Let's hope we don't have to wait until 2040 for something else this good.

An album that lacks severely in all areas, including production, direction and inspiration.

He does it all so proficiently, you can't help but want to have the guy hang out in your CD player for awhile.

An arresting mix of the singer's political and personal strife set to a jazzy backbeat.

Happenstance is lush and brooding, the kind of record that makes most sense coming through the headphones late at night.

Are you listening, Quentin Tarantino? Here's the soundtrack to your next movie.

The lyrics seem clumsy, and some of the melodies feel warmed over, and the Carlos Santana-appearing "Illegal" is a total buzzkill. But it's not all a loss.

Instead of making any stupid concessions to her sudden celebrity... the Home girl plays it cool, carrying on with the same smooth vibes that made her a star.

Even if it all sounds pretty much the same as their last few, you'd be unwise to turn a deaf ear to this release.

Granted, Step doesn't have anything as effortlessly flawless as the classic single "Judith" from the band's last album, but it does have a number of songs ("Blue," "The Outsider") that are almost as bombastically beautiful.

Mann's cranky muse is consistently compelling, showcasing both her wry lyrics and terrific melodies.

Songs like "World Wide Suicide" and "Severed Head" even come close to recreating the hard rock thrills of the band's billion-selling debut, Ten.

Simply striking.

This is an eerie meditation on aging, death and the corruption of popular culture.

Skull Ring delivers some truly pumping generation-bridging rock moments.

It's Pulp's contribution on the terrifically revealing "Sliding Through Life on Charm" that really raises a smile...and a little something else.

The band's equally impressive second album grooves with both a Detroit hipster sound and some spacey atmosphere.

And by classics we mean poorly produced electro songs you'll hear once, chuckle and never want to hear again--unless you have a head wound or a Sparks fetish.

Six albums in, Missy's recipe for success is still pretty fresh.

Her third album reins it all in to a more palatable place with traditional R&B production and a healthy dose of funkiness.

While the trippy Scottish foursome's third disc may make a few nods to reality when it incorporates boring things like, you know, choruses and verses, songs like "Assessment" and "Liquid Bird"--all electronic gurgles and off-the-wall vocals--still wave the freak flag.

While a handful of the songs sound derivative, it's hard to resist the tambourine-enhanced exuberance of standout cuts like "Penny on the Train Track" and "I Gotta Move."

Another collection of wise, witty tracks marked by her usual spunky vocal style and slashing slide-guitar work.

This is pleasant, bouncy pop, perfect for the carefree days of summer.

Now You Know is full of the stuff BTS fans love: angular melodies, expansive nods to prog-rock and that droning, nasally voice that makes indie-rock geeks stand up and cheer.

Features only a couple new Em ditties, but they're gems.... Better yet, most of the rest of the disc is made up of solid, original material.

The album quickly reveals itself to be a muddled effort of overproduction and drab lyrics.

Given that this may be your final release, this is no way to say goodbye.