Jason Castro
Jason Castro
Pop

Easygoing Jason Castro has taken his sweet time crafting his debut since finishing No. 3 on Season 7 of American …

Slash
Slash
Rock

A lot of water has flowed under the musical bridge since Slash first showed up wielding his Les Paul as …

Usher
Raymond v Raymond
R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop

The 31-year-old R&B maestro says his sixth album is about personal evolution and learning to take responsibility. But should we …

Amy Grant
Somewhere Down the Road
Christian/Gospel, Pop

Amy Grant’s latest studio album returns to her CCM roots and offers easy-on-the-ears encouragement for those traveling life’s rocky roads.

Justin Bieber
My World 2.0
Pop, R&B

Months after his debut EP made him an instant teen-pop idol, Justin Bieber returns with a full-length disc that suggests …

Gorillaz
Plastic Beach
Alternative, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, Rap/Hip-Hop

They’ve performed “live” as holograms on stage with Madonna and enjoyed worldwide success as a “virtual band.” Now Gorillaz returns …

Demon Hunter
The World Is a Thorn
Alternative, Christian/Gospel, Metal

Demon Hunter is on the prowl again with two new guitarists. Has the personnel change impacted the band’s bluntly prophetic …

Danny Gokey
My Best Days
Country

Kris Allen and Adam Lambert may have gotten most of the press on American Idol’s eighth season. But third-place finisher …

Lifehouse
Smoke & Mirrors
Alternative, Pop, Rock

Lifehouse burst onto the scene with a loud clang in 2001, but subsequent releases have been more mellow—and haven’t sold …

Mumford & Sons
Sigh No More
Folk, Rock

This Grammy-nominated British folk foursome may not have been named Best New Artist this year. But they’re having a breakthrough …

tobyMac
Tonight
Alternative, Christian/Gospel, Pop, R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop, Reggae, Rock

It’s been 10 years since dc Talk decided to take a break. But that’s hardly slowed rapper/singer tobyMac, whose fourth …

Sade
Soldier of Love
Jazz/Swing/Blues, Pop, R&B, Reggae

After a 10-year absence, Sade returns with another album full of smoldering, sophisticated and sad songs about love found … …

Lil Wayne
Rebirth
Rap/Hip-Hop, Rock

Lil Wayne follows up his triple-platinum 2008 effort Tha Carter III with a rock album full of bombast, electric guitars …

Nick Jonas & The Administration
Who I Am
Pop, R&B, Rock

Nick Jonas’ debut solo outing flits from rock to pop to R&B. But while the sonic spectrum he traverses is …

Ke$ha
Animal
EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop

With her aptly named debut album, Animal, Ke$ha’s on top of the music world. What put her there? Her primal …