What makes "Source Tags & Codes" such an amazing album is how the band teeters on the edge of this implosion but always yanks its songs back from collapse at the very last second.

Few songwriters can express these mundane intricacies of melancholia free from morose affectation, but Rouse's heartbreak and hurt sounds honest and natural, inviting you to share his pain.

"Geogaddi" finds the Scottish duo ever adept at pushing the boundaries of electronic music without abandoning the hypnotically pacific nature of their sound.

Kasey Chambers has created a series of stirring, passionate songs that capture raw emotion and a simultaneous toughness amidst a blend of country, blues, and folk musical influences.

Sounds utterly contemporary even as it harks to the band's glory days.

Because the disc's energetic blend of electronics, robotics, and riffage is so vivacious, it hardly matters that the shadows of Radio 4's predecessors loom large over "Gotham."

Cracker sounds like it's having fun again.

It's pure cotton candy for the ears, and it sounds sublime.

The album sounds cool, but it also sounds cold.

The band's collective songwriting skills impress frequently.

Starsailor is one of those wonderfully rare bands that manages to be gentle and sensitive while also rocking admirably.

Without question, Stillmatic is the artist's most complete album since he debuted eight years ago with Illmatic.

Sure to convince doubters and win new fans, the set roars with the sort of fire rarely seen from a group with four albums under its belt.

The trio's most complete effort since 1996's Stakes Is High.

"Word of Mouf" never quite meets the standard 'Cris set for himself with his debut.

His most diverse and musically adventurous solo set to date.

A rock-fused, hook-friendly set that ably distances the Philly native from her pop/R&B origins.

It deftly balances sweet ballads, outer-space jazz, acid-rock, and firecracker funk superior to almost anything he has offered since perhaps "Sign O' the Times."

His least demanding work ever, steeped in the traditions of pop and rock.

Remains in the tradition of his previous releases, offering a combination of witty rhymes and unforgettable hooks.

She has never sounded so earthy, so bluesy, so soulful.

Such uniformly dark material makes one long for a tune or two to lighten the vibe.

This Way is not as accessible to the masses as previous albums, but this jewel doesn't need to be so polished to glitter.

If this is indeed a swan song for Brooks, it's like calling it a career with a championship-winning shot at the buzzer.

This set may not satisfy every fan, but it should please those who have hoped that McCartney would branch out from a safe sound.

May not be as postcard-perfect as I Am Shelby Lynne, but it comes pretty close.

A nicely varied, wholly satisfying collection.

That smile will have a difficult time leaving your face.