Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"
When it comes to cartoon characters collaborating with stars, Gorillaz are the game to beat. "Plastic Beach," their third studio full-length, finds Damon Albarn's pals Murdoc, Noodle, et al, joined by a stellar supporting cast: Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, De La Soul, Mark E. Smith of the Fall, Bobby Womack, and Chicago's mighty nine-piece Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. The title cut alone gives a huge reunion with Mick Jones and Paul Simonon banding together for the first time since the Clash. The new album is solid and intriguingly entertaining.
Broken Bells " The High Road"
In 2004, at the Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen, Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) met James Mercer of the Shins. The two expressed mutual admiration, and kept in touch. Six years later, that friendship comes to fruition with their self-titled full-length collaboration as Broken Bells. Now don't go thinking this is a Mercer solo album featuring a cool producer, or Gnarls Barkley with a different singer; Broken Bells displays a unique, loopy, polychromatic character all its own, melding savvy songwriting with psychedelia, indie rock, beats, and orchestral flourishes.
Gary Allan "Get Off on the Pain."
With hits like "Man to Man" and "Nothing on But the Radio", this country star has enjoyed gold or platinum certified sales for six of his previous seven studio albums, and seems likely to continue that success with his eighth. The 10-song set includes cinematic heartbreaker "Today" (released as a single last year), as well as five selections co-written by the rough-hewn, tattooed California native, who also co-produced the album with Mark Wright and Greg Droman. The title tune, about siding with underdogs and long shots, delivered with conviction aplenty, sounds catchy enough to cross over with top-40 listeners while still pleasing country diehards.
Ludacris "Battle of the Sexes"
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. The southern rapper from Atlanta is no stranger to conflicts between boys and girls. Originally intended as a collaborative pairing with Shawnna (the co-vocalist on his 2003 No. 1 smash "Stand Up"), but subsequently morphed into the all-star "Battle of the Sexes" after she changed labels and was dropped from the project. In the guys corner you'll find Pitbull, Flo Rida, Gucci Mane, Trey Songz, Plies and Ne-Yo ("Tell Me a Secret"), while the ladies are represented by Ciara, Eve, Trina, Monica, fast-rising Young Money star Nicki Minaj, and Lil' Kim (who pops up on "Hey Ho"). With producers including the Neptunes and Swizz Beatz, this is one fight we were looking forward to.
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