In this week's slate of Rolling Stone reviews, Jody Rosen hails Kelly Clarkson's new album, Stronger, as a fine if somewhat formulaic showcase for her powerhouse vocal chops. Also, Will Hermes praises Tom Waits' latest masterpiece, Bad As Me, and Surfer Blood's poppy new EP, Tarot Classics, and Jon Dolan salutes the final single from the recently disbanded R.E.M..

ALBUMS

Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (stream one song)

Tom Waits - Bad As Me (stream one song)

Deer Tick - Divine Providence (stream one song)

Justice - Audio, Video, Disco (stream full album)

Surfer Blood - Tarot Classics (stream one song)

Joe Jonas - Fastlife (stream one song)

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (stream one song)

Nick Lowe - The Old Magic (stream one song)

Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do (stream one song)

SONGS

R.E.M. "We All Go Back to Where We Belong" (stream)

Florence and the Machine "Shake It Out" (stream)

T.I. "I'm Flexin'" (stream)

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Song Stories