Kelis, “Flesh Tone”Interscope RecordsKelis has always been on the eccentric side of the hip-hop genre, but on her fifth release, she leaves behind any urban flavor in favor of an electronic dance sound. “Flesh Tone” stays stimulating by keeping the pace quick, and the album’s smooth production meshes well with Kelis’ low, husky vocals on tracks like “4th of July (Fireworks)” and “Brave.” The lyrics are unimpressive and themes repetitive, but for a woman whose biggest hit is 2003’s “Milkshake,” it’s safe to assume overall sound is more important than innovative songwriting. Though superficial, the album Kelis’ most consistent effort to date.C+RYAN BUXTON 
The Golden Filter, “Voluspa”BrielleElectronic duo The Golden Filter creates a solid gold collection of synth, violin and tribal beats with its debut album “Voluspa.” The New York City-based band creeps through slower, sustained beats in tracks like “Dance Around the Fire” and then explodes into unstoppable electropop frenzies in “Solid Gold” and “Hide Me,” the album’s high point. “Nerida’s Gone” provides the album’s one stripped-down track, executed as precisely as the faster ones. The Golden Filter manages to sustain its incredible velocity over nearly every track, establishing itself as one of the hottest up-and-coming electronic bands.ASTEPHANIE GIGLIO
 
Stars, “The Five Ghosts”Vagrant
The fifth album by Canadian indie-pop band Stars is replete with gorgeous male-female vocal exchanges, lush guitars and jittery keyboards. While the band still employs theatrical flourishes, “The Five Ghosts” is a more emotionally complex statement than the band’s usual melancholy. But Stars work best when they match the grandeur of their sound with intimate lyrics and lead singer Amy Milan’s hushed vocals. With the exception of “We Don’t Want Your Body” — the album’s only light moment — Stars has made a soundtrack for the best cinematic heartbreaks. CCHRIS ABSHIRE
 
Richard Walters, “The Animal”Kartel Records”The Animal” is a collaboration of lovely melodies and wrenching words masked by Richard Walters’ soft, soothing voice. The singer-songwriter’s debut folk album is a masterpiece of beautiful music reminiscent of the tunes of Bon Iver and Andrew Bird, enabling the listener to sit back and enjoy the easy musical experience. Walters lets his images take flight through honest poetry that, when listened to closely, reveals the animal within the speaker. His words alone make “The Animal” a definite download-worthy album.ACATHRYN CORE
 
Grace Potter and the NocturnalsHollywood Records, Inc.Grace Potter and The Nocturnals released its self-titled album last month, blending ‘60s and ‘70s rock with blues and soul. The 14-track album clocks in at just under an hour, and the follow-up to the band’s nationally recognized 2007 album “This Is Somewhere” doesn’t disappoint. Opening track “Paris (Ooh La La) and others like “Medicine” use Potter’s vocals over raucous blues licks to infuse the album with energy, while downtempo tracks like “Goodbye Kiss” and “Colors” flow with more emotion. The band gained notary from the jam-band circuit and will perform at several festivals this summer and fall, including Austin City Limits in October. A-
NICHOLAS PERSAC
 
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”Summit EntertainmentPerhaps not quite “the best Twilight yet,” but this film has definitely been “the easiest for my boyfriend to sit through.” The third movie installment based on the bestselling book series is still pretty cheesy and at times painful to watch – that is, unless you’re one of the many 13-year-old girls who’d take a bullet defending Team Jacob or Team Edward. The dialogue is highly predictable; however, the acting has gotten much better since the first film, and it even has a few nifty fight scenes and visual effects for boyfriends dragged to see the film. In the end, the movie stays true to the books and is, in comparison to its predecessors, tolerable.BJULIAN TATE