Carrie Underwood returns this week spanning pop, rock, and country.
1. Carrie Underwood - Blown Away
Courtesy Sony Nashville
For her fourth studio album Carrie Underwood has received kudos for taking risks in music that spans pop, rock, and country. Her last two albums both reached #1 on the album chart. All three of her previous studio albums have been certified double platinum or beyond.
2. B.o.B. - Strange Clouds
Courtesy Atlantic
Rapper B.o.B. hit #1 with his debut album. This sophomore release includes the platinum certified top 10 pop hit single "Strange Clouds" and the gold certified "So Good" which has peaked at #11. The album includes a Taylor Swift collaboration titled "Both Of Us."
3. Various Artists - NOW 42
Courtesy Capitol
The NOW collection of contemporary pop hits releases its 42nd volume. Among the singles included here are the #1 pop hits "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" by Kelly Clarkson and "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra. 42 volumes in this venerable franchise still regularly hits the top 5 on the album chart.
4. Santigold - Master Of My Make-Believe
Courtesy Atlantic
Santigold's 2008 debut album received powerful critical acclaim. For the follow up she collaborated with Karen O of the group Yeah Yeah Yeahs as well as producers Diplo and Switch among others. The single "Disparate Youth" was a top 30 hit on the alternative songs chart.
5. Norah Jones - Little Broken Hearts
Courtesy Blue Note
Norah Jones' first three albums were all #1 hits in the US and sold a combined total of over 18 million copies. Her most recent album The Fall was a #3 hit and has been certified platinum. Little Broken Hearts is a collaboration with producer Danger Mouse and sees Norah Jones experimenting with new song textures.
6. Michael Kiwanuka - Home Again
Courtesy Interscope
Michael Kiwanuka won the BBC's Sounds of 2012 poll and is listed as one of the top 10 artists to watch for 2012. The title song "Home Again" was a top 30 pop hit in the UK. The album reached #4 there earlier this year. His music is strongly influenced by classic American soul.
7. Rufus Wainwright - Out Of the Game
Courtesy Decca
Rufus Wainwright is a singer-songwriter who comes from a family that also includes his parents Kate McGarrigle, one half of the celebrated McGarrigle sisters, and Loudon Wainwright III. His sister Martha Wainwright is a prominent recording artist in her own right. Rufus Wainwright has been a leader among out gay musicians. Out Of the Game, produced by Mark Ronson, is his seventh studio album and the second to reach the top 5 on the UK album chart. Rufus Wainwright has said it has a more "danceable" sound than his previous work.
8. Marilyn Manson - Born Villain
Courtesy Downtown
Controversial shock rock performer Marilyn Manson has released five top 10 charting albums including two that went all the way to #1. Born Villain is his first studio album in three years. He has referred to it as having a "suicide death metal" sound. The new collection has received some of the most positive reviews of his career. The album includes the top 40 rock hit single "No Reflection."
9. Hurt - The Crux
Courtesy RED
Rock band Hurt topped the Billboard Heatseekers chart with their last two albums. The Crux is the band's sixth studio album overall. It includes the single "How We End Up Alone" which is a top 30 rock hit.
10. George Harrison - Early Takes, Volume 1
Courtesy UME
Early Takes, Volume 1 is a collection of George Harrison recordings used in the Martin Scorsese directed documentary Living In the Material World. They are all early takes or demo versions of classic songs by George Harrison.
