On their latest release Viva la Vida, Coldplay actually did themselves a disservice- it’s going to be nearly impossible to top this record! Seriously, it’s that good.

And the funny thing is, Vida isn’t laced with a bunch of radio-ready ditties. Most of the sonic landscape of the album from start to finish is very ethereal, while singer Chris Martin infuses each song with its own undeniably infectious and memorable melody.

In the Indie music scene, obscurity oftentimes equals credibility. So when it came time for Scarlett Johansson to record her debut album, she decided to cover some of Tom Waits’ tunes in her own style.

Anywhere I Lay My Head is a droning, ethereal collection of songs done in what sounds like an echo chamber. But what it lacks in radio-friendly singles it more than makes up for in artistic integrity and sonic complexity.

It’s been three years since 2005’s You Stand Watching. And in the interim Ryan Cabrera has been touring, as well as writing and recording his new opus The Moon Under Water, which released this past Tuesday, May 13th.

Moon is a new adventure for the “On the Way Down” rocker, given that it’s his first taste of an indie project. On his blog, Ryan writes, “This is my first album off of a major record label, and I decided to keep it that way by paying for the entire project myself!! Which gave me complete creative freedom!”

Ashlee Simpson’s latest foray into the world of pop music, Bittersweet World, had a lot going for it even before its April 22nd street date. For one, there was already a strong lead single/EP with the December release of “Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya), and additionally there was all kinds of press regarding her engagement to Pete Wentz and a possible pregnancy. Was it a coincidence, or a clever marketing move by manager Papa Joe Simpson?

With the advent of Reality TV has come the phenomenon known as “Making the Band.” And Danity Kane, a MTB alum has released their sophomore album on Bad Boy Records entitled Welcome to the Dollhouse.

With guest spots by top artists like P. Diddy (he actually formed DK), Missy Elliot, and Rick Ross, you’d think that this album would be formidable… and you’d be right.

Reviewing Jennifer Lopez’s new hit song “Que Hiciste” was difficult for me, largely because I don’t fluently speak Spanish and didn’t know what J-Lo was singing about. I must say though, I think I enjoy her singing in Spanish better than English. Maybe it’s because I don’t have to try and piece together the lyrics to make any sense, but there is something that seems so natural about J-Lo singing in Spanish.

I believe Shakespeare was once attributed with saying the phrase of “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” and Beyonce definitely displays this raw emotion in her new hit video “Irreplaceable.” Although the lyrics are a tad bit childish, as is anyone during a break up, Beyonce has captured the angry emotions of a bad break up.

An old man once told me that high school love is one of the most fickle things in this world. Avril Lavigne reinforces this sentiment with her new music video “Girlfriend.” Lavigne is as rambunctious as ever with lyrics detailing the story of a girl stealing a boy who already has a girlfriend. Of course in the end, Lavigne is able to woo the boy and ends up in a bathroom stall with a powerful fist pump, now that’s kinky to say the least.

Carrie Underwood has done it again with her new hit music video “All American Girl.” Honestly, I usually could care less for the honky tonk twangs of country music, but Underwood has truly created a hit I could listen to over and over. It’s no surprise Underwood has won multiple Country Music Awards and I’m sure “All American Girl” will bring one home. This song truly strikes it home with Middle America as Underwood displays both sincerity and beauty with the variation of outfits displayed in the video.