July 17, 2007

Mid-July marks a summer lull for music lovers. New releases have slowed and we're left with a handful of sophomore albums. First, British pop band The Editors leaves us wondering if they're the identical twins of Interpol. You can hardly tell the difference. But is that such a bad thing? You decide if the CD is a downer by downloading "Smokers Outside the Hospital Door" and "The Racing Rats." Another UK import, the Magic Numbers, debuts their U.S. release of Those the Brokes -- an album that's been such a hit overseas that we had to review it in our August issue. Grab your copy on newsstands now. Last, the Chemical Brothers have done what they do best: put out another album of hit-worthy singles in an incongruent sequence. Their full-length, We Are the Night, isn't worth 99 cents, but a few singles by Fatlip, Willy Mason, and the Klaxons are worth the cherry pick. Alison Sudol, Rooney, and Raul Malo are also reviewed this week.