The Year in Music

Double Up: R. Kelly. Are you ready for some "Real Talk," people? Arguably the best (and inarguably the nuttiest) male R&B singer working somehow found some time this year to untrap himself from the closet long enough to record his 11th studio album—featuring appearances by Snoop Dogg, Nelly, T.I., Kid Rock, Usher and other marquee names. The fact that Kelly outshines them all is testament to his, well, freaky skill. Kelly still faces multiple charges of child pornography that could put him away for 15 years. If he's not careful, "Double Up" might be entered as evidence: "It's like a rain forest, it's like Jurassic Park, 'cept I'm your sexasaurus," he croons on "The Zoo." "You got me locked up in your cage of ecstasy and I don't wanna be free." You have to hand it to him: cages are way sexier than closets. —BB

The Dreamer Evasive: Apartment. It's been a painful wait since this London four-piece put out it's 2005 single "Everyone Says I'm Paranoid." Hearing the chiming-guitar-disco-stomp of "My Brother Chris" and the jaunty Northern-Soul-meets-The-Smiths "Fall Into Place" more than justifies the nearly 30 bucks you needed for the import CD this past spring. If you could find a copy, that is. Luckily, it's now on iTunes. —RE

Fancy Footwork: Chromeo. With more hooks than a Burlington Coat Factory outlet, Chromeo has brought their Mooged-out electro-funk to a new level on this sophomore effort. Think Zapp & Roger with just a little more cheek; Hall & Oates with just a little more moustache (metaphorically, anyway). The standout cut is "Tenderoni," and its title alone is enough to elicit a giggle. But the groove—as tight as it is deep—is no laughing matter. There are riffs galore on this album, but some of the sweetest are throwaway banter between the duo—like when Pee Thug delivers advice through a talk box to Dave One on "My Girl is Calling Me (A Liar)." His suggestion: take her to a movie. Ours: play this at your New Year's Eve party. —BB

Flux: Bloc Party. "A Weekend in the City," Bloc Party's second collection of tuneful, fidgety post-post-punk, was a bit of letdown. It lacked the underlying urgency and spark of 2005's "Silent Alarm"—there was no single addictive, crowd rousing song like "Banquet." But "Flux," their post-album single, takes a slightly dodgy premise—merging art rock with late 1990s techno—and straps a giant, echoing guitar line onto a throbbing trance rhythm to instant-classic effect. More or less on repeat play since its release this fall. —RE

The Flying Club Cup: Beirut. Barely-out-of-diapers Zach Condon moves from New Mexico to Brooklyn and trades his infatuation with Balkan brass bands for the seedy, sepia-toned Paris of Eugene Atget. It's aching, louche melodies are perfect for pretending you're a Montmartre flaneur circa 1903. Not that we know anyone who, you know, does that. —AR

Grinderman. Along with three of his seven Bad Seeds, Nick Cave howls, sneers, threatens and gets downright dirty on his new band's eponymous debut. "Get It On" launches the record with "You gotta get up to get down and start all over again! Head on down to the basement and shout. Kick those white mice and black dogs out! Kick those white mice and baboons out! Kick those baboons and other motherf---ers out and get it on!" Lest you forget, Cave is 50 years old now. Not that he's shy about reminding you. The album's standout cut is the desperate-yet-hilarious "No P---y Blues," which charts Cave's physical decline (and ensuing lack of romantic prospects): "I changed the sheets on my bed/ I combed the hairs across my head," sings the crumbling rock star. "I sucked in my gut and still she said/ that she just didn't want to." This is a dude sounding way younger than his years by attempting to do just the opposite. —BB