The White Stripes
Elephant
Because I’m in a rock ’n’ roll state of mind. And because the sad reality is that, with a few exceptions, there hasn’t been anything produced in that vast genre worth listening to since Elephant’s seismic release in 2003.
When the only other options are sterile bands like My Chemical Romance and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I’d rather bide time with The White Stripes until something worthwhile explodes on the scene again. –Joshua Longobardy
Cowboy Junkies
At the End of Paths Taken
I keep falling for the juicy promise that the Timmins family will push their talent further and produce something that stays true to their haunting previous 10,000 CDs but somehow be ... fresh. Wrong again. More of the same: deep, painful songs that leave you either contemplative or ready to hurl yourself over the dam, quick-like. Margo’s dark, sultry vocals still make you swoon, but the tired topic of life sucking is a real drag. –Stacy J. Willis
Redman
Muddy Waters
As a fan of the Funk Doctor Spot, I should be forced to smoke some low-grade weed for preferring this 1996 album over his current release. But funk what ya heard, this was his best work. Over Erick Sermon beats that harken to his EPMD days, hip-hop’s former Mr. Consistency brings the lyrical ruckus (faves include “It’s Like That” and “Do What You Feel”) and the funny, with hymns to weed and skits on gold-diggers. It doesn’t get any Redder than this. –Damon Hodge