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John Mayer “Dreaming With a Broken Heart”
“Waking up is the hardest part,” Mayer sings in this aching ballad, which is nailed down by a lyrical, George Harrison-style guitar solo.
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The Rapture “Get Myself Into It”
The New York band that revitalized dance punk holds it down with this anthem – lots of cowbell, lots of bass.
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Mastadon “Bladecatcher”
Metal-guitar chops make a big return: medieval blood and thunder, plus a whole lot of roller-coaster riffing.
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TV on the Radio “Wolf Like Me”
On this bluesy barnburner that drips with menace, Tunde Adebimpe sings the album’s mission statement: “Gonna teach you tricks that will blow your mind.”
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Junior Boys “Like a Child”
A buzzy, oddly seductive slow jam that sounds like a mating song between two genial robots.
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Radiodread “Paranoid Android”
Robust horns replace the driving guitars here, and “Jah” replaces “God” in the lyric. Amazingly, it works.
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Bob Seger “Face the Promise”
The heartland rock legend assumes the role of “small-towned-out” Delta worker in this barreling tune, which features spidery Duane Eddy-style guitar.
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Listen to all of this issue’s Key Tracks

More: Listen to more choice cuts from the CD reviews section