Artist: TV on the Radio

Album: “Dear Science,”

Label: DGC/Interscope

Release date: Sept. 23

It may not be immediately clear whom or what TV on the Radio is addressing in the title of its third album, “Dear Science,” but maybe it’s meant as a thank-you. The experimental New York band has made a career of blending the cold machinery drum machines and crunchy guitars with warm moments of soulful harmonies and sultry saxophone riffs.

“Dear Science,” relies on more of the latter, with vocalists Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Moline more in front of the mix, weaving in and out of each other’s striking vocal lines.

The music this time around owes a lot to ‘70s funk — the close-knit synergy between the musicians brings to mind a modern-day Sly and the Family Stone. Songs like “Crying” and “Golden Age” exhibit the sort of good-natured jubilance TVOTR’s other albums have been lacking.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the band’s passion. Band member and producer David Andrew Sitek excels at capturing emotion on the bittersweet ballad “Family Tree” and the frantic stream-of-consciousness “Dancing Choose.”

Time can only tell, but with its latest LP, TV on the Radio proves to be years ahead of its time, all while keeping one eye on the past.

—Thomas Grunmeier

Artist: The Pussycat Dolls

Album: “Doll Domination”

Label: Interscope, Geffen A&M Records

Release date: Sept. 23

It’s clear from the title of their new album that the Pussycat Dolls are attempting an overthrow of the pop world through musical domination. Unfortunately, the only thing that they’ve proved was that they still can’t sing but are popular enough to get by on their contacts alone.

That being said, track three, “Watcha Think About That,” features a pretty sweet, although repetitive line: “If your dude ain’t actin’ right, you tell that dude he got to go,” by Missy Elliot, that is good enough to make it a girl’s night anthem. Now if only the producers had cut out the awful pussycat screeching out of the background it’d be the perfect pop song.

For an album that was produced by Timbaland, among others, it’s disappointing that the Dolls haven’t actually used any of the dough they’ve been pulling in to take voice lessons. In fact, if possible, they’ve actually gotten worse than their “Don’t Cha” days.

If you’re a fan of the Dolls though it probably has less to do with their actual music and more to do with the fact that five scantily clad women are gyrating in a somewhat rhythmic fashion. So, in theory, they don’t need to have talent. If this is the case, enjoy. If you’re looking for music however, go somewhere else.

—Rashah McChesney

Artist: Noah and the Whale

Album: “Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down”

Label: Interscope, Cherry Tree

Release date: Aug. 11

Happy music is hard to ignore. It picks you up, and takes you to some place, usually other than where you are, and leaves you smiling goofily at strangers as you bicycle past with your arms in the air.

Noah and the Whale is like the progeny of Architecture in Helsinki, Bob Dylan and The Avett Brothers all rolled up into some kind of indie-heaven bundle and delivered by a stork on mushrooms.

Check out track two, “Jocasta,” which would be perfect for tap dancing on a windy day in that ballerina skirt you keep hidden in your closet.

With lyrics like “But when I look to the shape of the sky, I give thanks for this hollow chest of mine, that I no longer feel, the great weight of ordeals, that can make this life so unkind,” reinforce the sweetness of the album while the brassy punctuation of the trumpet and trombone in the background bring it right down to earth with an Eastern European feel that’s hard to resist.

If you feel like dancing with yourself, or having a soundtrack on those Sunday’s when you have nothing better to do than knit sock puppets, pick up this album.

—Rashah McChesney