A jazzy masterpiece of bossa nova. Elevator music? Absolutely, but so well done. Play at any type of party. Fun is fun.

I have tickets to see them live and this is my favorite record of theirs. New wave, pop, soul, rock. Voices has more than just Hall and Oates hits. It’s a perfectly balanced pop record that’s not just for the 80s, but anytime.

This is a Friday and Sunday album. Some tunes make you want to have friends over on a Friday evening. Other songs might make you curl up on the couch on Sunday and listen to Lou alone. Either day, this record provides plenty of goodness.

Brooklyn via Minneapolis. Still the best modern-day, intelligent bar band. Snotty-sounding vocals, amazing guitars, and some of the best lyrics in rock today.

Goodwin, the frontman of Doves, steps out for a solo record, finally. Doves fans rejoice! This album brings more well-done English pop rock songs. His voice is as enjoyable to listen to as any of the other amazing sounds on the record.

The band’s third record in about as many years. Keith Morris, formerly of Black Flag and Circle Jerks, fronts this all-star punk band that’s simply the best new punk band since the 1980s. Dimitri Coats of Burning Brides fires up guitar that makes this band absolutely scorch.

Kyle Gervais is an alternative, indie, pop rock, weird rock, dance, and groove machine. He packs in all of those sounds here. “Better Falsetto” may be the best local single of 2014.

This heavy rock and roll band takes cues from Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. Here’s how to enjoy this album: buy an old van and hang an American flag in it. Play too loud and drive to California to see ZZ Top.

A former member of the local band Frotus Caper, Chad Walls delivers vintage, old-school college rock—from back when college radio was at its finest. His numerous trips to the UK have left a mark, adding a nice British influence to this record.