Over two decades since she first burst onto the scene, Tracy Chapman is back with soothing self-penned folk songs on her eighth album, Our Bright Future. Staying true to her soul and blues roots, the four-time Grammy award winning artist continues to capture social consciousness and provide personal reflections with her soulful songs.

Filed in: Folk-Pop

The Miami maestro's latest mixes pounding bass-drum beats with several of the silkier voices in modern R&B: Akon, T-Pain, and indomitable flirt R. Kelly. It's a wowing blend for club music, with the requisite grinding beats and grimy flows meeting deep, lush harmonies.

Filed in: Party Rap

Fusing electro, soul, jingles and jangles, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour make modern pop that sounds like a sparkly 1960's movie soundtrack mixed with the feeling of spinning around in circles. The Denmark collective debut their modern pop sensibilities with a laid-back groove--making music not just for the disco-dance party crowd.

Filed in: Alternative Dance

If we just take it as a given that all post-punk bands are imitating Gang of Four, we can move on to who does the fairest impression. Certainly this New Zealand act is in the running. Razor-sharp guitars, Brixton vocals, and the trademark tricky rhythms are in perfect balance.

Filed in: Power Pop

From the sounds of "No Matter What," first single off new disc "Paper Trail," the slick T.I. has the gruff T.I.P. on the ropes, but he hasn't quite knocked him out. This tension--full-bodied pop-rap tugged at by hard rhymes--keeps the artist's stuff rich and highly listenable.

Filed in: Dirty South