Editors' Choice for November 2009

Dave Huisman fills the empty spaces but never overstuffs them on Unbalance, a livelier and more active album than Aerial, his 2562 debut.

— Rovi Staff

A stable of superstars help Adam Lambert deliver one of the best post-American Idol pop records.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

An album that is much more creative than its title indicates, packing all the high-energy material into the first half.

— Dave Shim

Artie Lange’s first comedy album covers ground familiar to superfans, but it’s still a riotous good time.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Using organic textures with layered electronics and effects, Frost takes listeners on a compelling and even frightening odyssey into a world both natural and synthetic.

— Rovi Staff

An excellent collection of Lady Day during the war years from the Commodore and Decca vaults.

— Rovi Staff

A boxful of pure dance-pop bliss.

— Rovi Staff

Carla Bley's elegant and sometimes quirky arrangements add much to these Christmas favorites while preserving the season's warmth, joy, and nostalgia.

— Rovi Staff

Another fine mix album from 2009's tech-house girl of the moment.

— Rovi Staff

Robotic and romantic, Cold Cave’s debut introduces their dark but surprisingly eclectic synth pop subversions.

— Heather Phares

This hits collection suggests that FOB was one of the quintessential mainstream rock singles bands of the 2000s.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

That these long-lost recordings are an absolute treasure simply goes without saying.

— Steve Leggett

The successor to 1995's Design of a Decade covers the almost all the number ones from Control through Discipline.

— Andy Kellman

Julian Casablancas uses the Strokes’ sound as a foundation for exhilarating experiments that make this a true solo album.

— Heather Phares

Represents their shift away from low-key left-field hip-hop, toward plaintive piano ballads, and acoustic jazz.

— Andy Kellman

Richter’s debut is a masterpiece of modern classical and minimal music, using field recordings and electronics to haunting effect.

— Heather Phares

One of the greatest live rock & roll albums ever, Live at Reading documents Nirvana in full flight with boundless, invigorating energy.

— Rovi Staff

An all-new set of original songs finds Jones successfully leaning toward contemporary singer/songwriter territory, thanks to some finely crafted confections.

— Rovi Staff

Good songs and performances mark this 26-minute album, stripped down to basics and over so abruptly that the listener is left wanting to hear more.

— Rovi Staff

Bleak and sleek both lyrically and sonically, Rihanna's fourth album is a major creative left turn that is nonetheless compelling.

— Andy Kellman

Singer Sam Bemis challenges the boundaries of emo, punk, and rock with his band’s fourth album.

— Andrew Leahey

Even when it most resembles a Morr Music tribute to Harold Budd it is doubtlessly capable of rousing the most lapsed of shoegazers.

— Dave Shim

On their fourth album, Tahiti 80 turn to classic rock styles for inspiration, and write their strongest batch of songs to date.

— Tim Sendra

2009's odds-and-ends collection Unreleased Masters features 12 cuts from the Motown vaults.

— Rovi Staff

The supergroup of John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme delivers dynamite adventurous hard rock on Them Crooked Vultures.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

A long-overdue collection of the best live tracks of the band at its peak with songs cherrypicked from live shows between 1978 and 2007.

— Rovi Staff

Merrill Garbus' adventurous debut album as tUnE-yArDs is a mix of folk purity and mash-up boldness.

— Heather Phares

Filled with quirky punch lines and unique viewpoints, the Washington, D.C., rapper’s debut does not disappoint.

— David Jeffries

Seemingly one of Weezer's poppiest, silliest albums, it in fact addresses a myriad of thoughtful topics.

— Pemberton Roach