the Sun Turns Black finds the introspective singer/songwriter complementing his folk-country ways with traces of strings and horns and spooky soulful background voices. Songs like "You Can Bring Me Flowers" and "Three More Days" are the most R&B-influenced, the latter shuffling about ala The Band or Tony Joe White. Despite its brooding lyrics, "Empty" has a rollicking, almost breezy delivery, a perfect balance to either the hushed title track, the unnerving "Be Here Now" or the horn-fortified waltz, "Gone Away From Me." Throughout the 11-song sequence, and especially on the final song "Within You," LaMontagne’s voice remains the record’s most crucial element, as vibrant as it is tattered and as harsh as it is flawless. --Scott Holter  (less)

edge or her appetite for revenge. Yet the quieter "Desperation," the more tuneful and tender "Love Letters," the wistful "More Like Her," and the primally intense "Down" show her emotional range and maturity. While her songwriting remains a strength, Lambert also displays superb taste in other people's material, with "Dry Town" (by Gillian Welch), "Getting Ready" (a new song from Patty Griffin), and "Easy from Now On" (with the lyric that provided the title to Emmylou Harris's classic Quarter Moon in a Ten-Cent Town ) reinforcing the musical quality. There isn't a throwaway cut here. --Don McLeese  (less)

carried us through the darkness. One of the most influential and successful singer-songwriters of the last 40 years, Yusuf has provided the perfect salve for a troubled world--a beautifully nuanced, warm voice shielding us against harsh, turbulent times bringing songs of truth and hope. Just when we need him most, Yusuf is back with roadsinger, an 11-song collection about the evanescent dreams of life and the promise that spiritual fulfillment brings for those who are ready to travel far enough. "While writing these songs I was getting a new idea every day and every song said, `sing me', Yusuf says, sitting casually on a sofa in a hotel suite in Los Angeles. "You don't `make' the music; you just interpret something that's passing through you." The enjoyment that com...  (less)

to rock many of the traditional hymns and popular carols without excess or restraint. No mean feat. Even "Silent Night," here played as it were always a country-rocker (with Amy Grant singing harmony), is rendered with spirited reinvention, while the band's guitar-driven sound always seems to draw yet more from such classics as "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear." Although the entire group could be accused of being U2's poor American cousins (despite Millard not yet having achieved the global sainthood of Bono for his humanitarian work), no one is going to be disappointed if this record gets wrapped up with a cool bow and pretty paper, or stuffed in a long stocking hanging on the mantle. Highly recomme...  (less)

tracks are 'The Christmas Song', 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', 'I'll Be Home for Christmas, 'Winter Wonderland', 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town', 'Christmas Time is Here', 'My Favorite Things', 'The Christmas Waltz', 'Christmas Auld Lang Syne', 'Silver Bells' and 'Christmas Tree'.  (less)

Features three versions of 'How To Save A Life': New Album Version, Acoustic Version and Enhanced Video. Epic. 2006.  (less)

album. An open-hearted album of self-discovery, City of Black & White is a chronicle of the people he met and missed during that journey. Musically, it's an upping of the ante, laced with hooks and rhythms that are meant to sneak up on you quietly and quickly, en route to winning your love.  (less)

Dance' and 'Poker Face'), Soulshock and Karlin, Jim Jonsin ((Lil Wayne's 'Lollipop', T.I.'s 'Whatever You Like'), Brian Kennedy (Rihanna's 'Disturbia', Chris Brown's 'Forever', Jennifer Hudson), and Claude Kelly (co-writer Britney 'Circus' and Kelly Clarkson's 'My Life Would Suck Without You').  (less)

with her longtime producer Pierre Marchand. In addition the deluxe two CD set includes an expanded booklet and original art-print from Sarah Mclachlan.  (less)

as The Lonely Island made online and television history with some of the webs most popular satirical sketches, including such SNL/YouTube classics `D**k In A Box,' featuring Justin Timberlake, and `Lazy Sunday,' a farcical rap about `The Chronicles Of Narnia.' Their latest digital short and first single from "INCREDIBAD, "Jizz In My Pants," became the #1 Most Viewed Video on YouTube with after one airing on SNL. ago. The group adopted the moniker in honor of their first L.A. apartment where the trio initially began making short films with the idea of posting them on the internet. Their homegrown website grew in popularity thanks to breakthrough sketches such as 'The 'BU' and homemade music videos like, 'Ka...  (less)