Article: Rule breakers: reconsidering the merits of cameos, rock operas, and kiddie bop.(Music)

MUSIC AIN'T MATH, but it's also not as subjective as it's cracked up to be. There is, in fact, plenty to be certain of these days. Australian rock bands will always sound like AC/DC. Beyonce will repeat her choruses more than 50 times. And unless you're Warren Zevon, farewell albums rarely mean goodbye. We use these types of maxims to choose our music. And yet, just when you think you know everything, a batch of records will come along and make you toss out your rule book. Here, three new albums that do just that.

1) The rule: Mo'cameos, mo' problems. Too many albums these days are cameo clown cars. For evidence, see Ray Charles's final record. His mistake was ...

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