Ursa MajorThird Eye BlindSonyWhile many of the alternative, post-grunge bands of the mid-’90s are either broken up or barely staying relevant, Third Eye Blind is releasing its highest-charting album of the group’s career. Ursa Major, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, is the band’s first release in six years and was definitely worth the wait. Abandoning much of the heavier tones of 2003’s Out of the Vein, the band sticks to the pop hooks that landed them airplay in the first place.B. BourgeoisB-
ArmisticeMuteMathWarner Bros. RecordsOn MuteMath’s sophomore album, “Armistice,” the band begins a movement toward a more mainstream sound, while still retaining its signature synth-laden sound. The band really shines on tracks like “Spotlight” and “Backfire.”  “Armistice” proves to be a more mainstream audience-friendly. The band tends to get repetitive about halfway through the album but manages to pull the energy back up with “Electrify.” MuteMath manages to just barely avoid the sophomore slump on “Armistice”. E. SlackB-Inglourious BasterdsUniversal PicturesBrad Pitt is a Basterd. At least as the Nazi-scalping, thick-accented, vengeful hillbilly “Aldo the Apache”, he is. Tarantino delivers a movie that perfectly combines bloody action, suspense, wit, humor and a lot of dying Nazis with a style that is at once unique to Tarantino but completely true to the gruesomeness and outrageousness of ’70s exploitation film. “Inglourious Basterds” is definitely one of the best films of the summer, if not the year.J. CLAPPA+LightMatisyahuSonyMatisyahu continues to prove his musical worth with “Light”, his third studio album. Matisyahu sticks to his reggae roots but takes a step outside his comfort zone with an emphasis on computer effects and a more hip-hop lean to some tracks. Matisyahu hits on more guitar-heavy tracks like “Darkness Into Light” and takes an acoustic turn in “Silence.” “One Day” is the crowd pleaser on this album, but “We Will Walk” and “Smash Lies” are highlights. E. SLACKA-BandslamWalden MediaAmazing acting, a thrilling plot and Oscar nominations were not expected to come from “Bandslam,” a teen movie starring Disney sensations Vanessa Hudgens and Alyson Michalka — and this movie full-heartedly met these expectations.  The movie is typical: the teens face great odds to compete in a competition. This left little room for surprises.  However, “Bandslam” is charming and smart with its somewhat easy-to-relate-to characters, snide humor and, dare I say rockin’, soundtrack.L. NUNEZB-Shaka RockJetFive Seven MusicThe rockers from down under are back with a vengeance, or maybe not.  With their newest effort “Shaka Rock,” Jet tries to once again bring the in-your-face attitude that was sorely missing from their sophomore effort “Shine On.” However, this attitude only lasts for half of the album. While early tracks like “She’s a Genius” and “Black Hearts” are each full of adrenaline and have high-powered choruses, the end of the record contains nothing remarkable and ultimately becomes boring.A. WHITEC