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Gomez - How We Operate - ATO Records
Gomez’ first effort on their new Dave-Matthews-helmed label - on which they collaborate with Pixies/No Doubt/Foo Fighters producer Gil Norton - is a slightly less personal disc than previous efforts, showcasing the band’s sometimes-unexpected pop foundation. The country-rock flavors are still intact, but now there’s a more perky approach to the songs, with extra-radio-friendly vocal tracks and slightly slicker production.  Being their fifth studio album, Gomez definitely know what they’re doing, but they like to switch things up a little, too, throwing in additional folky sounds (harmonica, mandolin) to keep your ears popping with the unexpected.  Highlights here include the self-mocking “Cry on Demand,” the supercatchy “Girlshapedlovedrug,” the equally catchy “Hamoa Beach,” and the melancholy “See the World.”

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones - Interscope
Still showcasing some of the now-well-known caterwauling and yelping of frontwoman Karen, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs nonetheless embark on their second album with an apparant eye towards a little change. That’s not to say that they’ve changed their aggressive formula too much, though - these songs still hold a driving force - but Karen’s taken a step back, which makes her vocals more about the songs and less about the novelty.  This is a good thing.  Karen can be compared to plenty of singers - PJ Harvey and the B-52’s Kate Pierson, for two - but she’s also making a stronger mark with her spiky vocals on songs like “Mysteries” and the radio-friendly “Warrior” - yeah, there’s a distinctive Yeahs sound here, but there’s also some sharp variety, proving that both Karen and her bandmates are more than a one-trick pony.

Daniel Powter - Daniel Powter - WEA/Warner Bros.
Written over the course of a year and inspired, in part, by his childhood violin lessons, French-Canadian Powter’s music first came to U.S. audiences’ attention through (cough cough) American Idol, where his track “Bad Day” is used to play out the latest voted-off contestant.  But c’mon now, don’t fault him for this association - he’s got some great songwriting skills, and a unique approach to singing, via which he largely uses his well-honed falsetto much more than most male singers might dare. He also showcases an equally interesting range of song styles on this disc, from that aforementioned hit single to the opener, “Song 6,” the modern rocker “Free Loop,” the pretty and hesitant “Suspect,” and the heartfelt closer, “Give Me Life.”  These sprinklings of everything from ‘70s pop to party rock, groovin’ soul to more typical piano-driven singer-songwriter tracks give this disc life, indeed.

Massive Attack - Collected - Virgin Records
You can expect a brand new Massive Attack disc early next year, but for now, you’ll have to make due with this more than apt consolation prize for 2006.  Basically a best-of set for the band, this album brings together fourteen of what their fans would likely consider Massive Attack’s essential tracks, plus one new single, “Live With Me,” which features Terry Callier on vocals, and which you may have heard as early as this past March, when it was pre-released.  So just which fourteen tunes are included?  Well, much of their early work has been left off, but later tracks like “Future Proof” and “Angel” are here, as are many of the guest-starring songs that helped gain the band attention - like “Karmacoma” (with Tricky), “Teardrop” (with Liz Fraser), and other tunes that include contributions from the likes of Sinead O’Connor, Horace Andy, and Tracey Thorn.
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