RICH ROBINSON Through a Crooked Sun [Circle Sound/Thirty Tigers] This second solo album from Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson finds him drawing from the usual sources—the Stones and Faces, in particular—but more dominant are some old-school rock influences that rarely surface in the Crowes’ music. The strummy “I Don’t Hear the Sound of You” evokes the breezy shimmer of the Hollies, but mostly Robinson works in darker colors. “Follow... 

GORILLAZ The Singles Collection 2001–2011 [Virgin] Straight out of the cage, Gorillaz promised to be more than merely a high-concept art project. The “cartoon” rock band formed by Blur frontman Damon Albarn and animator Jamie Hewlett broke through in 2001 with “Clint Eastwood,” a heavy helping of spaghetti-western dub and meaty old-school hip-hop. Albarn sang with quintessentially British melancholy, but he couldn’t help but dream of the... 

NILS LOFGREN Old School [Vision Music] Among his fine work in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, stewardship of Grin and work alongside Neil Young on classics like Tonight’s the Night, Nils Lofgren once simultaneously enjoyed a prolific solo career. But as his day job as an E Streeter has taken up increasingly more of his time, devotees have been left hoping he’d step out more on his own—and Old School should satisfy those Lofgren loyalists.... 

MEDESKI, SCOFIELD, MARTIN & WOOD Live: In Case the World Changes Its Mind [Indirecto] Medeski, Martin & Wood, who’ve been redefining the jazz keyboard trio for a remarkable two decades now, first collaborated with guitar dynamo John Scofield in 1997 on the latter’s A Go Go album. Even then the match was ideal: Scofield’s probing, groove-infused licks and MMW’s future-funk worship made one another whole. Nearly a decade later, MSMW... 

THE DECEMBERISTS Long Live the King [Capitol] Even as they fail to hold together in one piece quite like this year’s full-length The King Is Dead, most of the songs on this six-track EP strike a fine balance between frontman Colin Meloy’s literary depth and some easily accessible tunes. The real keeper here is “Foregone,” on which Meloy’s love poetry is driven forward by a homey steel-guitar lick. Also on the simpler side are the Prince-ly... 

R.E.M. Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage 1982-2011 [Warner Bros.] With R.E.M.’s demise last fall the timing is perfect for this double-disc, chronologically arranged retrospective that makes a valiant, if lopsided, attempt to put the group’s three-decade run into perspective. Part Lies Part Heart Part Truth Part Garbage is the first R.E.M. compendium that surveys the full breadth of that career, from the mumbly, jangly early innovations... 

KELLY CLARKSON Stronger [RCA] Unlike most American Idol alumni, Kelly Clarkson has always set herself apart by generally placing artistry over histrionics. The pattern continues on her latest pop-rock collection, on which she wisely lends her impressive pipes to address purely emotional matters of the heart. On the opening “Mr. Know It All” she reminds us why she’s the queen of the kiss-off with a gritty delivery reminiscent of Melissa Etheridge... 

RYAN ADAMS Ashes & Fire [Pax-Am/Capitol] Ryan Adams recently took a two-year break from releasing new music, an eternity for a prolific singer and songwriter who put out 10 albums in the preceding eight years. Apparently refreshed, Adams returns with 11 songs that are among the best he’s written. That’s saying something given the sheer volume of Adams’ catalog, but he’s rarely equaled the poignant feeling of these tunes. His vivid lyrics... 

PATRICK STUMP Soul Punk [Island] If ever you needed proof that Fall Out Boy was primarily a vehicle for bass player Pete Wentz, one listen to the solo debut from lead singer Patrick Stump should convince you. Largely eschewing FOB’s driving power-pop, Stump lets his funk flag fly right away on the opening “Explode,” its propulsive electro-pop resembling some of his outside work with Cobra Starship or the Roots. Likewise, “This City” shows... 

REID PALEY AND BLACK FRANCIS Paley & Francis [Sonic Unyon Records] “I’ll bring down my foot on your daisy chain/I’ll have a drink from your jugular vein…” Given Black Francis’ reputation as a dark character, those lyrical musings from opening entry “Curse” would seem to affirm his ability to shock the heck out of his listeners. Joining forces with frequent collaborator Reid Paley, the former Frank Black (born Charles Thompson)... 

DARYL HALL Laughing Down Crying [Verve Forecast] When Daryl Hall tackles a solo project, it’s always interesting to hear how far he’ll stray from the sounds that made him and partner John Oates staples of pop radio. Hall’s fifth solo disc hews pretty closely to those styles. With production help from Greg Bieck (Jennifer Lopez, Destiny’s Child) and guitarist Paul Pesco, Laughing is an update, not a departure, despite the loping Americana beat... 

NEW MARTIN STRING AMBASSADOR: SHAUN HOPPER  Read More →

ANDREA BALESTRA Fine Arts Avenue myspace.com/andreabalestra Talent and training will get you far, as this Berklee-educated guitarist can attest, but it takes taste and restraint to make an instrumental album as simultaneously eclectic and enjoyable as Fine Arts Avenue. From funky wah-wah workouts to simmering jazz explorations, Balestra demonstrates the upside of virtuosity.  Read More →

SLEEP OVER Forever sleepoverforever.com Existing in some nebulous nether region between New Wave and New Age, the music of Austin synth sorceress Stefanie Franciotti is at turns soothing and frightening. It’s as though Enya has gone Goth and recreated from memory the score from a horror flick she saw as a child.  Read More →

RINGO STARR Rock’s most famous drummer remembers the Beatles and looks ahead to a Starr-filled future. THE FRAY    Earning scars, telling stories and letting themselves get a little bit louder in the process. KEITH JARRETT    Jazz’s premier improvisational pianist reveals the joy and anxiety of playing without a net. SEAN GARRETT  The producer behind some of today’s biggest R&B radio hits takes you into the studio. ANI DiFRANCO  How... 

FIRST MARTIN AMBASSADOR OF 2012! – Rivers Cuomo of Weezer Happy New Year! Get to know the amazing Rivers Cuomo of the multi-platinum selling band WEEZER!    Read More →