Some Cities (2005)

Following two stunning yet sometimes meandering epics, the dreamy Brits have fixed what was barely broken. Some Cities condenses the spacey sprawls of previous works for a tighter album, yet still maintains the Doves' distinct ethereality. With what resembles an oscillating chorus of angels on ''Snowden'' and the quaintly contagious pianos on the first single, ''Black & White Town,'' there's an almost antiquated quality to this wondrously exhilarating, shimmering pop masterpiece.