Cray Robert - Twenty ($13.99) [With his chocolaty cool, soulful Memphis croon and sure sense of melody, Robert Cray has never been considered a straightahead bluesman. His often interchangeable albums have instead stayed closer to R&B, adding compact, stinging lead guitar to songs about matters of the heart. That formula remains, with minor variations, on Cray's 14th release, rather confusingly named Twenty. The title track, a gripping, emotional anti-war ballad of the experience of a GI in Iraq (that, incidentally, doesn't contain the word 'twenty') shows the singer/songwriter shifting his emotionally charged storytelling lyrics to the political arena. It's a brief but confident detour from his usual M.O. of relationships on the brink of collapse or in general disrepair, typically related in the first person.]

Gorillaz - Demon Days ($13.99) [A side project doesnt usually hit gold, especially when said project is a quirky virtual collective fronted by cartoon characters. But the first, self-titled album by Gorillaz--the brainchild of illustrator Jamie Hewlett and Blur frontman Damon Albarn--actually hit platinum and turned into a surprise worldwide hit. Naturally expectations were a lot higher for Gorillaz's sophomore effort, but Demon Days actually is even better than its predecessor. With producer Dan 'the Automator' Nakamura gone, Albarn, a.k.a. 2D, has paired up with DJ Danger Mouse (responsible for the infamous Grey Album that illegally mixed the Beatles and Jay-Z) to steer the musical ship, while a whole new slew of guests enlivens the proceedings. Albarn has described Demon Days as being darker, but there's a real kooky dance-party vibe coursing through the CD.]

Matthews Dave - Stand Up ($12.99) [Don't let the headless CGI dancer on the cover fool you. While Stand Up has a more organic feel than 2001's radio-ready Everyday, it is hardly an invocation for carefree days spent twirling on the grass. Instead it is a call to arms that carries over much of the insurrectionary spirit the Dave Matthews Band brought to 2004's Vote For Change Tour. Matthews, sounding rawer than ever, swerves between optimism ('To change the world you only start with one step,' he sings on 'You Might Die Trying') and angst ('See the man with the bomb in his hand/Everybody wake up,' goes 'Everybody Wake Up [Our Finest Hour Arrives]'), while producer Mark Baston, best known for his small-time work with big-name pop acts like Beyonce and 50 Cent, responds by putting the marching band rhythms of Carter Beauford in the front and galvanizing the music with a crisp R&B edge, most evident in the totally--okay, partially--crunk 'Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd.]

Morrison Van - Magic Time ($11.99) [Like a human infusion of chamomile tea, hearing Van Morrison's voice has the ability to instantly to soothe even the most stressed listener. That said, some of his releases have been so sedentary that they muted the '60s soul influences that had been a part of Van's joyful appeal. Not so with Magic Time, a wonderful balance of groove and smoothness, with a 'live off the floor' feel evident throughout the disc. Right off the top, 'Stranded' shows Van at his crooner best; relaxed, present, and joyful. 'Celtic New Year' comes next, with a very Astral Weeks feel, leading one to believe that this disc might be sedentary through and throughuntil 'Keep Mediocrity at Bay' kicks in, a feisty blues romp that shows that in his sixties, Morrison still has the sass of his best previous days.]

Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth ($12.99) [trent reznor comes back with yet another masterpiece. this album is great from start to finish. reznor has never disappointed me before and he continues to blow me away with his ideas and talent. the album is filled with emotion and anger, and the lyrics are great. any NIN fan should go and pick this one up right now because it is amazing! another great album from the twisted mind of trent reznor. ]

Plant Robert / Strange Sensation - Mighty Rearranger ($12.99) [In the weeks leading up to this album's release, Robert Plant was the unlikely hit at the South By Southwest music festival, delivering such a scorching set with his band the Strange Sensation rockers a quarter of his age simply got back on their planes and went home without playing a note. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that, unlike most his classic rock peers, Plant has rarely settled since moving on from the Led Zeppelin behemoth. Over the course of eight solo albums, he's experimented with doo-wop, synth-pop and even drum'n' bass. But it's only at 56 that the Golden God is hitting his stride. On 'Tin Pan Valley,' he sings, 'My peers may flirt with cabaret/ Some fake the rebel yell/ Me, I'm moving up higher ground/ I must escape their hell.' Mighty Rearranger draws out the best qualities of his otherworldly voice, surrounding it with rich Middle Eastern textures, soft blues accents and gorgeous psychedelic swooshes. It's in keeping with the spirit of 2002's exotic and lush Dreamland, only it sounds more refined.]

Son Volt - A retrospective 1995-2000 ($13.99) [Encompassing two-thirds of the original lineup of Americana roots-rock trailblazers Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt arrived in 1995 with the stellar debut album Trace. Powered by the songwriting, guitar and evocative vocals of group leader Jay Farrar, it launched them as icons of the emerging alt-country movement championed by the then-fledgling mazazing No Depression, who featured Son Volt on the cover of their very first issue. The band issued two more acclaimed albums before Farrar took a hiatus for solo work...this, their first-ever compilation, pulls from the Son Volt catalog and also features rarities, unreleased tracks, demo tracks, and more! ]

System Of A Down - Mezmerize ($12.99) [This is amazing! System of a Down never stop making incredible music. Even Steal This Album! was pretty good considering that album was made up of songs that weren't 'good enough' for their other CD's. The first song I heard by them was Chop Suey! and after that I was hooked. Their self-titled album was awesome and so was Toxicity. Now, we've got Mezmerize. Definitley different from their previous stuff (Not in a bad way though), this album stuck to me right after I had heard Soldier Side- Intro. Every song is unique in its own way. ]