Mary J. Blige Strength Of A Woman (2 Lp's)On Strength of a Woman, Mary J. Blige covers a lot of lyrical ground familiar to anyone who has heard her 11 previous studio albums. A significant fraction of this set's sentiments are clich? d. There are self help platitudes such as "You gotta love yourself before you love someone else," along with timeworn redemptive declarations like "I was lost but now I'm found" and "Now I'm finally free to be me." In fairness, the stock phrases are delivered

the three early-20s New Yorkers who make up Sunflower Bean are equally adept at studio finesse (witness their recent single I Was a Fool) and raucous live noise

with guest shots from Spooner Oldham and most of Isbell's former bandmates

and is being produced by hard-core rap/rock guru Rick Rubin--and the results are startling

nicknaming him ‘The Caruso of Rock’

6 Role models arent universal

But he understood his own mission remarkably well and has remained undaunted by the hype

Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors 4

Stage Fright was The Band's third album

he's ventured down several different rabbit holes via EPs and limited releases

Cale's sound evoked the terror of Reed's compositions

Ohio duo Twenty One Pilots continue the struggle with personal demons

Windmill Lane Studios and Westland Studios