May 1, 2008 | The latest release from throwback funksters Lettuce is a tour of your dad’s old record collection, minus the mildew and mouse crap. “Rage!” is a decade-trotting encyclopedia of grooves and textures that makes pit stops at the altars of past greats without losing any of its own forward momentum.


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May 1, 2008 |  “Hard Candy” is Madonna’s 12th  studio album of original material, but it sounds more like the featured artists’ latest disc — a Justin Timberlake album backed by Timbaland.


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Apr 24, 2008 | If listeners aren’t already in a good mood, they will be, provided they pick up “Rabbit Habits,” Man Man’s latest album. Each track bubbles with speedy beats overlapped with hauntingly catchy riffs on guitar, honky tonk, marimba and sousaphone, to name a few of the band’s toys.
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Apr 24, 2008 | The Kooks’ first disc, “Inside In/Inside Out,” was full of fun yet generic guitar-rock saved by lead singer Luke Pritchard’s high-pitched bravado. While the album had a distinct feel as a whole, the tracks tended to blend, leaving something to be desired. The band’s new effort, “Konk,” fuses Brit-rock energy with a ’60s pop flair. The much-matured sound of this LP shies away from any notion of a sophomore slump.
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Apr 17, 2008 | On its 2006 debut EP, “A Lesson In Crime,” Tokyo Police Club relied on its raw energy with little focus on song development. On the group’s newest release, “Elephant Shell,” it eschews the funny stuff in favor of a sound that veers from grimy to clean within the span of a verse.


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Apr 16, 2008 | The best way to describe the critical response to Destroyer’s ninth full-length
album, “Trouble in Dreams,” may be unobtrusive. The quiet approval offered by the indie rock staple’s community of fans seems awfully reserved considering the album is its finest work since 2001’s “Streethawk: A Seduction.”


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Apr 10, 2008 | Boyce Avenue has exploded on the YouTube circuit in the past year, becoming the 19th most subscribed musician. The boys have garnered some well-deserved attention by covering songs by artists like OneRepublic and Rihanna. Brothers Daniel, Alejandro and Fabian Manzano, along with Stephen Hatker, just released their debut record, “All You’re Meant to Be.”
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Apr 10, 2008 | In a year that has been filled with random comebacks, from Filter to Paula Abdul, one band that has always prided itself on being random has decided to return after a long 16-year absence. “Funplex” marks the B-52s’ first full-length studio album since 1992 — and it’s shockingly good. The B-52s have had a long and storied career that began back in 1978 with the release of “Rock Lobster,” still one of the most unique songs in rock history. The group followed up that daring single with two classic albums in 1979 and 1980 but started to hit a creative rut by the mid-80s.
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Apr 3, 2008 | Part of what made Maine-based group Rustic Overtones so appealing a decade ago was its ability to mix musical ingredients without producing a sour taste. “Rooms by the Hour” in 1998 was an earnest — if slightly clumsy — attempt at eclecticism, and 2001’s “Viva Nueva!” found the horn-infused septet moving toward a focused sound. “Light at the End” picks up where the band left off but also raises questions about where it might end up.

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Apr 3, 2008 | Actress Zooey Deschanel and singer M. Ward met during the filming of “The Go-Getter” when the two worked on the soundtrack. Ward decided to help Deschanel produce some material, and they formed She & Him in 2007. The duo’s first album, “Volume One,” is a testament to the artistry and talent of both.

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