The Sea
Channeling her grief over the 2008 death of her husband, the British singer-songwriter captivates with a haunting, heartbreaking set that's almost painfully exquisite.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Contra
The breezy latest by these Columbia University grads is executed with such understated cool that they barely break a sweat in their cardigans.
OK GO
Of the Blue Colour of the Sky
Displaying shades of the Purple One (see "WTF?"), the dancing-on-treadmills dudes get downright funky on their third studio album.
PATTY GRIFFIN
Downtown Church
With Buddy Miller serving as producer, Griffin goes gospel on this righteous collection recorded at Nashville Downtown Church.
