Jonsi
Go
As Jonsi's Go finds its start in the track Go Do, it's easy to be surprised at the joy of the Sigur Ros frontman's solo work. Iceland's Sigur Ros is responsible for some of the most stunning atmospheric music of the past decade. But Sigur Ros was never bouncy like Go Do or dancey like Around Us. What's most rewarding about Go is its bold statement that, yes, Jonsi needed to step out from the gorgeous, multilayered chamber pop group to create a record that was every bit as complex but filled with fun instead of pretension.
Download this: Around Us
Laura Bell
Bundy
Achin' and
Shakin'
Bundy, a Kentucky native, has a history on Broadway, with roles in Hairspray and Wicked before originating the lead in Legally Blonde. It's a relief then that Achin' and Shakin', her first major label album, is far calmer. It's split into halves: The shakin' side is the weaker half, chaotic and a little glib. On the achin' side, Bundy is relaxed. Produced and written largely by Nathan Chapman, the songs force Bundy to exhale, revealing a lovely voice.
Download this: Cigarette
Shooter
Jennings
Black Ribbons
Jennings' new album takes the form of a play within a play, whose story begins in the not-too-distant future. There's a subcategory of records by performers who want to escape their definitions and make a real-me album. Jennings -- who is the son of the late, great Waylon Jennings and who recently left his label, Universal South -- has filed a disastrous example of that subcategory. Black Ribbons is grandiose, resentful and way, way overcooked.
Download this: California Via Tennessee
