A manifesto for the synthesis of dance and hip-hop, French DJ David Guetta's new album One Love turns out top 40-friendly songs while remaining true to dance club culture.

While many artists sound anything but comfortable breaking these kinds of musical barriers, Cullum proves once again that he sounds most like himself when the walls come tumbling down.

Vampire Weekend's second album, Contra, finds the New York-based band pushing its eclectic, intellectual indie rock further using a mash-up of musical genres, clever wordplay and emotional heft.

The act should be credited for not hewing to the tried-and-true formula it pretty much invented with previous releases but many of the double-disc's 18 tracks feel like they are embryonic rather than fully formed.

The artists' masks are designed precisely to keep us guessing about what's going on in their heads, but who knew it was this?

It still warms the blood to hear those trip-hop synths roll on the slow-burning "Flat of the Blade" (with some acid loops thrown in for good measure), but Massive Attack's arsenal has expanded and the resulting onslaught is nothing short of brilliant.

Dylan's newest album, Women and Country, explores fuller arrangements that better complement his simple but significant lyrics.

Country singer Reba McEntire doesn't miss a beat on Keep On Loving You, her debut album for Valory Music.

What he's got, now, is an invigorating change-up record that shines in an already impressive discography.

Only in closer Grown Ocean, with crashing cymbals and trilling woodwinds, do you get a sense that Fleet Foxes are actively trying to impress you. Even then, though, you're impressed all the same.

Judging by the delivery of those poignant lines, it's hardly a stretch to imagine Bieber racking up more hits in the next decade to come.

With lyrical themes of global economic distress and romantic bliss, British pop-punk band the Futureheads bring a more refined sound to its fourth album.

Once gratuitous fillers are skipped, gems appear, especially on the closing half, where Brown is lucid about his tabloid love life.

Ultimately, the electronic-free approach on the closer of the trilogy results in the Magnetic Fields' most organic effort to date--and it doesn't stray too far from Merritt's pop-leaning background, making it the most successful of its synth-free siblings.

While Lamar dazzles with precise storytelling, Q conjures attention with brusque physicality. Both MCs are aiming for different marks, and although Q's style is too unkempt to produce an album full of clean shots, his misses on Oxymoron are often just as compelling.

The artist's familiar smoky vocals and the consistently rich production draw the listener in on his latest release, "Get Off on the Pain."

Some of the music occasionally leans toward being overwrought, but mostly Love Lust Faith + Dreams--along with its Leto-directed visuals--invests itself fully and artfully in its own vision.

What gives Brother Ali's slice-of-life ruminations their impressive heft is the rapper's eye for everyday detail and the handmade appeal of his vintage-funk arrangements.

Lotus largely benefits from all the bombast--Aguilera hasn't sounded so fun and energized in years.

On Kings of Leon's latest album, Come Around Sundown, the family Followill makes a strong bid to please longtime fans as well as the recently converted.

With his latest album, Mixed Race, Tricky picks up where 2008's Knowle West Boy (named after his rough birthplace) left off, exploring his diverse background, sonic heritage and frequently unforgiving surroundings with sounds as much as words.

A mixture of optimism and realism is present throughout Everybody, and Michaelson's insights occasionally sting with honesty.

Clearly, Kem isn't self-conscious about his love of love--and we love him for it.

Strict Joy maintains the relatability and sincerity that made the soundtrack to "Once" so compellin

The music is at its best when it emulates an animated conversation, one voice leap-frogging the other with no one losing sight of the central theme.

The release is Sade's first new material in 10 years, but the act hasn't lost a beat.

11:11 is another winning showcase of exotic instrumental brilliance.

Hynes continues to explore the scope of his musicianship, producing a collection songs that refuse to stand still.