The question is this: can Liam Gallagher ever be an elder statesman of anything? In an England swamped in punk and new wave variants, Oasis' Britpop now borders on adult--which isn't to say it's stodgy. The group's newest spins the psychedelic style as a textural wonderland.

Filed in: Pop/Rock

If your friends beat you to all the great indie hip-hop in Detroit right now, don't say we didn't warn you. The latest strong set is this Slum Village MC's first solo effort, which combines a ferocious-but-prophetic vocal vibe with a hallmark mix of organic drums and instrumental strains.

Filed in: Underground Rap

Doubt usually trumps confidence as a songman's theme, and the title of Pryor's solo disc should be taken with a wink: this is an exploration of self, not some celebration. It's a winning one, too. Lush folk-pop guitar meets the sweetly searching vocals of a coffeehouse graduate.

Filed in: Pop/Rock

Soul vet Ware has spent many years toiling mostly behind the scenes, and that role actually pays dividends on his new feature LP. "Moon Ride" turns out to be a genre-bender full of insider tricks, with cool jazz flourishes and classic Motown touches burnishing the modern soul.

Filed in: Smooth Soul

The East Bay act accomplishes an impressive feat of time travel, joining the warm funk of an earlier Oakland with the frosty synthesizers of today's model. Snazzy processing tricks and a feel for both hip-hop and techno cap off a seriously heady club music.

Filed in: Alternative Dance