Editors' Choice for July 2010

A statement of what Brazilian music was and is, Seu Jorge & Almaz is irrevocable proof that Jorge's ascent into the mainstream was no mistake.

— Rovi Staff

Beach Fossils' reverb-heavy, instantly catchy indie pop sound arrived fully realized on their debut album, vaulting them to the front of the pack of similar-sounding contemporaries.

— Tim Sendra

Crazy for You lives up to the promise of the band's early tracks, delivering an album's worth of hooky, melancholy noise pop fronted by Bethany Cosentino's wistful vocals.

— Tim Sendra

On its debut album, this U.K.-based foursome plays C-86-styled indie pop with punk energy and winsome charm.

— Tim Sendra

Several years in the making, Big Boi's first proper solo album is one of the loosest, most varied, and entertaining albums of its time.

— Andy Kellman

New collection of found living room tapes highlights legend Blaze Foley in the mid-'70s -- when he was still Deputy Dawg.

— Thom Jurek

An indispensable collection of Bobby Charles' earliest Chess sides from Bear Family.

— Thom Jurek

The quiet, shimmering Intriguer is a showcase for the finely honed songcraft of Neil Finn.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Featuring the indie hip-hop hit “King Kong”, Currensy’s third effort brings the thrilling experience of his underground mixtapes above ground.

— David Jeffries

My Regeneration is a raucous tribute to lesser-known Mott the Hoople-related songs by their number one fan Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and the London Quireboys.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The debut album from a duty-swapping progressive soul group out of Wellington, New Zealand. Features appearances from Georgia Anne Muldrow and Steve Spacek.

— Andy Kellman

With two massive lover's rock hits -- “Hold You” and “Beautiful Lady” -- this is the reggae singer’s strongest album to date.

— David Jeffries

Kelis' first album since divorcing Nas and becoming a mother is a unified set of deeply personal dance-pop.

— Andy Kellman

Kylie's 11th album is a glittering, upbeat dance-pop confection that ranks among her best work.

— Tim Sendra

Spanning Afro-beat to electro-funk, this is some of Mahjongg's most confident music yet.

— Heather Phares

With its dense, carefully layered melodies, Mines finds Menomena at their very best.

— Gregory Heaney

A very old-sounding and very good collection of modern Appalachian folk songs.

— James Christopher Monger

The 25th Anniversary Edition of Fables of the Reconstruction is graced with a bonus disc of live-in-the-studio demos of the entire album, which are much looser and livelier than the finished product.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Vanguard composer and songwriter Richard Youngs tries his hand at pop on Beyond the Valley of the Ultrahits.

— Thom Jurek

The rapper’s 2010 effort features a surprisingly organic set of soulful productions along with guests like Jay-Z and Kanye West.

— David Jeffries

School of Seven Bells' second album is more direct than their debut, with the Deheza sisters' voices placed front and center.

— Andy Kellman

The Way Out surveys an impressively disparate set of worlds while remaining readily recognizable as belonging to the Books' own unique, unequivocal universe.

— Rovi Staff

Subversive as ever, the Chap take aim at some of their favorite targets on these precise, layered electronic pop songs.

— Heather Phares

Tom Jones applies his mighty voice to the American Songbook, singing the songs of Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Billy Joe Shaver, and others.

— David Jeffries

An exhilarating and thrilling compilation of '70s Afro-rock and psych.

— Rovi Staff

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Zo!, one of the Foreign Exchange's key affiliates, links up with nine featured vocalists on an uplifting set of jazz-inspired R&B.

— Andy Kellman