Editors' Choice for September 2008

Split between uptempo rockers and menacing ballads, the assured and often brilliant Victory Shorts has great songs, witty and dark lyrics, and rousing performances.

— Rovi Staff

The same fervent crunchy-peppy sound heard on the Portland, Oregon band's first two records.

— Justin Stewart

A fine pastiche of folk, psychedelic, and indie rock influences.

— Kenneth Herzog

Has a remarkable impact as a singer-songwriter anti-opus.

— Kenneth Herzog

Joey Burns and John Convertino return to the classic Calexico sound after the folkish GARDEN RUIN.

— Charity Stafford

Bley’s work looks forward and backward at once.

— Anthony Tognazzini

The succinctly titled 4 draws from the baroque psychedelia that informed Dungen’s early work.

— James Steiner

Fujiya & Miyagi present more Krautrock-influenced tunes on 2008’s LIGHTBULBS.

— Eric Schneider

A record that is by turns catchy and coy, innocent and accomplished.

— Kenneth Herzog

Whether you’re a Grover fan or not, those smitten with smoother jazz styles will find plenty to savor here.

— Mark Keresman

The songs cross the smooth, stylish sound of 21st century R&B with elements of hip-hop, vintage soul, reggae, and dub.

— Anthony Tognazzini

Second solo album by Rilo Kiley lead singer, featuring Elvis Costello and other guests.

— Charity Stafford

Kasey Chambers takes a detour from her solo career for a duo album with her husband, Shane Nicholson.

— Jim Allen

Split between studio-recorded primitive indie-electronic pop and sparse home recordings, Larissa Loyva's debut album as Kellarissa is assured, challenging, and entertaining.

— Rovi Staff

ONLY BY THE NIGHT could be mistaken for avant-indie cult heroes the Liars on a Southern vacation.

— Jim Allen

Koushik laces 16 tracks with his unique brand of laidback, experimental hip-hop.

— Matt Rinaldi

Mexican-American singer-songwriter Lila Downs unveils a lively, eclectic set that draws on both aspects of her heritage.

— Eric Schneider

Boasts a full-sounding production and an embrace of the rich pop-rock sound that made Buckingham famous.

— Jim Allen

With vocal features predominating, Madlib's productions soundtrack an alternate reality of radio programming from reggae to faux-Chinese, '80s urban, and '70s soul.

— Rovi Staff

Offers up short bursts of beauty for people invariably caught in the fast pace of modern life.

— Kenneth Herzog

Miko's album debut reflects Rie Mitsutake's years of music-making experience, and is not as hyper-sweet as fans of Japanese indie electronic pop might expect.

— Rovi Staff

An eclectic and thoroughly rewarding post-rock album.

— Eric Schneider

Reveals a newfound ear toward the lush, melancholic veneer of synth pop's New Romantics.

— Dave Shim

R&B singer, songwriter, producer--Ne-Yo works his magic yet again on YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN.

— Matt Rinaldi

Redding wails, moans, croons, pleads, and testifies his way through some of the best-loved items in his repertoire.

— Jim Allen

A quirky eleven-song cycle of chamber pop.

— Justin Stewart

The vintage beats and textures glow even more on DRAWN IN BASIC.

— Stephen May

SOME SMALL HISTORY compiles rarities by Portastatic (aka Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan.)

— Eric Schneider

A set that recalls the classic sound of Motown and other Northern soul from the 1960s.

— Anthony Tognazzini

Assimilates the influences of everything from Marvin Gaye to Prince to Philly soul to disco.

— Jim Allen

SEX AND GASOLINE finds Crowell a long way from country, but still close to the heart of his songwriting muse.

— Jim Allen

If you want the full Orbison experience, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than this box.

— Jim Allen

One of the finest psychedelic soul LPs of the early ‘70s.

— James Steiner

SMD's perfectly paced edition in the Fabriclive series picks up and winds down like a good dance set should, while shoehorning in a few surprises.

— Rovi Staff

CROSSING DRAGON BRIDGE is a mostly-acoustic, low-key singer/songwriter affair.

— Jim Allen

Everything from their fuzzy bass parts to singer Coco's detached-but-passionate vocals recalls any number of garage rock pounders.

— Justin Stewart

2008 box set lovingly compiles B-sides and rarities by the influential Scottish alt-rock ensemble.

— Eric Schneider

This record subtly expounds upon 2004's THE END IS NEAR's musical advances.

— Justin Stewart

A stomping collection of blistering performances and one of the 'Mats' best.

— Pat Sullivan

The Replacements' major-label debut and last album to feature the orginal lineup.

— Pat Sullivan

It's dominated by dark, low-key, often acoustic-based songs.

— Jim Allen

The sound remains assured, dense, and romantic.

— Justin Stewart

Rundgren's return to extravagantly theatrical guitar rock possesses an invigorating friction that makes it seem urgent and captivating.

— Rovi Staff

The set is arguably the artist’s best effort since 1996’s PRE-MILENNIUM TENSION.

— Anthony Tognazzini

A blueprint for the future of rock music.

— Anthony Tognazzini

They were capable of not only hard-hitting garage sounds, but also hypnotic folk-rock, psychedelic raga-rock, and more.

— Jim Allen