music

"808S & HEARTBREAK," Kanye West (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)

"UNTOLD TRUTHS," Kevin Costner & Modern West (Universal Republic)

Normally if you hear that a 53-year-old is still looking for his big break in the music business, you'd be inclined to say, Dude, give it up.

But normally it wouldn't be Kevin Costner.

"DAVID COOK," David Cook (19 Recordings/RCA)

The streets of America are littered with former "American Idol" contestants, making it increasingly difficult for them to set themselves apart from each other in their quest for post-show stardom.

"THE BEST OF BOND ... JAMES BOND," various acts (Capitol/EMI)

Bursting onto the music scene with "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite" in 1996, the musician known simply as Maxwell brought some old-school R&B to the forefront. Babyface and other musicians were part of the revival, but Maxwell hit it hard.

"STARS OF ZOO," Catz 'n Dogz (Mothership)

Every year Jimi Hendrix continues to sell millions of CDs as a new generation discovers his music. We're approaching the 40th anniversary of his death, yet he's more popular than ever.

"PERFECT SYMMETRY," Keane (Interscope)

Keane gets so much hype for being a "guitarless" band - which isn't even true anymore, though the group does downplay its guitars - that the other aspects of the U.K. "piano-rock" trio are sometimes overlooked.

"CLOSER: THE BEST OF SARAH MCLACHLAN," Sarah McLachlan (Arista)

Sarah McLachlan attempts to save her seat at the A-list table with "Closer: the Best of Sarah McLachlan," but her diminished output over the past decade is threatening her position as a top-shelf singer-songwriter.

When it comes to explaining lust or loss, nothing fits the bill better than a song by Meat Loaf.

The 61-year-old rocker/actor has been wringing his heart into anthems like "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and "I Would Do Anything for Love" since the early '70s.