Corinne Bailey Rae
The Sea
Virgin/EMI. 11 Tracks.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

I’m ashamed to admit that I kind of dreaded hearing this album.

When Corinne Bailey Rae’s debut dropped in 2006, it landed like sunshine on a murky musical landscape.  Here was a pop-soul chanteuse who eschewed the pungent vulgarity of fellow Brit Amy Winehouse, not to mention the manufactured beats of the Top 40 hitmakers, to focus on upbeat themes and warm, organic arrangements.  And with the smash single “Put Your Records On”—just go ahead, let your hair down!-- she created an enduring balm for the blues.

 by zsus

The Bromance: Monologueing since the mid-50's.

Watch it here:

Or read it here:

Vampire Weekend
Contra
XL Recordings. 10 Tracks.
Rating: 4½ stars (out of 5)

Of all the bands in indie-pop’s recent freshman class, Vampire Weekend seemed destined to be voted most likely to suffer a sophomore slump. As energetic, amusing and catchy as the 2008 debut by this Big Apple foursome was, it was also perilously gimmicky. 

10. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear 
The third album by these Brooklyn-based indie darlings loses the plot a little in the middle, but the high points are exhilarating. Mixing pop classicism (dig those Beach Boys harmonies) with the avant-garde ‘tude that defines the music scene in their home borough, the Bears have concocted a sound that’s as hummable as it is intricate. Top tracks: “Southern Point,” “Two Weeks.”

9. Tonight - Franz Ferdinand
Libidinous, literate dance rock from Scotland’s cheekiest combo.  Released in January of ’09, Tonight still sounds like the sexiest party on the planet a year later.  Why the irresistible singles “Ulysses” and “No You Girls” didn’t storm the Top 40 with the force of their biggest hit, “Take Me Out,” is an exasperating mystery. Get these songs a Timbaland or David Guetta remix, stat!

 Here is my highly biased list of the best albums of the decade.  Leave your  picks in the comment section below!

10. Pocket Symphony – Air

The Bromance:

Keeping the tabloids in

business since 1947.

READ IT HERE:

OR WATCH IT HERE:

THE DEATH OF A BROMANCE

EPISODE 7 

IS IT THE TWILIGHT OF THE BROMANCE?

The Bromance:

Vanting to suck your blood

since the mid 1800's.

READ IT HERE

OR WATCH IT RIGHT HERE! 

Rickie Lee Jones
Balm in Gilead
Fantasy. 10 Tracks.
Rating: 3½ stars (out of 5)

2009 marks the 30^th anniversary of Rickie Lee Jones’ self-titled debut album. It’s a weighty milestone when you think about it. That debut, stocked with boss tracks such as “Coolsville,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint” and her lone Top 10 hit, “Chuck E’s in Love,” clearly defined Jones’ unique jazz-pop vision and hinted at momentous things to come.  Indeed, that vision has filtered down to a new generation of hipster warblers, including Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux and Corrine Bailey Rae, whose “Put Your Records On” in particular sounds like it was plucked straight from the R.L.J. catalogue.