Albums: Sept. 14/21, 2012

Dave Matthews Band, Away From the World

After a dalliance with Green Day producer Rob Cavallo on their last outing, DMB return to the crunchy arena-skronk of their peak. There’s nothing truly pop-crossover here, but airy rambles like ”The Riff’ should keep hemp-necklaced college kids happy until the next round. B —Kyle Anderson

Nelly Furtado, The Spirit Indestructible

“I’m my own worst enemy,” Furtado moans on her latest. She’s right: Without Timba-land’s loopy sonic mugging, she’s a program-seeking robot wandering through a wasteland of electro-funk also-rans and half-baked nods to hip-hop. At least she’s self-aware enough to know who the problem is. C- —Kyle Anderson

Dwight Yoakam, 3 Pears

Yoakam’s first release in seven years is a smashing return to form — various forms, in fact. Pears mingles honky-tonk, rock, pop (the Bee Gees’ ”To Love Somebody”!), and even two cuts co-produced by Beck with great, adventurous warmth. A- —Ken Tucker