The Cure
4:13 Dream
Suretone/Geffen Records
Street: 10.08
4:13 Dream = The Head on the Door + Wish + Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
Yet another reason why review equations can be tricky … I mean, how do you equate The Cure to any other band(s) without sounding like a jackass? Regardless, 4:13 Dream is the record I’ve been waiting for since 2000’s seminal Bloodflowers. The mood of the music on this album tends to transcend extreme highs and then immediately drop off into abysmal lows, much like the underrated Wild Mood Swings, but it’s a far more cohesive and enjoyable record than almost anything The Cure has done in a decade. With more than one standout track, 4:13 Dream is an outstanding listen from start to finish, with the exception of the almost obnoxious track “Freakshow,” with the highlights being the album opener (the dreamy “Underneath the Stars”) and closer (the borderline-schizophrenic “It’s Over”). Cure fans, you will not be disappointed. –Gavin Hoffman

CYNE
Pretty Dark Things
Hometapes
Street: 10.07
CYNE= Shape of Broad Minds + Loer Velocity + The Roots + Juggaknots
The Black Eyed Peas and many other artists that went from making real hip-hop music to um … something else, are what made groups like CYNE possible. The group’s bold production, potent subject matter and innovative rhyme styles conserve the art of true hip hop. The four-man crew from Florida consists of Akin, Cise Starr, Enoch and Speck. CYNE is here to offer us something better that the shit we hear on the radio twice a day. They brand Kramer’s racist outbursts, African genocide and worldwide gang violence in “Never Forget Pluto” and “Pianos on Fire” as some of our human flaws. These controversial themes are what separate CYNE from the usual bubblegum rapper. While most of the album recaps our racist tendencies, the fourth track, “Escape,” can be used to cheer you up. Also, check out “Money Parade” for a pragmatic standpoint on the effects of a capitalist society. –SUPeRB

Cynic
Traced in Air
Season of Mist
Street: 11.28
Cynic = Dysrhythmia + Sculptured + Frantic Bleep
Cynic released one album, Focus, in ‘93 and disbanded soon after. Said album is one of those critic- and fan-acclaimed works that left Cynic in a legendary status, being one of the first bands to uniquely blend death and progressive metal. Well, with three of the original members intact, we have a new offering. Traced in Air is an entirely different output from Focus; the guitar tone is lighter, and the death-metal style is gone. The vocals are distinctly more progressive in style and the screams are few and far between and nothing close to death metal. Is this new offering bad? Well, for those expecting Focus part 2, disappointment will set in. For those willing to accept something new, they will find technical and fun-to-follow, great guitar work and a spaced-out vocal atmosphere. My gripe—the album is too scattered, and nothing stands out initially; the pacing can get distracting. Traced in Air takes extended listens before things begin to pop. –Bryer Wharton

Danielson
Trying Hartz
Secretly Canadian
Street: 11.04
Danielson = The Polyphonic Spree + The Pixies + Pedro the Lion
I'm sure Daniel Smith hears this quip often, but does Black Francis have a twin? Vocally, Smith (songwriter, singer, creative genius band leader of Danielson) conjures The Pixies with similar stylistic “yips,” “yelps,” “whoops” and “ahhs”—so much so that at first I thought maybe this was a new project for Black. I'm one of only a few persons who had not listened to Danielson before this summer—I had many friends tell me how entertaining their live show is and original their music. Previously assembled as The Danielson Famile, (which exhibited then-protege Sufjan Stevens), this greatest-so-far collection of hits includes rare and previously unreleased material. So far it has been over 10 years (1994-2004), with many cult-like incarnations of brothers and sisters—blood or musical relations (Deerhoof, Why?)—assisting in recording and practiced performances. If you're one of the few who hasn't yet heard Danielson, I recommend this album. Don't let others make you feel ignorant. –Jennifer Nielsen

Dead To Me
Little Brother
Fat Wreck Chords
Street: 10.28
Dead To Me = One Man Army + Crimpshrine + The Explosion
I gotta tell the truth—I love this band. Even if the members of Dead To Me had taken a dump in a jewel case and sent it to me, I still would’ve given it a glowing review. Luckily for everyone involved, that was not the case, and Little Brother is a solid, if all too brief, follow-up to 2006’s Cuban Ballerina. The same combination of honest lyrical content and no-frills punk rock that made their debut so appealing is prevalent throughout most of this five-song EP, but the band also displays signs of growth. The four-minute title track is easily the standout, dipping into reggae to create an almost haunting atmosphere before building up to a gigantic final chorus that features full-on screams colliding with melodic “ohhhs” and chugging guitars. Dead To Me may not be the most unique band around, but their heartfelt conviction and connection to their music makes them stand head-and-shoulders above the pack. –Ricky Vigil