America

Ventura Highway gets repaved. Forget state fairs - America's hip again, thanks to joining up with Ben Kweller, James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and producer Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne) for this, their first major studio album since 1984. Their cover of MMJ's "Golden" could be the standout track here (even if it doesn't surpass the original), and indie rockers will be amazed at how much all of this simply sounds like early Teenage Fanclub, especially the jangly "Work To Do."