How do you craft a chart-topping pop album these days? The short, and easiest answer is, don't bother.

Crowded House's latest addition to their career comeback is more successful than its predecessor

Violinist Anthony Marwood leads us into the world of Smetana on the Florestan Trio's new disc of Czech Trios.

Rebuilding the Temple.

The title of this fifth album by the Brooklyn five-piece is a loose tribute to the late US guitar outfit Husker Du

Tingling your hairs, then tickling your feet, Monae's energetic combination of musical genres urges you to clap your hands.

The hand-drawn imagery is on Woods' fifth album is spot on.

Now this is more like it from fitful British soul singer, beat boxer, and rogue music-maker Jamie Lidell.

Known for producing blues-rock as thick as drummer Patrick Carney's glasses, Ohio-based duo The Black Keys has over the years tossed its tunes in everything from garage-rock to hip-hop.

As he proved on his two previous albums, this immensely quiffed sharp-suited Bostonian risks getting beaten by his own schtick.

Soul singer and Muscle Shoals veteran LaVette has enjoyed a revival recently: her 2005 album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise.

The Dead Weather do what they do best on Sea of Cowards.

Sometimes people play down their talent so their peers think they are cooler.

It was Auckland's Arch Hill Recordings that became the flagbearer for much of indie rock in New Zealand through the 2000s.

Paul's purple patch.

On Diamond Eyes Chino is back to his shrieking, yowling, and soaring best with a unique voice that sounds like he's singing through a loud hailer.

It starts very distinctively Kate Nash: all pretty piano, stirring strings, claps, and her voice - sweet as pain au chocolate.

Tyson Smith's debut album comes about after a fair bit of traveling and he alludes to its intercontinental feel with the image on the cover.

Recent Sub Pop recruits Dum Dum Girls reference the Iggy Pop's track in their name and, it's a good starting point to their sound.

There's a toughness to Lewis McCallum's music that makes it resonate and shine.

Not since Shihad's Killjoy has a New Zealand album - or many other albums for that matter - lurched with the power, brutality and beauty that Arc Of Ascent's Circle of the Sun does.

After the mediocre solo outing of 2004's American Sweetheart, Courtney Love is back with her band Hole for their fourth album.

On Everything P-Money takes off into an oonst-driven dance direction.