Robert Forster - The Evangelist
Robert Forster’s first solo offering in over a decade, The Evangelist, is also his first record since the death of his partner in the Go-Betweens, Grant McLennan, and it features the last three songs that Forster and McLennan worked on together. It also features backing from fellow Go-Betweens bassist Adele Pickvance and drummer Glenn Thompson with production by long-time cohort Mark Wallis. Throughout The Evangelist, Forster’s writing is very different from his previous solo offerings; it’s elegant, but less concerned with literary allusion, metaphor and third person narrative. Instead, it’s nakedly honest and vulnerable, while giving up none of the elegant craft of his finest work.

Madonna - Hard Candy
On Hard Candy, her final album for Warner, Madonna has enlisted the Neptunes, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake as producers to help her make a cold, hard dance record. Hard Candy certainly sounds like recent productions by these two teams but instead of sounding ahead of the curve, Madonna sounds like she’s dressed in Nelly Furtado’s hand-me-downs — and she also doesn’t sound all that into her makeover, either.

Portishead - Third
After a decade-long absence, Portishead returns with their third studio album, aptly titled Third. Alternating gorgeous and unsettling, Third has surprises at every turn, filled with unexpected juxtapositions and haunting songs. It is that rare thing, an experimental rock album with a messy human heart.
 
 
The Roots - Rising Down
As the Roots are smart enough to realize that the inclusion of the pop-rap song “Birthday Girl,” even as jokey bonus track, would’ve been detrimental to the effect of the entire album, Rising Down remains a powerful statement on contemporary society, a society in which even though the specific issues may have changed over time, the problems are the same. It’s an album that’s both revelatory and full of questions, one that understands its spot in the Roots’ and American history, and one that continues to place the group as one of the country’s most talented and relevant in any genre, no calculated crossover necessary.

Santogold - Santogold
The debut self-titled full-length by Santogold shows the Brooklyn duo to be more than just another M.I.A. knock-off; instead they pull equally from dub, punk, hip-hop, electro, and rock without succumbing to the archetypes of any. The album is informed by pop and good humor, the importance of melody and structure never overshadowed by rhythm and dancefloor-worthiness. This is music that looks outward at the pan-continental landscape while staying firmly adherent to and respectful of its deeply American roots; it’s the emerging — and hopeful — face of the new millennium, and an altogether shining accomplishment.

Steve Winwood - Nine Lives
Steve Winwood’s Nine Lives is very different from his hit pop albums of the 80s and ’90s — there are no synths or drum loops to be found. Instead, Winwood, who’s in fantastic voice, surrounds himself with a small band of great players and music is rooted in groove laden acoustic blues, and funky rock, folk and R&B, all with an organic, percussive bottom end. The single, “Dirty City”, features guest Eric Clapton’s best solo guitar appearance on a record in over a decade, and the rest of the cuts are poignant, honest and moving.

Augustana - Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt
Awesome Color - Electric Aborigines
Baby D - A-Town Secret Weapon
Bobby & Blumm - Everybody Loves…
Boris - Smile
The Cab - Whisper War
Chin Chin - Chin Chin
Cloudland Canyon - Lie in Light
Constantines - Kensington Heights
David Karsten Daniels - Fear of Flying
Def Leppard - Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
Dizzee Rascal - Maths and English
Steve Earle - Copperhead Road (Deluxe Edition)
Estelle - Shine
Fate - Vultures
Forever the Sickest Kids - Underdog Alma Mater
Ronnie Hawkins - Arkansas Rockpile/Mojo Man
Hayden - In Field & Town
Heloise & The Savoir Faire - Trash, Rats and Microphones
Griffin House - Flying Upside Down
Lyfe Jennings - Lyfe Change
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American (2 CD Deluxe Edition)
David Johansen - David Johansen
David Johansen - Live It Up
Joy Division - The Best of Joy Division
Langhorne Slim - Langhorne Slim
Jamie Lidell - Jim
Liverpool Five - Best of the Liverpool Five
Mindless Self Indulgence - If
Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch
Nerf Herder - IV
New Found Glory/International Superheroes of Hardcore - Tip of the Iceberg/Takin’ It Ova!
One Night Only - Started a Fire
Puscifer - V Is for Viagra: The Remixes
Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves - Roll with You
Carly Simon - This Kind of Love
South - You Are Here
Phil Stacey - Phil Stacey
Strategy - Music for Lamping
Tickley Feather - Tickley Feather
Mel Tillis - Me and Pepper
Zappa Plays Zappa - Zappa Plays Zappa