TV On The Radio
Return to Cookie Mountain

Touch & Go/Interscope

Radiohead has long held the title of the world’s catchiest experimental band. Or is it the most experimental catchy band? Whatevs. Point is, there’s a new contender in town with radio in its name.

New York indie rockers TV On The Radio first rose to fame with 2004’s critically acclaimed Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes. They’ve since ascended to a major label for Return to Cookie Mountain but easily maintain their street cred.

Filled with soaring falsettos, bizarro sound effects, driving guitars and danceable synthesizers, TVotR have crafted a challenging and grandiose epic that will resound for years to come.

Plus, mmm…cookies.

—JO

Basement Jaxx
Crazy Itch Radio

XL Recordings

The supposed death of dance music got you down in the dumps? Well, beloved British hip-shakers Basement Jaxx are exactly what the doctor ordered.

As with their previous albums, the dynamic duo of Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton inject pop personality into an energetic swirl of house beats with a vast assortment of special guests ranging from Swedish pop tart Robyn to old-school rapper Biz Markie and a lot of rad singers you haven‘t heard of yet. They even bring in a banjo for the electro-country single “Take Me Back To Your House”.

This album also follows an interesting concept — the group imagines Basement Jaxx run the coolest radio station ever — but the end result is still all about getting your groove on.

—JO

Justin Timberlake
Futuresex/Lovesounds

Jive

The last person to go from boy band to king of pop was Michael Jackson. Though J-Tim is seeking a similar coronation, this time he largely ditches his Jacko impersonation and sounds more influenced by Prince on this sequel to his gazillion-selling debut Justified.

With help from super-producer Timbaland — the beat-maker behind “Cry Me A River,” as well as Missy Elliot and the new Nelly Furtado — Timberlake wraps his falsetto in distortion, shows off his beatbox skills and even duets with Oscar-winning rappers Three 6 Mafia.

From the dancefloor smash “Sexyback” to the epic ballad “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around” Timberlake and Timbaland’s future funk rarely disappoint.

—JO

Beyoncé
B’Day

Sony

This former Destiny Child continues to fulfill her destiny on solo album number two with the aggressive and undeniable insta-classic “Ring The Alarm” — a woman-scorned anthem with a distorted chorus and strong vocals that defy years of soft R&B cooing.

With one foot in cutting-edge hip hop and the other in old-school soul, not all the songs can triumph. “Irreplaceable,” “Déjà Vu,” “Get Me Bodied” and “Suga Mama” may be forgettable, but the hits won’t leave your head.

B’day may have dropped on Beyoncé’s 25th birthday, but it’s really a present for the rest of us.

—JO