TOP PICK

Kanye West

Yeezus

(Def Jam)

A marginal rapper who’s made the most out of this connections in the hip-hop world, Kanye West delivers his most experimental album with the industrial strength Yeezus. He pushes the boundaries of what’s considered hip-hop in dissonant songs such as “I’m In It” and “Send It Up.”

Sigur Ros

Keveikur

(XL Recordings)

Because the guys in this Icelandic band sing in their own made-up language, it’s impossible to know just what they’re trying to say. But the songs on this album succeed simply because of their textures.

This article appears in Jun 19-25, 2013.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.