Minneapolis based hip-hop duo Atmosphere released its sixth studio album this week titled "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That S&#! Gold." It's an appropriate title for the optimistic turn Sean Daley, aka "Slug" the group's voice, has been taking over the last several years. Atmosphere raised notoriety early in the "indie hip-hop" scene lead by Daley's rhymes about love lost, mistakes made and other sorrows best left to be drowned out at a favorite tavern. Their sound was fierce, direct, and punctuated by beat maker Anthony "Ant" Davis' obvious love for vintage sounds. Over the years, Daley has grown as an artist, his voice is louder, and it carries farther. "Lemons" is as introspective as all his previous albums, yet it has a different story. A story that is in no part … true.

His last effort, 2006's "You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having," was the release of a lot of demons for Daley. Heart-wrenching songs, written about pain from deep within, yet spoken with a clear head and understanding that sometimes life isn't fair. On "Lemons," Daley still rhymes about this pain, only it is not from personal experience. Every song on the album is fictional. His goal was to speak in narratives, to tell tales, with hopes that his listeners hear the moral at the end. Daley has a way of letting you hear him, whether he's rapping over a gospel chorus, funky low dance beat or just one lonely guitar. His words are concise and wise, and when paralleled with Ant's perfect beat blend of old and new, together they create road maps to life – maps that don't necessarily direct you where to go, but more where not to go.

Now, with a teenage son at home, Daley sees that there is more to life than making the room shake. He's more into making the room motivated. Motivated to be true to oneself, and be the best person one can. To help express these tales of life, Atmosphere released "Lemons" as a deluxe 40-page limited edition that includes all of the lyrics intermittent with an illustrated children's book. The spectacular packaging truly is representative of the content inside. Sean and Ant of Atmosphere have left no artistic stone unturned on "Lemons." It is a piece of art from beginning to end, and is quite refreshing to see bundled up so perfectly in one awesome hip-hop album.

In his two and a half decades carrying the torch of social justice, Billy Bragg has melded the folksy populism of Woody Guthrie with the anger and indignation of The Clash. Both are perfectly encapsulated on his Anti Records debut, "Mr. Love & Justice." Despite the intense politics behind his songs, Bragg has never lost sight of the power of personal relationships to hold us together and bring about the kind of redemption that outstrips even the greatest political movements. Musically, this record combines the loose, Stones-y groove Bragg found working with Wilco on the "Mermaid Ave." sessions, with the best parts of his punk and music hall roots. On his most mature record to date, the title says it all.

One of the most revered and versatile live bands from the UK, The Cinematic Orchestra have toured the world, headlined festivals and even performed a party for Stanley Kubrick. On Nov. 2, 2007, they played at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London accompanied by the 24-piece Heritage Orchestra. This release highlights the best moments from the night, including songs from the band's most recent album "Ma Fleur," as well as favorites from previous albums. It features "To Build A Home," "Breathe," "All That You Give," "Flite" and more. Guest vocalists include Lou Rhodes, Grey Reverend, and Heidi Vogel.

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