Billboard CD reviews: Willie Nelson, Arctic Monkeys

Willie Nelson performs on stage at the 20th Autry National Center gala at the Gene Autry Western Heritage museum in Los Angeles September 29, 2007.

ARTIST: WILLIE NELSON

ALBUM: AMERICAN CLASSIC

NEW YORK (Billboard) - More than 30 years after the release of Willie Nelson's highly acclaimed 1978 standards album "Stardust," the artist cracks open the Great American Songbook once again for his second Blue Note Records release. Produced by renowned adult contemporary producer Tommy LiPuma, "American Classic" -- Nelson's finest album since 1998's "Teatro" -- contains 12 timeless melodies that bridge the gap between Nelson's love for Django Reinhardt and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Backed by modern jazz greats like Joe Sample (piano) and Christian McBride (bass), the country legend delivers elegant takes on such certified ballroom gems as Bart Howard's "Fly Me to the Moon" and Fats Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'." Nelson also steps out with two of jazz's leading ladies, singing duets with Norah Jones on Frank Loesser's "Baby It's Cold Outside" and with Diana Krall on a silky version of "If I Had You." But the real treat is a jazzy revision of "Always on My Mind" (which Nelson won a best country vocal performance Grammy Award for in 1982) -- it's never sounded more heartbreaking than it does here.

ARTIST: ARCTIC MONKEYS

ALBUM: HUMBUG (Domino Records)

After a three-year period that netted two albums, one Mercury Prize and dozens of headlines pegging the British group as rock's next great hope, the Arctic Monkeys were due for an offbeat, introspective third album. "Humbug" is a moodier affair than its predecessors, but the top-notch songwriting and simmering instrumentation allow them to experiment with more difficult styles without losing an ounce of charm. "Potion Approaching" straddles a sinister two-step guitar line before turning into a ghostly waltz, while "Cornerstone" offers a story of regret over melancholic strumming. Alex Turner has evolved as a frontman, displaying the same shiny vocal hooks as on his past work but with even more raw nerve. Arctic Monkeys has captivated the post-Britpop scene since its 2006 debut, but "Humbug" finds the group justifying the hype by shifting its best qualities into different, equally dazzling shapes.

ARTIST: MATISYAHU

ALBUM: LIGHT (Sony)

It might be difficult to see a Hasidic Jewish reggae artist as little more than a novelty act, yet Matisyahu proved that he was anything but with "King Without a Crown" (which peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 2006) from his second album, "Youth." Matisyahu's third studio album, "Light," finds him revisiting the teachings of his Jewish faith, but also pushing musical boundaries behind traditional reggae. The new set dips into everything from effects-riddled hip-hop to guitar-driven rockers and stripped-down acoustic tunes. The first single, "One Day," is Matisyahu's most accessible song to date, offering a soaring and anthemic chorus. He may still sport the same look, but stylistically his new music proves that he's not a one-trick pony.

ARTIST: SMOKEY ROBINSON

ALBUM: TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN (Robso Records)

Smokey Robinson has gotten heated in recent comments regarding the media's coverage of Michael Jackson's death, but on the follow-up to his 2006 standards set, "Timeless Love," he couldn't sound more relaxed. "Time Flies When You're Having Fun" is a mellow vintage-soul disc that finds the Motown maestro in remarkably fine voice as he flexes his signature falsetto over supple, unhurried live-band arrangements long on tasty licks and laid-back grooves. Nine of the 10 tracks are new originals, including "Please Don't Take Your Love," which features a guitar solo from Carlos Santana, and "You're the One for Me," the sultry Joss Stone duet that the pair premiered on "American Idol" in March. And the 10th? A hushed piano-bar rendition of Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why." Who knew that tune could get any smoother?

ARTIST: COLBIE CAILLAT

ALBUM: BREAKTHROUGH (Universal Republic)

Like Colbie Caillat's 2007 debut album, "Coco," her second album is warm and inviting, as she continues marveling over the first pangs of love. On the finger-snapping "You Got Me," the 24-year-old singer's heart skips a beat when she finds a boy taking her hand and flashing a crooked smile. "It's everything that I've been dreaming of," she sighs, as though puppy love is all she's ever known. The same is true of the album's lead single, "Falling for You" -- and much of the other tracks follow suit. Unfortunately, that means "Breakthrough" never quite lives up to its title. But the songs that do diverge from the formula even slightly, like the Greg Wells-produced "Fearless," offer delightful relief, and perhaps a taste of what could be if the singer were to dig deeper. For now, this is Caillat's rose-colored worldview, and she's sticking to it.

ARTIST: JAY REATARD

ALBUM: WATCH ME FALL (Matador Records)

For the past decade, Memphis-based punk prodigy Jay Reatard has tirelessly recorded and self-released lo-fi gems, but his proper debut on Matador Records could introduce him to a more mainstream audience. Recorded in his home studio with Reatard playing nearly every instrument, "Watch Me Fall" is a personal fuzz-rock collage that thinly conceals its admiration of pop music. Standout track "Wounded" lets a sunny guitar melody gain momentum before Reatard's propulsive vocals conjure the glory days of garage rock. With its jagged riffs, rich choruses and paranoid lyrics, the album recklessly plays with the balance between punk and pop. Reatard's songwriting may be unpolished, but his vocal charm shines through. For rock fans unaware of Reatard's history, "Watch Me Fall" is a welcome surprise.

ARTIST: RICHARD EGARR

ALBUM: HANDEL ORGAN CONCERTOS, OP. 7 (Harmonia Mundi)

Organ virtuoso Richard Egarr delivers a stirring rendition of George Frideric Handel's last published set of instrumental concertos. These pieces for organ, which were published posthumously in 1761, proved to be a magnificent finale to a remarkable career. The musician opens this Opus 7 double album with "Concerto in B-flat Major Op. 7, No. 3." The andante opens with Egarr's exuberant flourish on the organ, answered with equal verve by the orchestra. Heard in this andante is the essence of the collection: Egarr's exciting command of the technical and emotional elements of the concertos, underpinned by the stellar performance of the Academy of Ancient Music. The second disc closes with a graceful and witty interpretation of "Concerto in F Major HWV 295," also known as "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale."

ARTIST: RICHARD THOMPSON

ALBUM: WALKING ON A WIRE: 1968-2009 (Shout Factory)

It's not easy to sum up the career of English singer-songwriter Richard Thompson, who started in the business writing of a mythical England the way the Band conjured an imaginary America, once mocked his own downcast tendencies by calling an album "Celtschmerz" and occasionally performs a cover of "Oops! ... I Did It Again." Two companies have already tried to release boxed sets, and this four-disc package represents another noble effort: It has all the basics, some interesting album tracks and a booklet that puts his remarkable career into context. Serious fans have all of this material already, but "Walking on a Wire" makes for an expansive introduction to an ambitious artist.