Lupe Fiasco “Little Weapon”
The unlikely alliance of Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump and rapper Fiasco yields a message song linking video games to Third World violence.
[Listen]-[Review]

Cat Power “I Believe in You”
Cat Power transforms Bob Dylan’s 1979 ode to Jesus into an inspirational tale about her own salvation.
[Listen]-[Review]

The-Dream “Nikki”
The R&B guru behind Rihanna’s “Umbrella” wisely saved this embittered message to an ex-girlfriend for himself.
[Listen]-[Review]

Ringo Starr0
“Liverpool 8”
Ringo recalls his days “with George and Paul and my friend John” on this sweet look back at his life, hometown and career.
[Review]

Black Mountain
“Bright Lights”
Equal parts Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, Black Mountain pull off the rare feat of making a sixteen-minute opus an album high point.
[Listen]-[Review]