Who says discipline is a bad thing? No one who's heard American Beauty, the Dead's greatest studio achievement. Showcasing 10 concise, country-rooted gems that sound equally good whether... read more

Who says discipline is a bad thing? No one who's heard American Beauty, the Dead's greatest studio achievement. Showcasing 10 concise, country-rooted gems that sound equally good whether you're hanging on the front porch in the afternoon or nursing a bottle after hours, this one could win over many an anti-Jerry. Bewildered by loss both personal and social--the hippie dream was quickly crashing by Beauty's 1970 release date--the band put its querulousness ("Box of Rain") and wry humor ("Truckin'") into the service of a masterwork. The most impressive cut of all may be "Ripple," Garcia's spiritual credo. --Rickey Wright (hide)

After two expansive yet winsome epic albums like The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots that dealt with the inevitability of death in the face of... read more

After two expansive yet winsome epic albums like The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots that dealt with the inevitability of death in the face of life, the Oklahoma City art provocateurs have abandoned the concept album approach and done an about face. They've returned to their earlier canon, channeling their messy psychedelica through a 70s funk scrim, and yet again figured out a way to elevate the ordinary to the sublime--even out-weirding Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd on a track like "Pompeii," and precariously balancing out on the astral plane on "Wizard Turns On." And while you might be tempted to believe that this band is just about their cartoonish space bubbles on pink rabbits, it is at your own peril. At War With the Mystics is an intelligent and searing indictment of George W. Bush, his administration, suicide bombers, superficiality and undeserved stardom--branding them all sinners of similar stripe. A song like "Sound of Failure/It's Dark...Is it Always This Dark?" boldly calls out pop culture princesses Gwen Stefani and Britney Spears, but not without first giving them a wet kiss goodnight. "Free Radicals" is a precious soul romp that sounds like Prince in his prime, but instead was oddly inspired by a dream about Devendra Banhart, and is an sharp arrow aimed straight at the heart of would-be terrorists. Major domo and head Lip Wayne Coyne is a shrewd observer of human nature, and an even shrewder songwriter and this album stands as his greatest and most varied work yet. --Jaan Uhelszki (hide)

John Mayer's third studio album follows the multi-platinum "Room for Squares" (2001) and "Heavier Things" (2003), and marks his first turn as producer. It is his most soulful,... read more

John Mayer's third studio album follows the multi-platinum "Room for Squares" (2001) and "Heavier Things" (2003), and marks his first turn as producer. It is his most soulful, cohesive collection yet and he says it's no accident that this project is where all of his efforts, his potential, and his disparate influences fully come together.

More from Mayer

Room for Squares	Heavier Things	Try!, the John Mayer Trio
Inside Wants Out (EP)	Any Given Thursday (CD)	Any Given Thursday (DVD)

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On Dream, prolific solo artist Keller Williams opens up his one-man show to welcome a bevy of musical talents to the party. Well-known visitors like String Cheese Incident... read more

On Dream, prolific solo artist Keller Williams opens up his one-man show to welcome a bevy of musical talents to the party. Well-known visitors like String Cheese Incident and Bela Fleck slide in on the jam and jazz grooves, adding texture and body to the skeletal guitar riffs and who-needs-a-rhythm-section solo frenzies Williams is known for creating in his live shows. The resulting tracks are quirky and eclectic, mashing up funk, bluegrass, rock and reggae, and Williams's lyrics are typically eccentric, as on "Restraint" --"I wanna jump your bones, but you're on the phone and it sounds kind of important." Jam-band elder statesman and Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir guests on "Cadillac," which imagines cruising with Allah, Buddha, and Santa with Jesus in the back "cuz he knows there ain't no bad seat in my cadillac." With Dream on your car stereo, you never know who might come along for the ride. --Ben Heege (hide)