One Direction
Take Me Home
Pop

This Irish/British boy band is headed in only one direction: the wrong one.

Christina Aguilera
Lotus
EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop, R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop

Lotus is supposed to be about fresh “new beginnings.” But there’s quite a lot of “nasty endings” here too.

Flyleaf
New Horizons
Alternative, Metal, Rock

Flyleaf’s latest roaring effort once again affirms faith in the face of struggle. It also serves as fiery frontwoman Lacey …

Bridgit Mendler
Hello My Name Is …
Pop

Disney’s latest actress/singer starlet (this one from Good Luck Charlie) makes her musical bow. So should we write another review, …

Taylor Swift
Red
Country, Pop

The late Robert Palmer penned a lyric back in the ’80s that pretty much sums up Taylor Swift’s effort on …

Anberlin
Vital
Alternative, Metal, Rock

Anberlin returns with an album full of massive guitars, swooshy synthesizers and an affirmation that life is worth living well, …

Ellie Goulding
Halcyon
Alternative, EDM/Electronica/Techno, Pop

The album that follows on the heels of Ellie Goulding’s huge hit “Lights” is actually considerably darker than that.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
The Heist
Rap/Hip-Hop

Seattle rapper Macklemore, along with producer Ryan Lewis, take the typical rap template and turn it upside down. (Sometimes twice.)

Various/Soundtrack
Pitch Perfect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Pop, R&B, Rock

The feel-good vibe that the Pitch Perfect movie soundtrack strives for is more than a little tone deaf.

Mumford & Sons
Babel
Folk, Rock

Marcus Mumford and the trio of guys who aren’t really his sons return with a masterful second album that once …

The Killers
Battle Born
Alternative, Rock

The Killers swing for the fences with all their aching, earnest, arena-rock might on Battle Born, an album about love …

Carly Rae Jepsen
Kiss
Pop

The “Call Me Maybe” singer from Canada parlays her massive single’s success into album sales with her romance-obsessed Kiss.

P!nk
The Truth About Love
Pop, Rock

Alicia Beth Moore, better known as P!nk, says, “This time I’m married and a new mom and only a tad …

Imagine Dragons
Night Visions
Alternative, Rock

Imagine Dragons imagines life as a melancholy trudge through sodden fields while under leaden skies. And then they show us …

Lecrae
Gravity
Rap/Hip-Hop, Reggae

Christian rapper Lecrae’s sixth effort is a lyrical tour de force that unashamedly proclaims the gospel even as it deconstructs …