Paul McCartney
McCartney is the first artist signed to Starbucks' Hear Music label, and while the match of singer and coffee chain would seem as right as caramel and macchiato, Macca's 21st post-Beatles album turns out to be neither foamy nor sweet. "House of Wax" has spooky, echo-chamber production and mournful lyrics, while "The End of the End" takes a long, hard look at death. The whole record is surprisingly honest and melodic—and for sale over by the biscotti.
—Josh Tyrangiel