Beyonce - 4 CD

4 songs Adele's 2009 debut album, 19, was a Grammy-winning smash hit that revealed the British singer/songwriter's knack for bittersweet soul and folk-infused love songs that brought to mind an infectious mix of Dusty Springfield and Terry Callier. The album earned her a ton of fans, and interest was high for the inevitable follow-up. In many ways, her sophomore album, the similarly age-appropriate-titled 21, is a continuation of the sounds and themes Adele was working with on 19. She is still the bluesy pop diva with a singer/songwriter's soul and seemingly bottomless capacity for heartbreak. The best thing the album does is to showcase Adele's titanic vocal ability, which -- more than a few times on 21 -- is simply spine-tingling. Last time around we got the gauzy, Callier-esque folk-soul ballad "Daydreamer" to slowly draw us into the album; here, Adele immediately injects us with the propulsive gospel fever-blues anthem "Rolling in the Deep." While the track certainly owes a heavy debt to the punk-blues of Beth Ditto and the Gossip, it is also ridiculously sexy and one of the best singles of any decade. Elsewhere, we get tracks like the blues-inflected Ryan Tedder co-write "Rumour Has It" and the old-school-style soul cut "He Won't Go," which are terrifically catchy, booty-shaking numbers and exactly the kind of songs you want and expect from Adele. Similarly enthralling is the centerpiece of the album, the mega-ballad showstopper "Take It All." Co-written by her "Chasing Pavements" partner Francis White, the song begins with Adele proclaiming "Didn't I give it all?" Delivered starkly at first with Adele set against simple piano accompaniment and later backed by a gospel choir, it's an instant-classic sort of song in the tradition of "The Rose," "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going," and "All by Myself" that could stand over the years as a career landmark for the singer and a cathartic moment for fans who identify with their idol's Pyrrhic lovelorn persona. Ultimately, Adele does give us her all on 21, and for now that is enough. ~ Matt Collar Editor: Dana Nielsen. Photographer: Lauren Dukoff. Personnel: Adele (vocals). Recording information: AirStudios, London, England; Angel Studios, London, England; Eastcote Studios, London, England; Harmony Studios, West Hollywood, CA; metropolis Studios, London, England; Myaudiotonic Studios, London, England; Patriot Studios, Denver, CO; Serenity Sound, Hollywood, CA; Shangri La Studios, Malibu, CA; Sphere Studios, London, England; Wendyhouse Productions, London, England.

4 album for sale It should come as no surprise that a woman who counts Dionne Warwick as a cousin, Aretha Franklin as a family friend, and whose mother was a legendary session and gospel singer, became a phenomenally successful R&B act. Perhaps more surprising is that it took 17 years after first signing with Arista for Whitney Houston to produce her first greatest hits album. These hits are neatly compartmentalized into a "Cool Down" and a "Throw Down" disc, the former featuring ballads such as "Saving All My Love for You," while the latter showcases remixes of Whitney's uptempo singles such as "How Will I Know." Four new songs, three of which are duets, are also included. At the time of release, her golden voice had led to 16 Number 1 hits (that's two more than Madonna), an Emmy, Grammys and several notable collaborations. A stocking-filler for years to come, we'll wager. Includes liner notes by Amy Linden. Personnel includes: Whitney Houston, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price, George Michael, Jermaine Jackson, Faith Evans, Enrique Iglesias. Producers include: Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip, David Foster, Rodney Jerkins, Wyclef Jean. 2 CD's

4 CD music Previewed via the classy throwback ballad "When a Woman Loves," an instant R&B chart hit, Love Letter follows R. Kelly's Epic compilation by only a couple months. Like "Loves," much of Love Letter -- technically Kelly's 11th studio album -- is inspired by R&B of the `50s and `60s. Arranger: R. Kelly. Recording information: The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL. Photographer: Randee St. Nicholas.

4 buy CD music Oakland-born R&B songstress Keyshia Cole has been crafting top-shelf R&B that straddles the stylistic divide between the stridently modern, club-oriented R&B of contemporaries like Ne-Yo and the more backward-looking, classicist soul of Mary J. Blige. A DIFFERENT ME unquestionably favors the latter style. Even on tracks like "Oh-Oh, Yeah-Yea," which features dance-floor ready production from the Outsyderz and a guest appearance from Nas, Cole adopts a self-consciously dramatic, melismatic style of delivery that evokes the vocal virtuosity of divas like Blige and Whitney Houston. This is not to say that A DIFFERENT ME is a wholly conservative affair however. Though much of the album features a more lyrically introspective and musically ambitious side of Cole's artistic personality, tracks like the propulsive, Polow Da Don-produced "Make Me Over" ought to satisfy fans looking for more energetic material. Audio Remasterer: Bernie Grundman. Recording information: Boiler Room; Glenwood Recording Studios; K1 Laboratories; Legacy Recording Studios; The Archive. Illustrator: Vek Neal. Photographer: Mike Ruiz. Personnel: Josh "Guido" Rivera (guitar); Dan Higgins (flute); Ron Fair (harmonica, organ, vibraphone); Ron Feemster (keyboards, drums); Johnnie "Smurf" Smith (keyboards); Jason Perry (drums). Audio Mixers: Jaycen Joshua; Dave Pensado; Peter Mokran; Phil Tan.

4 songs After becoming one of the decade's biggest newcomers with his 2010 debut, hip-hop star Drake makes a fast return with this sophomore album, released a year-and-a-half after the platinum-selling Thank Me Later. Although Take Care builds off the brainy, dynamic, hip-hop template that Thank Me Later established, it also features more guest spots than its predecessor, with artists like the Weeknd, Stevie Wonder, Rick Ross and Rihanna also making cameo appearances. The real star is Drake, who balances the heavy set list with self-aware witticisms and a sharp, measured delivery. Photographers: Hyghly Alleyne; Lamar Taylor.

4 album for sale Chris Brown's fourth album, F.A.M.E. ("Fans Are My Everything") has already had several songs on the singles charts, including the Euro-dance club stomper "Yeah 3x," the R&B ballads "Deuces" and "No Bullshit," and the sparse rap track "Look at Me Now." The album features a wide range of collaborators, including producers Diplo, Benny Benassi, and Kevin McCall, as well as Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, and Ludacris. Recording information: In Your Ear Studio, Richmond, VA; Mason Sound, North Hollywood, CA; Stadium Red, New York, ...