Editors' Choice for January 2017

Album cover for AFI (The Blood Album)
AFI

AFI (The Blood Album)

Concord

Alterna-punk vets evolve on album ten, combining muscle with rhythmic new wave/post-punk influences.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Album cover for Tail of Lions

Tail of Lions

Etc Recordings

Third LP from the British "Too Close" singer that finds him reflecting on faith, self-worth, and positivity in an increasingly challenging world.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Album cover for Anything Could Happen

Anything Could Happen

Fat Possum Records

Tommy Stinson is the only holdover in this new edition of his short-lived '90s band, but the feel and the fun are all there.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Danse

Danse

ECM

This adventurous and accessible date by the Swiss trio should help establish an audience beyond Europe's borders and jazz's confines.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Pure, Beyond Reproach

Pure, Beyond Reproach

Halocline Trance

Drifting further from club music conventions, Egyptrixx presents some of his best work yet with this trippy, atmospheric full-length.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Borders

Borders

Thrill Jockey

Moving to Thrill Jockey, the experimental electronic duo creates a hypnotic, bracing album using self-built instruments and loads of distortion.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Carlos, Erasmo...

Carlos, Erasmo...

Light in the Attic Records

The singer/songwriter's visionary expansion of tropicalia was misunderstood in 1971, but is now justly regarded as a Brazilian rock classic.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Love Mirage

Love Mirage

Stoner Disco

The New Pornographers guitarist's third solo outing is a warm-hearted tribute to '70s AM pop and disco studiocraft.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Hang

Hang

Jagjaguwar

The duo's first proper studio album finds them joined by a 40-plus-piece orchestra, the Lemon Twigs, and Steven Drozd, and it's a corker.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Changer

Changer

Polyvinyl

The prolific songwriter balances intense poetic narratives with more reflective electronic pieces on his first album since moving to Montreal.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Jardín

Jardín

Stones Throw
R&B

Inviting, frolicsome, and delightfully off-center love songs from the multi-instrumentalist Stones Throw signee.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Gods of Violence

Gods of Violence

Nuclear Blast

On an album nearly five years in the making, the lineage thrash metallers and producer Jens Bogren show the kids how it's done.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Hey Mr. Ferryman

Hey Mr. Ferryman

Merge

The outstanding singer and songwriter teams in the studio with Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, and the results are impressive.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Piano Song

Piano Song

Thirsty Ear

On his final Thirsty Ear date, the pianist/composer and his trio deliver an accessible but no less questing set of new tunes.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Lemon Memory

Lemon Memory

Memphis Industries

The Leeds indie rock outfit moves deftly into a more experimental phase on their strong sophomore set.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Intoxicated Women

Intoxicated Women

Mute

The fourth and final volume in a 20-year series, the artist sends it off with the same musical imagination, savvy, and humor he began with.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Oto Hiax

Oto Hiax

Editions Mego

Seefeel's Mark Clifford and Scott Douglas Gordon (Loops Haunt) team up for a chaotic yet joyful album of free-form explorations.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Stellular

Stellular

Vermilion Records

The singer/songwriter's second album is a warm and shiny electro-pop collaboration with Boxed In's Oli Bayston.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Run the Jewels 3

Run the Jewels 3

Run the Jewels, Inc.
Rap

The third installment in the duo's excellent catalog is their best to date, packed with agile wordplay, inspired guests, and tight production.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Album cover for Messes

Messes

Urinal Cake

Longtime Michigan indie scene regular Stef Chura perfects her anxious, visceral sound with her excellent first studio album.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Foxhole

Foxhole

Slumberland

The band's second album was a struggle to make, but the resulting smoothly polished melancholy pop is a breeze to listen to.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for I See You

I See You

Young Turks

The trio's bold third album celebrates taking risks when it comes to love and music.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Embers

Embers

Houndstooth

London-based producer Ross Tones' second album as Throwing Snow is a suspenseful, constantly evolving cinematic journey.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Ty Segall [2017]

Ty Segall [2017]

Drag City

With Cairo Gang's Emmett Kelly on board and a live studio band, the album is a thunderous noise-fest balanced with sweet folk-rock tunes.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Epoch

Epoch

Ghostly International

Tycho's fourth studio album is darker and moodier than past efforts, but it still maintains the instrumental group's familiar, pleasant sound.

— Paul Simpson