Featured New Releases for
December 1, 2023

I/OEditors' Choice
Real World Records
The art rocker returns with his first album of original material in 20 years: a probing collection filled with empathetic new beginnings.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A Portrait of the Queen 1970-1974Editors' Choice
BMG Rights Management
R&B
A sharply presented box containing expanded editions of the Queen of Soul's first five '70s studio albums.
- Andy Kellman
Violent Femmes [40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]Editors' Choice
Craft Recordings / Craft Records
The 40th anniversary edition of this groundbreaking alt-rock classic includes early demos and live recordings from concerts in 1981 and 1983.
- Fred Thomas
AlbionEditors' Choice
Bella Union
A canny blend of folk-influenced songs with post-punk-informed arrangements on this album from former Midlake singer Tim Smith.
- Mark Deming
Salvage Enterprise
Good Records Recordings
Warm folk harmonies and uplifting emotions mark the psych pop group's eighth album.
- Matt Collar
2 Ruff, Vol. 1
Casablanca / EMI Records
A brief but potent mixtape of drum'n'bass dancefloor heaters, with featured guests including Flowdan, Stefflon Don, and Clementine Douglas.
- Paul Simpson
Never a Dull Moment! Live from Coast to Coast 1966-1967Editors' Choice
Resonance
These unreleased live instrumental performances by Les McCann's early trios are a welcome, wonderful-sounding surprise.
- Thom Jurek
Czartificial Intelligence
Silver Age
Rap
The comic-themed rap supergroup continue their saga, mixing playful bravado with moments of nostalgic reflection.
- Paul Simpson
CONOEditors' Choice
Bobo Integral
The third album from this Australian indie collective tries out new styles and songwriting approaches on every track.
- Fred Thomas
Night in the City
Ear Music
A 2021 live date finds the guitarist and his regular quintet delivering an inspiring performance on two new tracks and selections from his catalog.
- Thom Jurek
Cartwheeling: Live in Memphis
Omnivore
The Memphis power pop stalwart on-stage in 1992, sometimes slick and sometimes rocking at full force.
- Mark Deming
Poulenc: La Voix humaine; Fiançailles pour rire
Aparte
Poulenc's late one-act phone opera seems more relevant than ever and is given a suitably stressed-out performance.
- James Manheim
Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin
Harmonia Mundi
A keyboard-dominant Die schöne Müllerin inaugurates a major new Schubert series.
- James Manheim
Fantasia
Sony Classical
A bold exploration of the fantasia idea with a towering performance of Busoni's difficult example.
- James Manheim
Bach: Goldberg Variations
Deutsche Grammophon
Brilliant, engrossing Goldbergs join superb virtuosity to crystal clarity in a subjective approach.
- James Manheim
Chausson, Ravel: Piano Trios
La Dolce Volta
Sharp performance of two trios that, although separated by just a few decades, inhabit different worlds.
- James Manheim
Handel: Israel in Egypt
Avie
A thoroughgoing rethinking of Handel's troublesome oratorio succeeds in bringing dramatic coherence.
- James Manheim
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