Five Albums You Need to Check Out

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
This album is perfect marriage of hard-rocking, riff-heavy guitar playing and pop song sensibility with Dave Grohl’s seamless songwriting and rock ‘n’ roll feel. The new album features three guitarists, with longtime Nirvana and Foo Fighters collaborator Pat Smear rejoining the band, so there’s a whole lotta rockin'. The album is sure to keep your head banging and your voice singing.

Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
Sam Beam, known by his stage name of Iron and Wine, expands his musicality a little bit more with each album. This album tastefully features some horns and funky keyboards in a few small doses. It's great listening from beginning to end, with driving, upbeat songs and softer, more somber acoustic songs. This is a musician who has only gotten better as his audience has grown.

Gorillaz – The Fall
This album was recorded using iPad applications while the band was on tour in North America this past fall. Band leader Damon Albarn utilized the all-star lineup of musicians he had on tour, including Bobby Womack and The Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon. The album features a variety of electronic instruments and sounds as well as acoustic instruments.

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
This band is overflowing with vocal harmonies, melodic acoustic guitar playing and flat out talent. This album comes out on May 3, but you can hear the title track here. I suggest checking out their stellar self-titled album to get you pumped for the new release. If you dig it, I’d say go check them out at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on May 15, but the show is sold out. Glad I got my tickets early!

Adele – 21
If you hear Adele sing and you’re not immediately reeled in, there’s something wrong with you. Her new album, 21, is at number one on the Billboard charts (as of April 19) and her previous album, 19, is at number 49. Her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics reach new heights on this album.