New CD Releases: May 20, 2008

Montreal rock band Islands [pictured] hone the splendidly scattered sound of their 2006 debut into more cohesive rock-orchestral arrangements on their latest release, Arm's Way.
-Read an interview with Island’s lead Nick Thorburn at Pitchfork
-Read an album review in Rollingstone
-Catch Islands when they perform at Walter’s on June 25
-Buy Arm’s Way

Usher's new record, Here I Stand, finds the R&B singer at a crossroads; he's changed management, and even sound - faintly resembling his "Same Girl" duet partner, R. Kelly.
-Get the lowdown about tracks from the album on the Vh1 Blog
-Read an album review in Rollingstone
-Buy Here I Stand

Still cutesy and adorably married, Mates of State manage to add more layers to their boy-girl indie-pop formula on their latest album, Re-Arrange Us.
-Read an album review in Pitchfork
-Buy tickets to see Mates of State at Warehouse Live on June 12
-Buy Re-Arrange Us