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 …

Alicia Keys
The Element of Freedom
Pop, R&B

Alicia’s fourth studio album brims with determination when it comes to finding love. Sometimes, though, she gives away everything before …

OneRepublic
Waking Up
Pop, Rock

From Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2007, came a song that, by way of Timbaland, became Top 40 radio’s biggest hit …

Adam Lambert
For Your Entertainment
Pop, Rock

If American Idol didn’t make Adam Lambert a household name. His S&M-infused performance at the American Music Awards did. So …

Lady Gaga
The Fame Monster
EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop

After cutting her teeth in NYC nightclubs, the now superstar Lady Gaga is trying to “out Madonna” Madonna on the …

Susan Boyle
I Dreamed a Dream
Christian/Gospel, Pop

Scottish singing phenomenon Susan Boyle parlays massive YouTube exposure into one of the biggest music stories of 2009 with her …