Dashboard Confessional fans: have no fear. The band’s sixth album is not the deviation in style the title seems to suggest. The songs follow Dashboard’s traditional themes of heartbreak and anguish, relying heavily on vocals and acoustics. As always, Dashboard manages to blend deeply personal and emotional lyrics with an upbeat tempo.

“Who says I can’t get stoned?” The opening line of the first single “Who Says,” on John Mayer’s new Battle Studies, is an accurate portrayal of the album: Downbeat tones over scoff-worthy lyrics that you would only expect to be sung by a self-admitted douchebag.

For 17 years now, Built to Spill has produced album after album of twisting and turning, multi-layered, experimental rock music for an ever-growing fan base. There Is No Enemy is a high note for the band, whose current sound continues previous records’ trajectory and features a more matured and cultivated style.

You might expect the Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas to be a little groggy after awakening from a three-year artistic hibernation, but instead, he calmly brushes the dust off his leather jacket, Casiotone keyboards and mic stand to deliver a punchy and refreshing solo debut with Phrazes for the Young. Infectious energy and meticulously crafted arrangements abound through the 40-minute album as Casablancas pieces together classically catchy compositions, sprawling country waltzes and hypnotic electronic blitzes to create one of the years more engaging releases.

Detroit’s Royce Da 5’9” sounds real hungry on his fourth solo album. While a lot of cookie cutter rappers are out there right now talking about how much money and what they do with it, Royce tells stories and welcome us into his world. And he sounds like he means every syllable of what he says. 5’9” comes with a raw energy that most couldn’t muster if they worked their whole life.

From the first song, “Gun Harmonizing,” on which he bursts onto the album with sputtered scatting and verbal gun sounds, Royce Da 5’9” sounds like he’s attacking the mic. Snapping snares and a hard-hitting kick drum compliment Royce’s verbal attack very well.

I get it indie rock stars. You need to make money. And teen sagas involving vampires make lots of money. So obviously getting your music into said sagas equals money! But really, the New Moon OST? I’m positive your intentions were not to try to redeem a lame movie via the soundtrack. I’m even more positive you’re all definitely in it for the money and you have to feel at least a little bit dirty for contributing to this one. Better yet, you must even be feeling a little bit of regret after the “almighty” Pitchfork gave your soundtrack a measly 5.4. That’s rough.

You won’t find this album on sale at any store in America: it is only available in the UK. Here’s a little heads up — Mr. Hudson is one of the best new artists to hit the scene this year. You may have heard him on Jay-Z’s new song “Young Forever,” and now his solo career has exploded. His debut album, Straight No Chaser, is executive produced by Kanye West and features songs fitting for Kanye’s album 808’s and Heartbreak. Don’t let Kanye’s influence fool you though — Mr. Hudson thankfully succeeds where he miserably failed.

You won’t find this album on sale at any store in America: it is only available in the UK. Here’s a little heads up — Mr. Hudson is one of the best new artists to hit the scene this year. You may have heard him on Jay-Z’s new song “Young Forever,” and now his solo career has exploded. His debut album, Straight No Chaser, is executive produced by Kanye West and features songs fitting for Kanye’s album 808’s and Heartbreak. Don’t let Kanye’s influence fool you though — Mr. Hudson thankfully succeeds where he miserably failed.

After losing their record label to Chapter 11 bankruptcy and changing guitarists during a busy 2008, The Cinematics have resurrected themselves and produced Love and Terror, their second full album. Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, the Cinematics have a post-punk sound reminiscent of bands like The Cure with an added darker, heavier element, almost grunge-like bass and lead singer Scott Rinning’s deep rhythmic voice.

I should preface this by saying that I have never read any of the books in the Twilight series, nor did I see last year’s Twilight film. More then that, I have no desire to ever read a word that Stephanie Meyer has written about the turbulent love affair of Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan, or see any film adaptation of the story. I’ve come to this decision on my own without ever having direct exposure to the work, because like it or not, Twilight has become ingrained in our poplar culture as a nation, spawning a vampire-centric craze unseen since the glory days of my beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This vampire frenzy that dominates our media, from HBO’s True Blood to the confusing new John C.