Critics of the modern Christian rock sound should take heed of Bleach's new self-titled release. They'll be hard-pressed to find fault. Bleach is wonderfully surprising both in its complexity and accessibility. The Ramone-like choruses on "Heartbeat," "You Are Good," and "Once Again Here We Are" show the band knows a good melodic hook when it writes one. Yet for every power-pop gem, Bleach counters with "Sun Stands Still" and "Straight Shooter," hard-rockin' numbers that are deep and wide and allow the group to flex its musical muscle. For good measure, the band throws in the acoustic, pensive "What Will Your Anthem Be" and the praise-and-worship-oriented "All to You," firming up the fact that singer Dave Baysinger has a real rock & roll voice that can carry a lyric through loud and soft. After two inconsistent releases, the third time's the charm for Bleach. —Michael Lyttle

After a three-year hiatus, Nashville's propulsive pop-punk act Bleach return with a grittier, heavier sound for their positive anthems. Almost every one of the songs on Again, for the First Time sounds made for radio in the best sense, especially the stripped-down, super catchy "Fell Out" and the fuzzed-out "Baseline," with its shouted refrain of "Let's break out." Fans of Jimmy Eat World, the Newsboys , and Audio Adrenaline will find much to enjoy on this spirited release of honest, thick-glasses punk. A little more diversity would be nice, but as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, why fix it? —Mike McGonigal

Justin Vernon began recording as Bon Iver following the breakup of DeYarmond Edison, an indie folk group similar in tone and manner to Iron & Wine, Little Wings and, to a certain extent, Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Pronounced 'bohn eevair', it is French for "good winter" which is spelled wrong deliberately. This debut CD is centered around Justin Vernon, who is the primary force behind Bon Iver, as he moved to a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin at the onset of winter, alone for three months. From this solitary time emerged a bold, uninhibited new musical focus of all his personal trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss, and guilt that had been stockpiled over the past six years into songs. The NY Times called this record "irresistible", and it was given a "Recommended" rating by Pitchfork. 9 tracks. Jagjaguwar Records. 2008.

THE SUN AND THE MOON COMPLETE is a specially-packaged TWO DISC SET at the same LOW PRICE. Disc One was produced and mixed by two-time Grammy Award winner Brendan O'Brien, best known for his work with Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Stone Temple Pilots, Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and other multi-platinum acts. Disc Two is the entire album re-imagined remixed by Bravery front man and chief song writer Sam Endicott.

This relaunch comes on the heels of the Bravery's assault on MTV (52/52, Cribs and the new Bravery video "Believe" have all aired in the last month); the band's next sold-out headline tour; and the single "Believe" entering the Top 10 at Modern Rock.

To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks about sonic reinvention, the world has been curious (to say the least) to hear what the `new' Coldplay might sound like. Viva La Vida definitely makes some departures from the band's usual formula, which happens to be one of the most commercially successful rock-pop blueprints of recent years. The plangent chords, emotive melodies, stadium-rock rhythms and universal lyrical concerns remain, but Martin and co. have gone out on several limbs here, incorporating instrumental tracks ("Life In Technicolour"), using subtle North African and Latin elements ("Yes", "Strawberry Swing"), and overhauling previously strict verse-chorus-verse structures in favour of slightly more avant arrangements. The old Coldplay still shine through (see tracks like "Violet Hill" and the title song) but even their classic sound feels more muscular and confident. The band's new flourishes, cosmetic and self-conscious as they may be, are enough to make Viva La Vida a welcome break from the old routine —Danny McKenna

People en Español
Cuando Coldplay anunció con bombo y platillo que su cuarto disco, bajo el ambicioso título de Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, vendría acompañado de la producción de Brian Eno, dos escenarios se convertían en posibilidad: o se trataba de su peor álbum o la obra maestra de su carrera. Afortunadamente, la producción de Eno no lleva a la banda británica a imitar a U2 por ningún momento, y en cambio, el grupo liderado por Chris Martin presenta el mejor disco en su trayectoria, ofreciendo un sonido distinto, en el que por fin se alejan del pianito hartante de sus primeros tres álbumes y suenan como lo que siempre prometieron ser: una de las mejores bandas del mundo. "Life In Technicolor," "Viva la Vida," y sobre todo el tema "Lost!," representan a Coldplay en su momento cumbre. —Ernesto Sánchez (People en Español )

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Coldplay Photos        

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X&Y
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2008 enhanced CD pressing of the first single pulled from their 2008 album In Ghost Colours. Haunted with machines of the past and sounds of the future, Cut Copy inhabit the kind of space in time where trends are irrelevant and music is about feeling rather than following. At once both jacking and jangly, electronic and organic, Cut Copy have crafted a record filled with glorious sounds and moods.