The highlights from this week’s Rolling Stone album reviews include The Decemberists‘ The King is Dead, which Will Hermes praised for its sumptuous harmonies and unfussy arrangements; a reissue of the Jayhawks’ overlooked alternative country classic Tomorrow the Green Grass; and the second album by Rolling Stone Band of the Week Smith Westerns, which Jon Dolan describes as “an overpowering blast of glam-rocking gorgeousness.”

On the singles front, Rob Sheffield loved the new Britney Spears hit “Hold It Against Me,” but Jody Rosen was not very impressed by Kanye West and Jay-Z‘s “chest-thumping” on “H.A.M.,” the first track from their upcoming record Watch the Throne.

Albums:

The Decemberists – The King is Dead (stream full album)

The Jayhawks – Tomorrow the Green Grass: Legacy Edition (Reissue) (stream two songs)

Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues (stream full album)

Smith Westerns – Dye it Blonde (stream full album)

Braids – Native Speaker (stream one song)

White Lies – Ritual (stream live performance of one song)

Tennis – Cape Dory (stream two songs)

Singles:

Britney Spears “Hold It Against Me” (stream)

Kanye West and Jay-Z “H.A.M.” (stream)

Timbaland and Missy Elliott “Take Ur Clothes Off” (stream)

Lykke Li “Get Some (Remix by Beck)” (stream)

Drive-By Truckers “Used to Be a Cop” (stream)

Stevie Nicks “Secret Love” (stream)

Wanda Jackson “Thunder on the Mountain” (stream)
Pre-order the vinyl record from Third Man, or buy it from iTunes.