Danzig “Skeletons” Evilive/Nuclear Blast Glenn Danzig is one of the most legendary names and voices in music today. On the surface, this makes “Skeletons” an interesting project: An artist who has inspired so many musicians releases an album of the songs that inspired him. Cool. The problem (if the album’s

Justin Bieber “Purpose” Def Jam If there is an overarching theme to be found in “Purpose,” it is one of mia culpa. Surprisingly, Beiber seems to be at a point in his life when he has at least enough self-awareness to understand that he has made some mistakes along the

Kurt Cobain “Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings” Universal Here is possibly the worst thing that “The Home Recordings” does: It comes very, very close to making Kurt Cobain boring. Cobain was, as anyone who knew him or saw him live will attest, a fascinating individual. But all “The Home

Courtney Krause “Thoughts and Sound” Independent Virtually everything about Courtney Krause is delightful, and you can now add her debut album to the list. “Thoughts and Sound” is a lovely bit of work, in a genre that is woefully under-represented in Des Moines’ musical landscape. “Thoughts and Sound” avoids the

Steve Martin & Edie Brickell “So Familiar” Rounder Records This is an absolutely delightful pairing. Martin, long known for his comedic chops, is one of the more accomplished banjo players around and has the ability to concoct simple, heart-tugging melodies. Brickell, ever the songwriter’s songwriter, has been criminally under-appreciated for

Demi Lovato “Confident” Safehouse Let’s start with a potentially divisive declaration: Demi Lovato’s “Cool For the Summer” is the best song written this year. Do with that information what you will. Outside of that track, “Confident” is the next step in Lovato’s progression from wholly owned subsidiary of the Disney

The Zombies “Still Got That Hunger” The End Records There was a time when The Zombies were legitimately great. It was 50 years ago. In fact, but for the sheer stubborn-mindedness of the band itself, The Zombies should have been relegated to the scrap heap of bands that released one

Run the Jewels “Meow the Jewels” Mass Appeal It should go without saying, but let us just get it out in the open anyway: “Meow the Jewels” is by no means a serious album. The only reason this album exists in the first place is because Run the Jewels produced

Sexwitch Self-titled BMG Natasha Khan — perhaps best known for her work as Bat for Lashes — has taken a bit of a left turn with Sexwitch. Produced in collaboration with east London quintet Toy and producer Dan Carey, Sexwitch’s debut album is mostly a psych-pop take on Middle Eastern

Ryan Adams “1989” Atlantic Ryan Adams has done something seemingly impossible. He has opened up Taylor Swift’s music to an audience of people who would never have listened to the pop princess herself and has managed to validate and elevate both himself and T-Swift in the process. Adams’ “1989” is