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Rhapsody Feature

Coldplay

This British quartet's casual dream pop melodies and poetic lyrics have brought it international stardom.

Top 3 Albums In Rhapsody

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends- Coldplay

Coldplay have mastered their anthemic craft so precisely that with every peak of Chris Martin's falsetto you can hear the faintest cha-ching of dollar signs. So, for them to usher in Brian Eno to help dip their toes into new terrain is a move that deserves some props. Eno gives them room to build their grandiose crescendos, while adding in oblique bars of airy soundscapes ("Life in Technicolor"), Eastern strings ("Yes"), Renaissance strut ("Strawberry Swing") and even some Phil Collins swagger ("Violet Hill"). It's a good progression, but not as innovative as they might have been hoping for.
Editor: Stephanie Benson

A Little Bit Longer- Jonas Brothers

Among the High School Musicians to storm the charts in the mid-'00s, the Jonas Brothers may yet prove themselves to be the most enduring, as evidenced by their third full-length. With subtle sophistication, the guitar raves here bear the instincts (if not always the influence) of dad's Cheap Trick LPs, and the best of these tracks, "One Man Show" and "Burnin' Up," boast a caffeinated catchiness that trumps the tween-targeted records of their past. And when they throw curves (the breezy ballad "Lovebug," the snarky "Video Girl"), it's a glimpse of the promise of future records.
Editor: Nate Cavalieri

Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded- Rihanna

For her third disc, "Lil Miss Sunshine" stakes a claim as the queen of R&B by turning to the '80s. On "Shut Up and Drive," she samples New Order's "Blue Monday," while lead single "Umbrella" -- with Rihanna's understated, nasal vocals wrapping around dramatic strings -- would fit nicely in a John Hughes flick. The spunky "Breakin' Dishes" is more fun than bitter, and "Rehab" overcomes its rather mawkish sentiments to be an effective break-up ballad. There's hardly a throwaway track, and Rihanna continues to evolve. This edition includes three unreleased tracks, including hit "Take a Bow."
Editor: Sam Chennault

Top 10 Tracks In Rhapsody

Viva La Vida

Album: Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Artist: Coldplay

Disturbia

Album: Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
Artist: Rihanna

Paper Planes

Album: Kala
Artist: M.I.A.

Burnin' Up

Album: Burnin' Up
Artist: Jonas Brothers

I Kissed A Girl

Album: I Kissed A Girl
Artist: Katy Perry

I'm Yours

Album: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
Artist: Jason Mraz

Shake It

Album: Metro Station
Artist: Metro Station

Handlebars

Album: Fight With Tools
Artist: Flobots

Forever (Main Version)

Album: Forever
Artist: Chris Brown

A Milli

Album: Tha Carter III
Artist: Lil Wayne

New Releases In Rhapsody

Narrow Stairs- Death Cab For Cutie

Death Cab take a great leap forward with Narrow Stairs, combining their trademark melodic indie pop with the kind of loose, free-wheeling band jams that Wilco are famous for. And while the sound and feel here is brawnier, the band hasn't gotten any less brainy, or dialed down the plaintiveness it's known for: as evidenced by the bonus acoustic tracks featured on this exclusive expanded edition -- including "Brothers on a Hotel Bed" from Plans and the chestnut "Photobooth" from 2000's Forbidden Love EP -- Ben Gibbard's heartfelt croon and intellectual prose is in fine form.
Editor: Nick Dedina

Shwayze- Shwayze

What do you get when you mix Sublime¢Â€Â™s chemically induced devil-may-care, antipathy -as-transcendence SoCal Buddhism with Limp Bizkit¢Â€Â™s nookie-kneading ethos and a dollop of J5 Old-Skool lite hip-hop? One of the biggest singles of the year, apparently. Hits singles ¢Â€ÂœBuzzin¢Â€Â™¢Â€Â and "Corona and Lime" are the type of song you tease your lil¢Â€Â™ sis for jocking yet find yourself humming on the way to work. If nothing else here rises to those heights, it¢Â€Â™s only because Swayze is busy partying at the ¢Â€Âœbackyard block party out by the mall.¢Â€Â
Editor: Sam Chennault

Rhapsody Originals: Live In Las Vegas- Daughtry

This streamlined live set, recorded in Las Vegas, makes a case for Chris Daughtry's ability as a live performer. With crisp acoustic guitars, "What About Now?" is served best by the setting, though fan favorites like "It's Not Over" and "Home" are rewarded with the roar of the crowd.
Editor: Nate Cavalieri

Rhapsody Staff Picks

Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It?- Isaac Hayes

This definitive 32-track collection spans Hayes' entire career: his early days at Stax, Oscar-winning Shaft score, late-'70s disco period, and finally his role as Chef on South Park. All of his major hits are included, as well as rare B-sides and other gems. Classic material from a true legend.
Editor: Brolin Winning

Here & Gone- David Sanborn

With Here & Gone, David Sanborn leaves modern instrumental pop behind to pay loving tribute to his main influence, the legendary soul-jazz saxophonist Hank Crawford. Sanborn and his band (which includes the rhythm section of Christian McBride and Steve Gadd) sizzle through songs associated with Crawford, his boss Ray Charles and his saxophone associate "Fathead" Newman. Sam Moore, Joss Stone and a truly simpatico Eric Clapton lend vocal support, but this is Sanborn's show. Play "St. Louis Blues," "Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Basin Street Blues" (loaded with musical quotes) now.
Editor: Nick Dedina

Get Lucky- Loverboy

Cut through the shiny production values and the perpetually sweating vocals of headband-wearing '80s dude Mike Reno and you'll see that Loverboy was actually pretty adept at constructing near-perfect rock songs. "Working For the Weekend" is the one you still hear all the time but don't skip the Eagles-like "When It's Over" and the Cheap Trick-ish "Take Me To the Top."
Editor: Mike McGuirk