass, Appalachian and old-time gospel sounds, the disc has a rootsy authenticity, with production by Loveless's husband, Emory Gordy Jr., and guest appearances by Del McCoury, Vince Gill and Emmylou Harris. Best is the aching ballad "You Burned the Bridge," a contemporary tune with an old soul.
Sean Kingston
Tomorrow |
REGGAE-POP
Summer may have faded away, but Sean Kingston keeps up the sunny vibes on his second album. Just soak up the rays of tunes like "Face Drop," one of the bounciest breakup songs you'll hear, and the Wyclef Jean-assisted "Ice Cream Girl." But his lightweight reggae-pop wears thin over an entire CD.
DOWNLOAD THIS: "Fire Burning," the hit dance-floor scorcher
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>• The new versions of "Fame" and "Out Here on My Own," sung by Naturi Naughton, won't make you forget Irene Cara. But at least this outclasses the High School Musical soundtracks.
>DRAKE
So Far Gone
As anticipation builds for his debut album, due early next year, the breakout hip-hopper drops an EP featuring the hits "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful," and the soulful, soul-baring "Fear."
DAVID GRAY
Draw the Line
The British singer-songwriter returns with his folk-tinged tunes and Dylanesque vocals. While Gray is still good for a rainy-day mood, few songs really stick with you.
MUSE
The Resistance
Led by the fist-pumping hit "Uprising," Muse's latest starts strongly, but the alt-rockers end up succumbing to histrionics, including a three-part "symphony."
UNCLE KRACKER
Happy Hour
You can't knock Kid Rock's ex-deejay for "Smile," the infectiously upbeat single. But the rest of Happy Hour would go down better after a few 2-for-1's.
>BON JOVI proves to still be rebellious after all these years on "We Weren't Born to Follow," a radio-friendly rocker from The Circle, due Nov. 10. $0.99 at rhapsody.com.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD is back in "Before He Cheats" mode on "Cowboy Casanova," the feisty first single from her third CD Play On, out Nov. 3. $1.29 at napster.com.
CREED reunites on the guitar-grinding "Overcome," a preview of Full Circle, the band's first album in seven years, due Oct. 27. $1.29 at iTunes.com.
>It feels like 1964 all over again, with the remastered reissues of the entire Beatles catalog and a new video game starring John, Paul, George and Ringo. Here's what you need to know now.
THE 16-CD STEREO BOX
From the superior sound to the original artwork, it's packed with fab details.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMP
Abbey Road was the bestselling individual stereo album in the first week of release.
STEREO VS. MONO
The Beatles preferred recording in mono, but those remasters are only available in a box set.
THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND
In the new video game—which George Harrison's musician-son Dhani, 31, was instrumental in making happen—you can be any one of the Fab Four.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR MICHAEL JACKSON?
The estate of Jackson, who maintained a 50-percent stake in the Beatles catalog, made an estimated $1.5 million from the re-releases in the first week.
THE RETURN OF THE PLASTIC ONO BAND
Yoko Ono has revived her old group with John Lennon, releasing a new album (Between My Head and the Sky) and adding a new member (son Sean Lennon).
THE 92-YEAR-OLD BEATLES SLAYER
Britain's Vera Lynn beat out the remasters for the top spot on the U.K. album chart with a collection of WWII ballads, We'll Meet Again: The Very Best of Vera Lynn.
VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE
Heartbreak & Hope
After Jaycee Dugard's rescue, a look at the cases of six young people who went missing in 2009
