Whereas the first Audioslave album was a full-on, high-octane rip through rock history, Out of Exile is a more thoughtful, expressive affair, with many of Cornell’s lyrics focusing on love, puzzlement, angst and pleasure-seeking. The opening track, Your Time Has Come, although catchy enough, sounds uncannily like Cochise. And, Man or Animal does imitate RATM’s Bombtrack somewhat. With other splendid songs as Doesn’t Remind Me and Heaven’s Dead, Audioslave has delivered a strong and consistent sophomore release, that finds the band justly moulding into a rock group that has proven itself worthy of all the anticipatory buzz.

Best track: The Curse

Worst track: All Along the Watchtower

Folds has mastered his material to the point that he no longer relies on a down-to-perfection punch line to deliver the goods. The singer-pianist tones down the chatter significantly here, wearing his heart candidly on his sleeve for songs like Gracie and Late. Town to town / broadcast to each house, they drop your name / But no one knows your face / Billboards quoting things you’d never say / You hang your head and pray, sings Folds in Jesusland, told as a story of Jesus himself walking through the town. Getting out from under the thumb of an authoritarian lover is explored on the chorus-driven Landed, which is reminiscent of Elton John’s Rocket Man. Truthfully, though, Folds is still as sardonic as he’s been throughout his career. If you’re a fan, you’ll be quietly satisfied.

Best track: Jesusland

Worst track: You To Thank

Rating: **

Monkey Business is a wild musical journey, mixing bass with Latin rhythms, witty rhymes and hip-hop beats. It is the follow-up album to the 2003 release Elephunk (1.4 million UK sales). Produced primarily by head Pea will.i.am, the disc boasts a festive energy that’s best displayed on up-tempo cuts like They Don’t Want Music and Disco Club. Straight off the bat Pump It is a fast, high-energy track that includes the racy sample from the Dale song Miserlou — made famous from its inclusion in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Don’t Lie is a strings-laden summer anthem packed with shimmering acoustic guitars, feel-good beats and a nice vocal trade-off. Overall, the energy evident across these 16 tracks highlights the evolution and maturity of Will.i.am and his crew. Featuring silky smooth guest rhymes from C-Lo, John Legend, Talib Kweli and, most notably, Q-Tip, Like That contends for the album’s best song. Needless to say, Monkey Business still has all the elements that make the Black Eyed Peas one the most popular hip hop groups in the industry. And their superstar status is well-deserved.

Best track: Like That

Worst track: My Humps