Editors' Choice for July 2011

From the ruins of Warning, Patrick Walker emerges with 40 Watt Sun and the group's stellar debut, The Inside Room.

— Thom Jurek

Usually a roots reggae musician and producer, Pablo’s underappreciated work from the digital age is documented on this desirable compilation.

— David Jeffries

The Killers' Ronnie Vannucci Jr. takes a working holiday that recalls the glory days of the Cars, Rick Springfield, and Dwight Twilley.

— Heather Phares

Bohren & Der Club of Gort add Mike Patton's vocals to a Warlock cover, and a new -- and even darker -- accessibility to their sound on Beileid.

— Thom Jurek

Brilliant Colors' second album has the same noisy, hooky, indie pop punch as their debut, but with improved sound and sharper hooks.

— Tim Sendra

On her third album All Of You, Colbie Caillat remains irrepressibly cheery but she has the melodic smarts to support her sunniness, and a crisp, varied production to make it all quite charming.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Dex and Sara Romweber dazzle with their garagey versatility and swaggering raw, roots rock savvy on Is That You in Blue?

— Thom Jurek

Eleanor Friedberger's solo debut expands on the Fiery Furnaces' charm in a softer, more personal way that's all her.

— Heather Phares

Night Gallery is a four-part collaborative, hallucinatory jam between Eternal Tapestry and Sun Araw that took place in an Austin studio on a night in 2010.

— Thom Jurek

Rowland's eclectic third album features the number one Billboard Club single "Commander" and the number one R&B/Hip-Hop single "Motivation."

— Andy Kellman

Ritual Union represents a fusion and refinement of Little Dragon’s first two albums while adding some new twists.

— Andy Kellman

Lloyd's fourth album is his most focused and enjoyable work, featuring productions from Polow da Don, along with appearances from Andre 3000 and Trey Songz.

— Andy Kellman

Blackenedwhite is the second studio album from MellowHype, a duo comprised of Odd Future members Hodgy Beats and Left Brain.

— Rovi Staff

Nikki Jean's classicist album features songs written with an overwhelming cast of legends, including Paul Williams, Thom Bell, Carole King, Lamont Dozier, and Burt Bacharach.

— Andy Kellman

Portugal. The Man make their major-label debut with In the Mountain in the Cloud.

— Gregory Heaney

One of R.E.M.'s harder-rocking efforts from the era, this 1986 release balances jangly-pretty yin with garage-y yang.

— Paula Carino

Bleuphoria is Rahsaan Patterson's most diverse album to date, featuring appearances from Tata Vega, Shanice Wilson, Faith Evans, Lalah Hathaway, and Andre Crouch.

— Andy Kellman

With the help of producer J.D. Twitch (of Optimo), the band pares down its sound to the bare, dramatic essentials and delivers another powerful modern rock album.

— Tim Sendra

The Horrors change gears again on Skying, adding elements of post-punk and baggy to their swirling sounds.

— Heather Phares

The Johns' take listeners on a retrospective journey on their 15th album, Join Us.

— Gregory Heaney

A career-spanning overview of the Norwegian singer/songwriter's work.

— Matt Collar

Featuring artists like Busy Signal, Vybz Kartel, and Romain Virgo, reggae’s biggest one-drop hits of 2011 are compiled on this superb set.

— David Jeffries

William Elliot Whitmore's Field Songs is a deceptively simple, extremely provocative, and visionary song cycle.

— Thom Jurek

Following releases for Brainmath, Ramp, Hyperdub, and Werk, Dedication is Zomby's most melodic, developed, and succinct work yet.

— Andy Kellman