Jason Mraz, “We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things” (Atlantic)Singer-songwriter Mraz smooths things out on this horn-soaked, R&B-indebted disc, which is still driven by his signature light-fingered acoustic-guitar work.
Death Cab for Cutie, “Narrow Stairs” (Atlantic)Ben Gibbard-led indie rock powerhouse Death Cab returns with its second major-label album, a darker affair than 2005’s melodic, Grammy-nominated “Plans.”
Filter, “Anthems for the Damned” (Pulse)
Time hasn’t changed these slick, wailing electro-rockers much, as the 12 tracks on “Anthems” prove.
Old 97’s, “Blame It on Gravity” (New West)
This Dallas-based alt-country act sounds refreshed on “Gravity,” a return to the pop-laden songwriting of earlier albums. John Wenzel
