Editors' Choice for September 2010
PPM / PPM Records
The follow-up to Skeletons scales back on the tropical influences, reins in the band's energy, and adds new wave influences to its indie rock sound.
Stones Throw
The neo-soul singer partners with Truth & Soul Productions crew for an album more organic and rewarding than his debut.
Plug Research
A heavy, messy, and dynamite return from one of the era's most electrifying vocalists.
Fat Beats
The Detroit-based producer uses a live band to create a new flavor of hip-hop on this 2010 release.
Classics & Jazz / ECM
Charles Lloyd's Mirror offers his new quartet playing new and older material in a studio setting after the group's 2008 live debut.
What's Yr Rupture?
Members of the Ladybug Transistor and Crystal Stilts back Comet Gain leader David Christain on an album that has all the imagination and great songs of their respective bands.
![Station to Station [Special Edition]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0003108357/front/220/QChSJz2UuZAs7QoaJ4JrExyhM-OFI8zG4l-qVpXXB1I=.jpg)
EMI
Bowie's stylized reinvention of American soul music christened his new persona, the "Thin White Duke."
4AD
The band plays with layers of nostalgia on this surprisingly gentle exploration of how fleeting, and important, memories can be.
Mexican Summer
Strong, muscled transitional album that finds the band relying as heavily on folk and free jazz as fuzzy, sprawling psych-rock.
Raven
On Fire! The Best of 1975-84 collects 24 of Twilley's recordings from Shelter, Arista, and EMI-America.
Metropolis / Metropolis Records
Electric Six return with Zodiac, the groove heavy soundtrack for all your late night activities.
Reprise / Warner Bros.
A relaxed collection of blues, pop standards, New Orleans jazz, and originals, Clapton is one of his simplest and best records.
Kanine Records
The debut album from this Virginia indie pop duo matches sweet female vocals with extremely catchy songs that range from shouty post-punk to quiet ballads.
Slumberland
Frankie Rose and the Outs' debut record is near-perfect noise pop that adds some Cramps-style rockabilly to the style's usual girl group and '50s pop influences.
Anti-
Grinderman 2 is less unhinged than its predecessor but more sonically adventurous, and still packs a wallop.
Lench Mob
Ice Cube’s first album since turning 40 masterfully shows younger rappers how to enter middle age with their baller status intact.
Mercury
Johnson's sprawling album puts the OUTLAW back into country music with grit, craft, and passion.
Bloodshot
Justin Townes Earle delivers on the promise of his first two albums with the flawless Harlem River Blues.
Drag City
The Stereolab and Monade vocalist goes solo with a meditative album in memory of her sister's death.
Columbia / Sony Music Distribution
Postcards is fun. Granted, it is serious-minded fun with ambition, but with Manic Street Preachers, you take fun whenever you can get it, and they’ve never sounded as ebullient as they do here.
RCA
DJ Mark Ronson returns with his third studio album, 2010's Record Collection, which includes lead-off single "Bang Bang Bang" featuring Q-Tip and MDNA's Amanda Warner.
Sub Pop
No Age's third album is their most tuneful yet, but makes plenty of time for noise and sonic experimentation.
Elektra
Sprawling yet faultless golden-era rap classic fusing rock-solid production with thoughtful lyrics.
Rounder
Robert Plant revives the name of his first group, Band of Joy, for a tremendous collection of eclectic covers of folk, rock, blues, and gospel.
Cherrytree / Interscope / Island / Konichiwa
Body Talk's second volume presents sweet synth pop that sings the praises of support and companionship.
Big Dada
Duppy Writer ably serves either one of two purposes: as an alternate career retrospective or a remix record of taste and distinction.
Iamsound
The witch house pioneers deliver the eerie but fascinating goods on their debut album.
Ba Da Bing Records
Where Epic fails to deliver in size, it more than makes up for with material.
Motown
Hip-O Select’s 2010 release The Solo Albums, Vol. 1 combines Smokey Robinson’s first two post-Miracles albums -- 1973’s Smokey and its 1974 sequel, Pure Smokey -- on one CD.
True Panther Sounds
An outstanding debut that captures the way a fantastic night out blurs into early-morning memories.
E1 Entertainment
Never Stop is the first album of all original material by the Bad Plus.
The End
The Charlatans recapture their sense of sonic adventure on Who We Touch, resulting in their freshest, best album since they traded the Happy Mondays for the Rolling Stones.
Raven
Given how long these two albums have been out of print, Fleshtones' fans should welcome this set with open arms, and the quality remastering and well-designed booklet add to the value.
Fortuna POP!
Pared down to a duo, the Pipettes shift from the girl group worship of their first album to a more modern, disco-fied sound with equally exciting results.
Sub Pop
The legendary Scottish duo's first album in 20 years recaptures the rambunctious indie pop sound of their youth but with a more mature approach.
Fat Possum Records
Another slow-burning, impressionistic triumph for the Walkmen.
Atlantic
Trey Songz's fourth album builds on the singer's increasing momentum and features the Top Ten R&B single "Bottoms Up."
Various Artists
Universal
A four-disc box that traces disco's origins, peak period, and evolution, combining hits with cult favorites.
Jagjaguwar
Women's sophomore effort, Public Strain, improves upon the indie pop lo-fi sound of their debut with an arresting amount of noise which can be off-putting, but if you stick with the album and listen to it in its entirety -- as it’s made to be heard -- its inherent beauty grows clearer