Maroon 5, “Misery” (Single)
Almost a year after covering Sinatra in “The Way You Look Tonight,” Maroon 5 has returned to the music scene with the new single “Misery.” With this single, Maroon 5 has gone back to the pop sound fans associate with the group. At first listen, the song sounds very similar to the group’s popular track “This Love.” The catchy beat and repetitive “oh yeah” take away from the heartbroken misery the words are trying to portray. Overall, the song is worth a listen and a few head bobs. C+
CELESTE ANSLEY
 
HEALTH, “::DISCO2″While not exactly music for a disco, as implied by the album title, it’s more than noise with experimental rock band Health. The band’s latest release, “::DISCO2,” features a slew of electronic dance remixes (by, including but not limited to, Gold Panda) all while tracks like “USA Boys” remain true to the band’s grunge feel, which is reminiscent of Crystal Castles – who worked with the band in 2007 and remixes the track on the album. Definitely a must-have, must-listen-to for fans of Health and those who like to boogie on down.AJULIAN TATE
 
Punch Brothers, “Antifogmatic””Antifogmatic,” the third album from bluegrass quintet The Punch Brothers, is an example of a band funneling the energy of a live show into a coherent studio album. Former Nickel Creek member Chris Thile is the lead vocalist for the band, and his signature wail is backed by an impressive blend of mandolin, bass, fiddle, banjo and acoustic guitar. While the band is a bluegrass outfit, the sound on “Antifogmatic” has strong roots in jazz-style improvisation and the swagger of rock ‘n’ roll. Famed producer Jon Brion has helped The Punch Brothers expand their sonic palette, leading to bluegrass music with a sense of sophistication.A-CHRIS ABSHIREThe Roots, “How I Got Over”The Legendary Roots Crew released their 9th full-length studio album this week, the first since appearing as the house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” “How I Got Over” is 14 tracks strong and has a surplus of unexpected collaborations, including Monsters of Folk on the album’s first single, “Dear God 2.0.” Rapper Black Thought sums up the album on the track “The Fire,” which features John Legend, when he says “You came to celebrate / I came to cerebrate.” The sounds and lyrics won’t get a party going, but “How I Got Over” will provoke thought and reflection about the underlying themes of recovering from troubled times and searching for hope.A+NICHOLAS PERSACRatatat, “LP4″Ratatat continues to provide beats for hipster dance parties with their 2010 release “LP4.” The duo became popular for its remixes of underground indie hits and mainstream hip-hop in the mid-2000s. Their fourth album continues the band’s signature analog synth and drum machine sound. Although the album is praised by diehard Ratatat fans, it can seem to the casual listener like a continuation of the group’s 2008 album “LP3.” Songs like “Drugs,” “Bob Ghandi” and “Alps” seem like a mess of samples left over from their previous effort.CKRISTEN ROWLETT
 
“Toy Story 3”
“Toy Story 3” is yet another animated film by Pixar that transcends age as a restriction to enjoyment. Though the story is set years since the last film, the plot remains creative, fresh and true to the franchise. But it’s the toy chest full of viewers’ favorite characters that keeps them coming back to play. Audiences of all ages will revel in their reunions with Woody, Buzz and the gang. The movie brings heartfelt closure to the characters fans have loved since 1995 and will stand as another gem for Pixar fans to treasure to infinity and beyond.A-RYAN BUXTON