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In hip-hop, the only thing worse than not having a hit is actually having one. Case in point: Amid the blowup of the Houston syrup scene that delivered bangers from Paul Wall and Slim Thug, Chamillionaire clubbed everybody with "Ridin'," a bombastic tune that became 2006's unofficial summer jam.

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More than a decade later, a lot of people still have a hard time getting over Beck's Mellow Gold. The latest mix of marble-mouthed rapping, bedroom Casio beats, and postmodern rail-riding folk comes care of Englishman Jamie T.

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On their fourth album and major-label debut, this metallic California quintet prune some thorns from their prickly sound, overtly moving in a more pop-savvy direction. And considering the rote barking and generic riffage of 2006's A Death-Grip on Yesterday, it's a wise decision.

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Ostensibly, this Michigan six-piece carries the metalcore torch lit by Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall. But the band's synth-heavy sound doesn't reflexively fall back on jack-hammer riffs and Cookie Monster bellows.

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Treated like deities in the U.K. but ignored Stateside (guitarist Richey Edwards' tragic disappearance before a 1995 U.S. tour was a devastating setback), Manic Street Preachers have spent a career combining meaty protest rants and slick stadium hooks.

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Part of Nirvana's greatness stemmed from their volatility. The exact opposite can be said of Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters. Since their 1995 debut, Grohl has been a model of steady efficiency, and Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace is another quality entry in a fantastically average career.