Walter Becker - Circus Money
This week, Steely Dan’s Walter Becker turns in Circus Money, his first solo album in 14 years. Although this isn’t drastically different than the Dan’s two albums this past decade — the newest wrinkle is a heavy reggae vibe — this nevertheless an excellent record, filled with impeccable grooves and dry wit.
 
 

Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things
Jakob Dylan steps away from the Wallflowers with his first solo album, Seeing Things. Produced by Rick Rubin, it’s a quiet, subdued affair, but it’s not gloomy — it’s warm and reflective, a good showcase for Dylan’s sturdy, understated writing.
 
 

The Fratellis - Here We Stand
On their second album Here We Stand, the Fratellis step out of the pub to smooth the edges off their songs and clean up their sound. Where their debut was effortless fun, this set of songs sounds like the band worked hard on them – which often ends up working against their natural devil-may-care instincts. Still, the Fratellis’ irrepressible charm prevails enough of the time that fans of Costello Music should find quite a bit to enjoy here.

Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be
All I Intended to Be, Emmylou Harris’ first new release in five years, finds her reaching back toward a sound and style that recall the country and folk influences of her earlier work. But All I Intended to Be is clearly the work of an artist who is looking to the past entirely on her own terms, and with the lessons learned since 1995’s spectral Wrecking Ball clearly audible at all times.

Joan as Policewoman - To Survive
Joan as Police Woman’s debut album Real Life was a major statement, filled a lifetime’s worth of catharsis. To Survive is content to cover matters of day-to-day life, rather than matters of life and death, but does so with the same effortless elegance that made Real Life so moving. Rebirth, gratitude and the yin-yang of love and loneliness are the major themes here, all delivered with Joan Wasser’s intense but thoughtful words and melodies.

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Filled with bold, entertaining wordplay and plenty of well-executed, left-field ideas, Tha Carter III should be considered as a wild, somewhat difficult child of Weezy’s magnum opus in motion, one that allows the listener an exhilarating and unapologetic taste of artistic freedom.
 
 
 
Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement
Flavors of Entanglement is Alanis Morissette’s first record since her split from fiance Ryan Reynolds, and that breakup can be heard throughout this album — but that doesn’t mean this is Jagged Little Pill, Pt. 2. Thanks to producer Guy Sigsworth — known for his collaborations with Bjork — this bears shades of word music and electronica, and the songs are elliptical, making this closer to Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie than her diamond-selling blockbuster.

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
My Morning Jacket’s Evil Urges embraces Prince, prog rock, and even electro-funk, blending those new arrivals with the band’s steady approach to southern rock. For those fans who criticized the adventurous sounds of 2005’s Z, Evil Urges will sound every bit as sinful as its title. But My Morning Jacket shows an admirable willingness to experiment with these fourteen tracks, and there are enough synth-free rock songs in the setlist to satisfy even the most fickle listeners.

Adele - 19 (Bonus CD)
Afroman - Greatest Hitz Live
Priscilla Ahn - A Good Day
The Bangkok Five - We Love What Kills Us
The Beach Boys - US Singles Collection Box: The Capitol Years 1962-1965
Haley Bonar - Big Star
The Boxmasters - The Boxmasters
The Bridges - Limits of the Sky
Solomon Burke - Like a Fire
The Charlatans UK - You Cross My Path (Deluxe Edition)
Gene Clark - Silverado ‘75: Live & Unreleased
Crusaders - Live in Japan 2003
Gas - Nah und Fern
Jeff Gauthier - House of Return
Guillemots - Red
Hil St. Soul - Black Rose
Hiromi - Beyond Standard
Freddie Hubbard - On the Real Side (70th Birthday Celebration)
James Hunter - The Hard Way
The Infamous Stringdusters - The Infamous Stringdusters
Ahmad Jamal - It’s Magic
KRS-One - Maximum Strength
Patti LaBelle - The Essential Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle - Live in Washington D.C.
Love - Out There
Love - False Start
Janiva Magness - What Love Will Do
Manfred Mann - The Hit Man: Essential Singles 1963-1969
Sergio Mendes - Encanto
Montgomery Gentry - Back When I Knew It All
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
Carla Olson & Mick Taylor - Too Hot for Snakes
Carla Olson & the Textones - Detroit 85: Live and Unreleased
The Orb - The Dream
Pentemple - 0))) Presents…
Plies - Definition of Real
Ponies in the Surf - See You Happy
Rev Theory - Light It Up
The Runaways - The Runaways/Queens of Noise
Sloan - Parallel Play
Sparks - Exotic Creatures of the Deep
Mark Stewart - Edit
Styrofoam - A Thousand Words
Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
Chip Taylor - New Songs of Freedom
Tyga - No Introduction
Martha Wainwright - I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too
Shannon Walker - Shannon Walker
Tony Joe White - Deep Cuts
Cassandra Wilson - Loverly
Roy Wood - Wizzard Brew (Bonus Tracks)
Dan Zanes - Nueva York!
Various Artists - Cash Money Records: 10 Years of Bling, Vol. 2
Original TV Soundtrack - iCarly: Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Show