"I Need a Doctor" - Dr Dre w/ Eminem and featuring Skylar Grey

And The Grammy Goes To ...

With a chilling tribute start to Aretha Franklin by a female vocalist group consisting of Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Martina Mcbride, Yolanda Adams and Florence Welch, the 53rd Annual Grammy Award show began with an excitable performance. The Show continued to rock out with the Muse' performance of their hit, the "Resistance" and on to a flashback segment with a new generation of upcoming musicians B.o.B., Bruno Mars and Janelle Monet. The other performances didn't disappoint anyone, except for those wanting to hear the winners. The show was interrupted here and again by the announcement of categorical winners...as if that was what thousands of music celebrities and their fans gathered for at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

If you were like most of us who skipped the award announcements and just watched the performances, fear not...we've compiled the list of winners along with how we predicted each category.

How did your picks pan out?? 

2011 Grammy Winners - Major Categories(WINNERS are in Bold / ** = Our Pick)

Album of The Year:

The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Recovery – Eminem
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga**
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Song of The Year:

“Beg, Steal or Borrom” – Ray LaMontagne
“Forget You” – Cee Lo
“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna

“Need You Know” – Lady Antebellum**

Record of The Year:

“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna**
“Nothin’ On You” – Bruno Mars
“Forget You” – Cee Lo
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

 “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum

Best NEW Artist:

Justin Bieber 

Drake**

Florence + The Machine 

Mumford & Sons 

Esperanza Spalding

Best Country Album:

Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band**
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson

Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

Revolution – Miranda Lambert

Best Rap Album:

The Adventures Of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
Thank Me Later – Drake

Recovery – Eminem

The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z**
How I Got Over – The Roots

Best Contemporary R&B:

Graffiti – Chris Brown
Untitled – R. Kelly
Transition – Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monáe

Raymond V Raymond – Usher**

Best Rock Performance By A Group or A Duo w/ Vocals:

“Ready To Start” – Arcade Fire
“I Put A Spell On You” – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
“Tighten Up” – The Black Keys
“Radioactive” – Kings Of Leon

“Resistance” – Muse**

Best Pop Performance By A Group or A Duo w/ Vocals:

“Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)” – Glee Cast

“Misery” – Maroon 5
“The Only Exception” – Paramore
“Babyfather” – Sade

“Hey, Soul Sister (Live)” – Train**

Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals:

“Airplanes II” – B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams**

“Imagine” – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare

“If It Wasn’t For Bad” – Elton John & Leon Russell
“Telephone” – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
“California Gurls” – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Pop Vocal Album: 

My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
I Dreamed A Dream – Susan Boyle

The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga

Battle Studies – John Mayer
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry**

Best Dance Recording:

“Rocket” – Goldfrapp

“In For The Kill” – La Roux
“Dance In The Dark” – Lady Gaga

“Only Girl (In The World)” – Rihanna**

“Dancing On My Own” – Robyn

Who Are YOUR Picks for the 2011 Grammy Awards?

 While there's really no way to predict who will come away with Grammies, We still have to make some sort of picks for who we feel are definitely some top picks for tonight’s 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

 

Eminem, in the lead with 10 nominations, should be a shoe in for a Grammy or two. His nominations include three of the four main categories - Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year. He’s also in competition against himself in the Best Rap Song category, with both “Not Afraid” and “Love the Way You Lie” up both up for the award. Voters are bound to appreciate that his album “Recovery” marks his true comeback.

Lady Antebellum comes in second with six nominations. They are nominated for Album, Record and Song of the Year for “Need You Now.” The hit was heard and performed everywhere throughout the year, playing on many TV shows. They've already taken home multiple trophies at the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Association and inaugural American Country awards shows.

Now, Lady Gaga is also a promising figure in the awards, with six nominations. These include Album of the Year. Last year found Lady Gaga all over the place - on stage, on TV, on magazine covers and all over social media. 2011, especially if she takes home some more Grammies, will find her in the same spots. She won 13 Billboard Music Awards during the past two years and eight MTV Music Video Awards in 2010. Her two Grammy Awards last year showed she’s certainly on the Recording Academy radar.

What are your top picks and how do you compare to ours??

2011 Grammy Nominees - Major Categories(** = Our Pick to Win in 2011)

Album of The Year:

The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Recovery – Eminem
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga**
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Song of The Year:

“Beg, Steal or Borrom” – Ray LaMontagne
“Forget You” – Cee Lo
“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
“Need You Know” – Lady Antebellum**

Record of The Year:

“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna**
“Nothin’ On You” – Bruno Mars
“Forget You” – Cee Lo
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
 “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum

Best NEW Artist:

Justin Bieber 

Drake**

Florence + The Machine 

Mumford & Sons 

Esperanza Spalding

 

Best Country Album:

Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band**
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Revolution – Miranda Lambert

Best Rap Album:

The Adventures Of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
Thank Me Later – Drake
Recovery – Eminem
The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z**
How I Got Over – The Roots

Best Contemporary R&B:

Graffiti – Chris Brown
Untitled – R. Kelly
Transition – Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monáe
Raymond V Raymond – Usher**

 

Best Pop Performance By A Group or A Duo w/ Vocals:

“Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)” – Glee Cast
“Misery” – Maroon 5
“The Only Exception” – Paramore
“Babyfather” – Sade
“Hey, Soul Sister (Live)” – Train**

Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals:

 “Airplanes II” – B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams**
“Imagine” – Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
“If It Wasn’t For Bad” – Elton John & Leon Russell
“Telephone” – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
“California Gurls” – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Dance Recording:

“Rocket” – Goldfrapp
“In For The Kill” – La Roux
“Dance In The Dark” – Lady Gaga
“Only Girl (In The World)” – Rihanna**
“Dancing On My Own” – Robyn

  

Best Rock Performance By A Group or A Duo w/ Vocals:

“Ready To Start” – Arcade Fire
“I Put A Spell On You” – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
“Tighten Up” – The Black Keys
“Radioactive” – Kings Of Leon
“Resistance” – Muse**

Best Pop Vocal Album:   

My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
I Dreamed A Dream – Susan Boyle
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Battle Studies – John Mayer
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry**

New Music : September 27, 2010 - October 05, 2010

Gucci Mane "The Appeal" 
  One of the most street-loved MCs in the game is back with a diamond-encrusted smile and his second in less than a year. The album's lead cut is "Gucci Time," produced by and features Swizz Beatz, who also does the same on "It's Alive." Its first track is the menacing production from Rodney Jerkins (Brandy, Ray J, Destiny's Child and, of course, Michael Jackson) who brings alarming horns fit for a gangster-flick soundtrack. It's raw, underground, its 'hood, but it's different. The Neptunes give Gucci a club bounce on "Haterade," a record about evolution and reflection in which Nicki Minaj raps during their first time together talking in depth on personal things. On "Grown Man," Mr. LaFlare enlisted guest singer Estelle to express his newfound growth and mental freedom. 

Eric Clapton "Clapton"
 This is Clapton's first studio release since 2005's "Back Home." It features some of the same participants of the previous release - including JJ Cale and Doyle Bramhall II, but the legendary guitar front/blues man's latest includes less original material. Clapton's ONLY songwriting contribution is "Run Back to Your Side." The rest of the program is given over to covers—by icons as diverse as Tin Pan Alley legend Irving Berlin and blues great Little Walter—plus "Diamonds in the Rain," a ballad penned by Bramhall, Justin Stanley (Mark Ronson, Beck) and neo-soul sensation Nikki Costa. That cut also features a cameo by Sheryl Crow, but she's not the only notable pitching in on "Clapton". Trombone Shorty, Allen Toussaint and Wynton Marsalis are on board, too.

Mark Ronson "Record Collection" 
 Mark Ronson has been one of those guys that's easy to hate on for some time now. His stepdad is Mick Jones of Foreigner, and he was modeling for Tommy Hilfiger and deejaying parties for celebs like Diddy when most of his peers were wrapping up their undergrad work. Nevertheless, Ronson has matured into a formidable producer with a resume that includes breakthrough albums for Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen. Like its predecessor, 2007's "Version," the new release ( credited to Mark Ronson and the Business Intl.) is heavily laden with guests, but they're not all contemporaries; in keeping with the disc's '80s electro vibe, contributors include Boy George and Nick Rhodes and Simon LeBon from Duran Duran. Also on board are rappers Q-Tip and Ghostface Killah, while songwriting assistance is provided by Cathy Dennis (Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head"), Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, and Nick Hodgson of Kaiser Chiefs.

Kenny Chesney "Hemingway's Whiskey"
 Chesney is a relentless touring machine, and not a year has passed since 2002 that he hasn't walked off with major awards from CMT, CMA and ACM. (Oddly enough, although five of his last six albums have topped the Billboard charts, he's never snagged a Grammy Award.) Chesney finally took a year off from concert treks, and returns refreshed with this latest release. The album gleans its title from a Guy Clark song, although Chesney adds that he's also a fan of both the literature and lifestyle associated with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. In addition to his recent single, "The Boys of Fall," which the singer says perfectly captures the vibe of his Eastern Tennessee adolescence, Chesney's fourteenth studio album also includes a duet with George Jones on a remake of "Small Y'all," which will hopefully introduce some new, younger listeners to the man considered the greatest male vocalist of country's Golden Age.

Bad Religion "The Dissent of Man"
 Who would have thought that Bad Religion would still be getting it on later in their years. Their new  release is produced by Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool) and marks the seminal punk band's 30th anniversary! Thirty?! But that doesn't mean they're conducting business as usual. Some of the bean members feel that the last couple of records have been amongst their most conservative and have never strayed too far from the Bad Religion sound. the band tells EW News that on this release, they're taking the songs to a lot of different places, exploring their influences and trying out some new things in a way we haven't done in years." In addition to the album and the publication of Greg Graffin's new autobiography, "Anarchy Evolution," the band is also celebrating with an extended North American tour.

Phil Collins " Going Back " 
 Phil Collins has seen so much success and has definitely put out just about any type of album a man of many talents can possibly put out - solo or with a band. In the '80s, audiences worshipped Collins as a god. Between 1984 and 1990, he racked up 13 Top 10 hits in the U.S. Subsequent decades haven't been quite so kind to the Genesis drummer, but his rehabilitation is well under way with "Going Back." Having shored up his solo career early with his 1982 rendition of the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," Collins now revisits his youthful love of R&B. Accompanied by a small combo that features members of Motown house band the Funk Brothers, Collins runs through 18 tunes made famous by acts like the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson, and penned by such greats as Goffin & King, Holland-Dozier-Holland, and Norman Whitfield.

Marcy Playground "Indaba Remixes from Wonderland"

 Most indie-alternative fans can remember the soultry, mellow sound of Marcy's Plaground. Their 1997 megahit single "Sex and Candy" (over 1.4 million in sales) spent an amazing 34 weeks on the Billboard's top charts. Now fast forward to 2009 with the release of  "Leaving Wonderland...in a Fit of Rage." This album was a combination of intimate reflective music that defined the group's commitment to not submit to the corporate, carbon copied music mainstream. The release of the remixes takes from the 2009 CD and collaborates it with the group's online community, which is a community of approximately 500,000 musicians, ranging from novice to hobbyist, to Grammy Award winning artist. Marcy Playground’s collaborative produced a total of 333 submissions and 13 of whom were chosen to be featured on the CD. This gave the fans the opportunity to put their own take on Marcy Playground’s songs and the winning musicians will receive profits from the CD sales. This marks the first time that an entire CD was produced from “crowd-sourced” music. WIN.

Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)

• Ben Folds & Nick Hornby: "Lonely Island"
• Neil Young: "Le Noise"
• Deerhunter: "Halcyon Digest" 

Weekly Top Concerts/Shows To Check Out ...

 Monday, September 27th 

   
  World Cafe Live:

  Headliner: Avishai Cohen

  Opening Act: None Listed

  Doors: 6pm / Show: 7:30pm 

  Tickets:$22

  Trumpeter Avishai Cohen is a leading figure on the international jazz scene. As an assertive and accomplished trumpeter with a taste for modernism who is deeply rooted in the bebop and post-bop tradition, Avishai is taking jazz in new directions. He's making waves as an improviser, composer and bandleader. Originally from Tel Aviv, he began performing at age 10. He toured the world with the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and went on to become the trumpet player of choice for many leading jazz, rock, pop, studio and television projects. He received a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and in 1997 he placed third in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Trumpet Competition.

Tuesday, September 28th 

  Trocader:

  Headliner: The Swans

  Opening Act: None Listed

  Doors: 7pm / Show: 7:30pm 

  Tickets:$30.65 

  This band has been an influential American post-punk band who was initially active from 1982 to 1997. Led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira, the band was one of the few groups to emerge from the early 1980s New York No Wave scene and stay intact into the next decade. The Swans employed a shifting lineup of musicians until their dissolution in 1997. Besides Gira, the only other constant members were keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter Jarboe from 1984 to 1997, and semi-constant guitarist Norman Westberg. The band was noted for droning vocals and strange instrumentation.  After dissolving Swans, Gira formed Angels of Light, continued his work with Young God Records and Jarboe continued her solo work. In 2009, Gira hinted that he may one day resurrect Swans In January 2010, Michael Gira reactivated Swans and began work on a new album, titled "My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky." The official MySpace page for Swans was changed to display "SWANS ARE NOT DEAD",and a bulletin was posted containing a link to Young God Records' MySpace, where a new song had recently been uploaded. To help raise money for the upcoming new Swans album, Gira released a new solo album, "I Am Not Insane," via his Young God Records website. In January 2010 LAS Magazine posted an article on alternative financing in "a cash-strapped music industry, unable to rely on record label financing, [that] is positioning its own quid pro quo: fan dollars to fund projects in exchange for exclusive material and a sense of involvement" that cites the Swans selling out of the 1,000 signed and numbered copies of "I Am Not Insane" as an example of reverse financing where proceeds from one project are rolled over to finance the next.  The album is set to be released on September 27, 2010.

Wednesday, September 29th

  Theater of the Living Arts:

  Headliner: Justin Nozuka

  Opening Act:  Alex Cuba / Ry Cuming

  Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm 

  Tickets: $25

  Justin Nozuka, when performing live, is completely engaged with the crowd and music. He doesn’t just sing, he performs and feels the music. Gifted with a voice and talent that's difficult to categorize. His music is a mixture of singer-songwriter storytelling, with elements of rock, soul, reggae, and funk. Several songs are anthemic, while others are chill, mellow and inspiring. He is a story-teller and his songs have immense depth and are positive/inspiring. 

Thursday, September 30th 

  World Cafe Live:

  Headliner: Howie Day

  Opening Act: John Wesley Satterfield

  Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 8:30pm 

  Tickets:$24 - $34 

  Several years after releasing his commercial breakthrough album "Stop All The World Now," singer and songwriter Howie Day breaks his silence with his long-awaited third studio album "Sound the Alarm." The album is a stunning collection of the kind of emotionally resonant, melody-minded pop-rock gems that have earned Day a legion of devoted fans over the past 10 years.His one man band shows rocked both intimate venues and arenas alike. Howie's shows were best known for his live and "ad-lib" style of making the music as he feels it and as the energy of the crowd creates it. With his fancy pedals and mics and soundboards, his current shows don't stray too far from what made millions of fans love him even before all of his commercial success... and that's a GREAT thing!!

  Electric Factory:

  Headliner: Bullet For My Valentine

  Opening Act: Escape The Fate / Black Tide / Drive A

  Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7pm 

  Tickets:$32.70 

  This Welsh heavy metal band from Bridgend, formed in 1998 is composed of Matt Tuck - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, Michael Paget - lead guitar, Jason James - bass guitar, backing vocals and Michael Thomas - drums. First formed under the name Jeff Killed John, they started their music career by covering songs by Metallica and Nirvana. Jeff Killed John recorded six songs which were not released; two of these tracks were reworked later in their career as Bullet for My Valentine. Financial difficulties dictated the name change, which was followed by a change in music direction. In 2002, the band secured a five-album deal with Sony BMG. The band has stated that their music is influenced by classic heavy metal acts such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Slayer. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene. Bullet For My Valentine — which sounds and acts like a band trying to be the Metallica of this generation have heavy radio hit “Your Betrayal” to kick things off on their show, followed by two songs with fast, aggressive opening riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on the first three Slayer records.

Friday, October 1st

  Kung Fu Necktie:

  Headliner: Fight Amp

  Opening Act: Batillus / Kowloon Walled City / Ladder Devils

  Doors: 7pm / Show: 7:30pm 

  Tickets:$8 

  Hailing from South Jersey, this group spent most of their six-odd-year career playing shows in and around Philadelphia. Anyone who’s spent much time in Philly knows that it’s a tough, pessimistic town, and its urban filth and nasty attitude radiate from this band. They are supporting their second album, "Manners and Praise" from Translation Loss Records. Their sound is brutal noise rock/punk played with single minded focus and very real intensity. They’ve clearly done their homework and have a sound that embellishes the music of Melvins, Black Flag, The Jesus Lizard and various other sundry  abusive rock bands of the last twenty years.  Bassist Jon Dehart’s über-gravelly bass tone coats even the band’s more restrained moments in knee-deep sludge, and Mike Howard’s tom-heavy skinsmanship is equally propulsive during both speedy segments and the band’s miles-deep grooves. The guitars sound bristling and barely in control at times, but the band as a whole never gets mired in their own murk. These guys draw just as much from a punk-rock sense of unease as they do from metal’s sonic firepower. 

  Electric Factory:

  Headliner: B-52's

  Opening Act: Gang

  Doors: 7pm / Show: 8pm 

  Tickets:$49.70 

  Get in and be put on with panache by Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson, Keith Strickland and Fred Schneider of the iconoclastic band that makes the glockenspiel seem like the coolest instrument on the globe. Yes, they're kitschy as all get out, and therein lies the appeal. Schneider should get things going by belting out the question, "What's that on your head?" Cindy Wilson, magnificent in a black, shiny micro-mini and go-go girl hair will step in to keep the groove on with their sounds that are prime examples of the punk-y, camp-y, rock-y cool music and wackadoo lyrics that make sense somehow in their shows, but nowhere else. Many of their tunes are fizzy and irresistible, they give listeners no choice but to cave in and come along for the ride as most of the crowd will buckle in for the loop-de-loop that is a B-52s show.

  Trocadero:

  Headliner: Teenage Fanclub

  Opening Act: None Listed

  Doors: 8pm / Show: 9pm 

  Tickets:$25.75 

  This band has been around for about 20 years now and they’ve still got it.  The Scottish power poppers are touring behind "Shadows," their first album in 5 years.  The new material is good and their harmonies are still solid … although physically, the 20 years are starting to take their toll.  These guys are starting to look a bit like Dads … which we guess they probably are, but that’s neither here nor there.   

Saturday, October 2nd

  Electric Factory:

  Headliner: !!!

  Opening Act: Les Savy Fav / Fol Chen.

  Doors: 7pm / Show: 8:30pm 

  Tickets:$24.70 

  Known for their dance punk music, the Sacramento-based group has the perfect genre to set the mood for any show night. !!! will be taking to the main stage with their bright funk and disco-infused dance punk music. Their fans and newcomers will altogether love the grooves in their music, but will get a kick out of watching lead vocalist, Nic Offer. His little boy shorts always seem to add a slight endearing, comedic effect to all his dancing - according to most of his loyal concert followers.  The entire collective works really well together on stage. There is a dynamic that both rock and electronica fans can both enjoy as you will take notice when you look around and all the moving bodies around you are in agreement.

Sunday, October 3rd 

  Electric Factory:

  Headliner: Switchfoot

  Opening Act: The Almost

  Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7:30pm 

  Tickets:$30.10 

  This long time American rock band from San Diego, California is composed of Jon Foreman - lead vocals, guitar, Tim Foreman - bass guitar, backing vocals, Chad Butler - drums, percussion, Jerome Fontamillas - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals and Drew Shirley - guitar, backing vocals. Their style from earlier albums with independent label Re:think Records consisted primarily of guitar-driven alternative rock, characteristic of a three-man lineup, though they also incorporated string arrangements with slower songs. After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream recognition with the inclusion of four of their songs in the 2002 movie "A Walk to Remember." This recognition led to their major label debut, "The Beautiful Letdown," which was released in 2003. It went on to sell over 2.6 million copies and produced the band's best-known singles, "Meant to Live" and "Dare You to Move". Switchfoot is hailed as one of the greatest bands of the modern rock era. According to Jon Foreman, the name "Switchfoot" is a surfing term. It stuck with the band due to all of them being involved in surfing and loving the sport/activity. The name is about change and movement, a different way of approaching life and music.

New Music : September 21, 2010 - September 27, 2010

Maroon 5 "Hands All Over"

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 cited that "Pour Some Sugar on Me" was one of his childhood faves. The opportunity work with super producer Mutt Lange did not have to be voted by the band. They were thrilled to be working with the legend, who not only worked on Def Leppard's "Hysteria" and "Pyromania," but also huge hits for AC/DC, Foreigner and Shania Twain, when he offered to produce their new album. This latest release from the group puts together their smart mix of pop and R&B hooks with production so polished. Cuts like lead single "Misery" and the catchy "Stutter" will garner raves from fans of classic M5 fare like "This Love," but there are surprises, too. "Out of Goodbyes," a collaboration with Lady Antebellum, sounds more like vintage Fleetwood Mac than modern-day Music Row, while the title tune boasts enough hard-hitting swagger to make it as popular with exotic dancers as the aforementioned "Pour Some Sugar."

Gin Blossoms "No Chocolate Cake"  

The Gin Blossoms were victims of having to coexist with the early '90s mania for Seattle grunge groups like Nirvana and bubbling up in the wake of that groundbreaking band's demise. Their post-grunge jangle and lovelorn alt-rock angstdid a lot to get them noticed as it was easy to separate their sound. Now they're suddenly back and in the blink of an eye they're offering listeners a refreshing time-travel experience beginning with "I Don't Want to Lose You Now" and the new single "Miss Disarray." These guys have been in the industry long enough that they can perform this melodic stuff in their sleep. Their songs are accompanied with an electric 12-string guitar or jangling chorused guitar on almost every track, adding bounce to the sadness of songs such as "Somewhere Tonight."

Carlos Santana "The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time"

Carlos Santana has enjoyed a huge career resurgence with star-studded albums like "Supernatural" and its sequels. He adds on to those successes but puts a twist in the formula for his latest album. Collaborating with Chris Cornell, Rob Thomas, Scott Weiland, Chris Daughtry, Gavin Rossdale, Ray Manzarek and others, he sets out to put his interpretations of his generation's awesome guitar solos. Conceived while collaborating with Clive Davis, the twist this time is the song selection, which eschews originals for classic rock favorites by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream, T. Rex and Deep Purple. Personally, we would have preferred the legendary axe man to take on Van Halen's "Eruption" instead of the pop-laden "Dance the Night Away."  His interpretation of AC/DC's "Back in Black," which features hip-hop oddballs Nas and Janelle Monáe should be interesting.

John Legend & The Roots "Wake Up!"

Philadelphia's music family has been so large and still growing that most were wondering when such a team up effort could ever come up on an album. Well, one composed of John Legend and the Roots has just occurred. The two have joined forces for a different kind of covers set. Conceived during the tumult and excitement of the 2008 presidential election, "Wake Up!" is a bracing mix of socially conscious and soulful protest songs, ranging from the familiar ("Compared to What," the 1970 jazz-funk hit by Les McCann and Eddie Harris, and "I Wish How I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free," popularized by Nina Simone) to esoteric fare from the back catalogs of Mike James Kirkland and Baby Huey and the Babysitters. Throw spirited readings of Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway into the mix, and you've got an ideal soundtrack.

Billy Currington "Enjoy Yourself"

 Georgia native Billy Currington  recently racked up his sixth No. 1 country hit with the laid-back "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer." Working with top-notch Nashville songwriters like Troy Jones, Shawn Camp and Dave Barnes, Currington delivers a disc that makes him seem like the kind of guy who'd truly be fun to toss a few back with, full of good-natured ruminations like "Bad Day of Fishin'"—which beats a good day of anything else—and his paean to man's best friend, "Like My Dog."

Matt Costa "Mobile Chateau" 

 Singer/songwriter Matt Costa isn't shy about emulating the classic songwriting of the Byrds and Donovan, but on his new album, Costa also draws from the catalog of Bob Lind who was his favorite songwriter. Costa thought so highly of the Lind song 'Ask Your Man,' he actually took the lyrics and reworked them into a new song called "Drive." It's a piano-driven pop track that sounds like it could be a long-lost Beach Boys tune with its shimmering summery feel.

Selena Gomez "A Year Without Rain"

Disney star Selena Gomez, who turned 18 this year, says her sound has matured as well. The sophomore set from Selena Gomez and the Scene builds on the success of her techno-tinged No. 1 club hit, "Naturally." "There's a feeling when I perform that song that I love, so when I was going back in the studio, I had a better understanding of where I wanted to be musically," says Gomez. The successor to her Gold-certified "Kiss & Tell" also features some ballads, including English and Spanish renditions of the title track, and "Ghost of You." And another Teen Choice favorite, Katy Perry, co-wrote "Rock God" and contributes backing vocals. 

 

Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)

• Michael Franti & Spearhead "The Sound of Sunshine"
• Walker Hayes Walker Hayes (EP)"