Labelle

Call it unfinished business. Labelle disbanded in 1976, but it never felt like they were done with their project -- marrying rock's attitude with gospel's passion-- and they come roaring back to life on Back to Now. Gamble & Huff and Lenny Kravitz keep the '70s vibe flowing, and Nona Hendryx proves herself a great, underappreciated songwriter, but the real star is the magic trio of singers -- Hendryx, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash. They pioneered a big, bombastic sound that still can't be matched. The single "Roll Out" with Wyclef feels like the only ill-advised concession to modernity.