Album Review

One of hip-hop's defining and most exhilarating moments is when the beat drops out and allows a particularly powerful or poignant punchline to garner all the shine. As a producer, El-P is among the best at setting up these moments.

Wrecking Ball stands as Springsteen's best album release in almost thirty years. It's both wrenching and jubilant; looking back and looking forward; steeped in sorrow as well as celebratory and undaunted.

Josh Charles' distinctive voice is the perfect anchor (and perfect compliment) to this 10-track masterpiece. This album is a major charm offensive for music lovers in search of great tunes.

The singer's voice has matured significantly -- along with his haircut and wardrobe; this time out, Maxwell has recast himself as a grown-up with all its musical and lyrical upgrades.

With a basic reverence for the original record, Morrison's live arrangements allow for musicians to add new layers of strata though jams, while acknowledging forty years has passed since the original was slated.

Bruce, arm-in-arm with his old E Street gang, seems to be working on his own dream of growing old, not just gracefully, but significantly.

With a career track record comprised of doing exactly what he wanted to do and receiving hyperbolic pop-appraise, Kanye did the only thing Kanye could: He made an anti-pop album.