On their 6th album, Brothers, The Black Keys moved out of the basement & into the studio. Fans feared the duo’s stripped down sound would be jeopardized. No worries. The studio added a subtle gleam to their intrinsic rude sound. Dan Auerbach’s voice continues to ooze soul over massive drumming, rolling bass lines, grimy guitar licks & trippy organ sounds. Each listen proving more rewarding than the last.

Late 2008, while wrapping up Eros, Deftones’ band-mate Chi was left in a coma after a near-fatal car accident. Behind the scenes, the group shelved the album and went to work on a new sound. The result is the heaviest, tightest, grittiest, sickest work to date. Track for track, Diamond Eyes kills it.

Rick Rubin produced this nine piece band of gypsy punks. Ukrainian, Gogol Bordello’s Trans-Continental Hustle includes a Latin influence mixed with an effervescent, traditional Balkan style. 13 explosive, radical tracks creating a party maelstrom of electrifying proportions.

Celebrating Moon & Antarctica’s 10th Anniversary, Modest Mouse remastered & reissued the masterpiece as a double-disc on 180 gram 12″ vinyl. Coinciding with Saturday’s “Record Store Day” (annual homage to indie shops), the album dropped today.

How do you reinvent yourself?
Talking Heads frontman, David Byrne partners with beat maestro, Fatboy Slim on Here Lies Love. A 24-track album outlining the rags-to-riches story of Studio 54 club-goer Imelda Marcos (widow of former Philippines dictator, Ferdinand Marcos). 22 guest performers including Tori Amos, Steve Earle, Roisin Murphy, Santigold, and Cyndi Lauper enhance this innovative collaboration.

No other band rocks a more hardcore, feel good, kick your ass, get drunk show than the Dropkick Murphy’s. Recorded over 6 nights, Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA captures the Irish punk band’s infectious energy and raucous live performance. Hell, doesn’t a song entitled Kiss Me I’m Shitfaced deserve a listen?

After being dropped from two record labels and struggling with a drug-troubled drummer, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club releases their fifth studio album. Folk & blues inspired garage rock, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo is dominated by psychedelic guitar rhythms, crooning vocals, distorted bass, loud drumming and addictive melodies you’ll have stuck in your head for days.

Having never performed in Canada, The White Stripes played every province & territory “from ocean to permafrost” during the summer of ’07.  Filmmaker, Emmett Malloy documents the duo’s journey from local bowling alleys & city buses to their legendary 10th Anniversary show at Nova Scotia’s Savoy Theater. Under Great White Northern Lights Box Set includes a double LP of 16 live songs, hardcover tour book, documentary & 10th anniversary show DVDs, CD of live tour material, 7-inch vinyl single and a silk-screened print. You can also opt for the album alone ($9.99).

The Man in Black sings to us from the grave on the last of his American Recordings series, American VI: Ain’t No Grave. Produced by Rick Rubin, Cash’s wavering baritone voice and choice of songs remind us he wasn’t haunted, he was ready to go.

Gorillaz’s Plastic Beach is as eclectic as the album’s guest list – Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Mos Def, members of The Clash, Bobby Womack, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, De La Soul, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music. Ironically, Womack originally declined the offer until his daughter stated “you got to do this – they’re awesome.” She’s right – it is awesome.