(FORTUNE Magazine) – Angie Stone Mahogany Soul J Records

The word "real" gets tossed around a lot, but Angie Stone is one of the few neo-soul thrushes who earn the description. There's nothing phony about her music. Subtle, candid, vulnerable, and gimmick-free, Mahogany Soul is steeped in virtues that have almost vanished from the airwaves.

DJ Spooky Under the Influence Six Degrees

What records does a turntable wizard spin during his personal downtime? DJ Spooky fishes through his private crate like a sommelier let loose in a world-class wine cellar; he comes up with a tasting menu that's so head-spinning and globe-hopping, you wind up feeling drunk on sonics.

Joe Jackson Look Sharp! A&M

Look Sharp! came out in 1979, so people tend to think of it as a New Wave artifact. Heard now (with a nicely remastered gleam), songs like "Pretty Girls" and "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" prove that Jackson was actually crafting hooks grand enough for the Brill Building.

Loudon Wainwright III Last Man on Earth Red House Records

This is a collection of unflinching songs about death, solitude, family, stunted relationships, and getting old--but don't let that scare you. Wainwright's secret weapon has always been his charm: Wry humor and lilting melodies make his music as gentle as it is piercing.

The Shins Oh, Inverted World Sub Pop

The Shins specialize in songs that sound as if they've been dunked into a baffling dream. The instruments give off an otherworldly shimmer; lyrics float by like twisted quips from the subconscious. Who knew that the most refreshing album of the year would come out of Albuquerque?