Casting Crowns
Until the Whole World Hears
Christian/Gospel, Pop, Rock

With its new album certified gold in just four weeks, Casting Crowns isn’t just one of the most popular Christian …

Bon Jovi
The Circle
Pop, Rock

Bon Jovi returns (and he’s done that a lot this decade) with a set of rockin’ arena-ready anthems that mostly …

Switchfoot
Hello Hurricane
Alternative, Christian/Gospel, Rock

The music this San Diego rock quintet makes is muscular and weighty. The hope they communicate is light as a …

Flyleaf
Memento Mori
Alternative, Metal, Rock

Some musical acts describe themselves as Christian bands, but you’d be hard-pressed to find lyrical proof. Flyleaf ducks the Christian …

Carrie Underwood
Play On
Country, Pop

American Idol’s biggest star—the platinum-tressed crooner from Checotah, Okla.—continues to avoid hard-livin’ country clichés as she delivers upbeat songs about …

Tim McGraw
Southern Voice
Country

Vice and virtue are both modulate the tone of Southern Voice as Mr. Faith Hill talks up Billy Graham, Jesus, …

Various/Soundtrack
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Alternative, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Folk, Rock, Soundtracks

The second big-screen installment in the Twilight series features a soundtrack full of established indie acts and obscure musicians with …

Mariah Carey
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel
Pop, R&B

Mariah Carey may be waxing eloquent about the joys of married life in the interviews she gives. But broken romances …

Paramore
brand new eyes
Pop, Punk, Rock

This pop-punk band’s third effort nearly topped the charts. Why? Credit Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Twilight. But also credit …

Miranda Lambert
Revolution
Country

Miranda Lambert softens just a touch on her third release, but not so much as to ruin her reputation for …

Selena Gomez & The Scene
Kiss & Tell
Pop, Rock

This debut disc from Disney’s 17-year-old Wizards of Waverly Place star spends a lot of time mourning lost love and …

Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Rock

The godfathers of grunge shed (most of) their infamous angst in exchange for a positive outlook on life on this …

Muse
The Resistance
Alternative, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, Rock

It’s the arena-shaking influences of Queen, U2 and Radiohead that stick with you after hearing this British prog-rock trio’s fifth …

Jay-Z
The Blueprint 3
Rap/Hip-Hop

Jay-Z’s 11th release is also his 11th consecutive chart-topper.

Whitney Houston
I Look to You
Pop, R&B

Whitney’s sixth studio effort debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s album chart.