Editors' Choice for December 2010

Album cover for Anika

Anika

Stones Throw

Anika's debut is an unlikely but addictive collision of post-punk, dub, and girl group pop.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Basic Instinct

Basic Instinct

LaFace
R&B

Ciara's fourth album features songwriting and production assistance from the duo of the-Dream and Tricky Stewart on seven songs.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Rocks

Rocks

Bear Family Records

Bear Family's Rocks offers 34 tracks cut between 1942 and 1957, covering a far greater timespan than that of 1992's Capitol Collectors Series.

Album cover for Apollo Kids

Apollo Kids

Def Jam
Rap

After experimenting with R&B on his 2009 release Ghostdini, rapper Ghostface Killah returns to tough street rhymes on Apollo Kids.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Kandi Koated

Kandi Koated

Kandi Koated
R&B

Kandi Burruss' second solo album, the singer/songwriter/producer's first in a decade, features collaborations with Ne-Yo, Jazze Pha, and Bryan-Michael Cox.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Heedless

Heedless

Mexican Summer

No Joy convincingly captures the gloriously fuzzy, effects-covered sound of the shoegaze era without sounding like mere copycats.

— Rovi Staff

Album cover for Pascal Pinon

Pascal Pinon

Morr Music

Sung in Icelandic, Pascal Pinion is an all-female pop group that spins out lovely and low-key folk-pop that will melt the hearts of even the most cynical listeners.

Album cover for Love Letter

Love Letter

Jive
R&B

R. Kelly's tenth studio album is filled with classy '60s throwbacks, as well as hints of late-'70s and early-'80s soft soul.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for III/IV

III/IV

Pax Am / Paxamerican

III/IV shares much of the relaxed, unhurried vibe of 2007's Easy Tiger, but there is a key difference: this is a straight-up rock & roll album, the first Ryan Adams has released with the Cardinals.

Album cover for Donnie G: Don Gorilla

Donnie G: Don Gorilla

Def Jam
Rap

The D-Block MC maintains his hardcore approach while upping his crossover appeal on the well-rounded Donnie G: Don Gorilla.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Smile!, Peter Gunn...And More

Smile!, Peter Gunn...And More

Bear Family Records

Smile!, Peter Gunn...And More contains the entirety of the previously import-only Smile! CD and its subsequent singles, which comprise a set of driving, crowd-pleasing covers coupled with well-practiced, muscular grooves and jazz chops.