Thom Yorke, The Eraser (XL): Strong solo debut finds one lonely superstar mixing snatches of heartrending beauty with agitated, shapeshifting melodies, getting great stuff from his laptop, and asking big questions: Where did you go? What’s that noise? Isn’t “How to Disappear Completely” a fabulous song?

The Adored, A New Language (V2): L.A. punks pop like it’s 1999, with enough ’77 and ’82 to keep things interesting

Muse, Black Holes and Revelations (Warner): Pretty good fourth album finds English gloomsters adding some electro and something like love songs to over-the-top cinema-rock, and, more importantly, crafting the cinema-rock better than before 

Peaches, Impeach My Bush (XL/Beggars Banquet): Porn-rapper’s just-a’ight third album, with a big load of chic bump-and-grind and bon mots like “I pissed in your pimp cup / So drink up”

JR Writer, History in the Making (Diplomat/Koch): Dipset’s hottest boy fends off his crew’s boilerplate and his own overstuffed brain on B+ debut.

Cut Chemist, The Audience’s Listening (Warner): Former Jurassic 5 DJ cuts wavery path through Brazil, some skeezy lounge and the ‘hood.

The Jesus & Mary Chain, Psychocandy; Darklands; Automatic; Honey’s Dead; Stoned and Dethroned (Rhino/Warner): Dual-disc remasters from esteemed Scottish psych-rockers, the first two worth your gas money

The Living End, State of Emergency (Adeline/Reprise): Aussie quartet move away from Clash rips and hamfisted politics, toward tuneful pop-rock

Phish, Live in Brooklyn (JEMP/Rhino): Solid set with random live extras and…really nice packaging.

Rhymefest, Blue Collar (Allido/J): B-game Kanye + big hooks + ODB singing “Build Me up Buttercup” x thoughtful ex-battle-rapper = one of the year’s best hip-hop records