Arcade Fire

Reflektor

Virgin EMI

Pop/Rock

Reflektor is the record you are allowed to make after winning a Grammy for Album of the Year.

— James Christopher Monger

Toby Keith

Drinks After Work

Show Dog Nashville

Country

On his 17th album, Keith faces his middle age by looking toward the future while romanticizing the past.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Robert Glasper / Robert Glasper Experiment

Black Radio 2 [Deluxe Edition]

Blue Note

Jazz

This is a subtle, successful sequel to its predecessor; it bravely relies on original material performed by all-star vocalists.

— Thom Jurek

William Onyeabor

World Psychedelic Classics, Vol. 5: Who Is William Onyeabor?

Luaka Bop

International, R&B

After years of work, Luaka Bop delivers this stellar portrait of the reclusive Nigerian musical pioneer.

— Thom Jurek

White Denim

Corsicana Lemonade

Downtown Music / Downtown Records

Pop/Rock

The Austin quartet's punk-turned-Southern roots rock sound is fully realized on this bluesy, twang-heavy album.

— Matt Collar

Juana Molina

Wed 21

Crammed Discs

Pop/Rock, Electronic, Latin

On her first recording in five years, the Argentine singer/songwriter colorfully expands her musical and sonic palettes.

— Thom Jurek

Widowspeak

The Swamps

Captured Tracks

Pop/Rock

An enticing handful of songs that shows off the band's witchy charm and casual charisma at its finest.

— Heather Phares

Yancey Boys

Sunset Blvd.

Delicious Vinyl

Rap

With beats from the late J Dilla, Illa J and Frank Nitt invite their favorite MCs over for a fun and soulful party.

— David Jeffries

Hellogoodbye

Everything Is Debatable

Old Friends

Pop/Rock

Adding some '80s influences to the mix, the band's third album is another smart, fun, and hooky modern pop gem.

— Tim Sendra

Kelly Clarkson

Wrapped in Red

RCA

Pop/Rock, Holiday

The American Idol winner works within the system to deliver a surprisingly strong seasonal album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Roy Harper

Man & Myth

Bella Union

Folk, Pop/Rock

On his first new album in 13 years, the singer/songwriter is at the peak of his powers as a writer and singer.

— Thom Jurek

Minor Alps

Get There

Barsuk

Pop/Rock

A striking and accomplished set of indie-pop gems from Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) and Juliana Hatfield.

— Mark Deming

Yuna / Yuna Zarai

Nocturnal

Verve

Pop/Rock

The Malaysian singer's third album of melodic, singer/songwriter pop.

— Matt Collar

Nick Lowe

Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for All the Family

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock, Holiday

Finally delivering a holiday album after so long in the music biz, Lowe's effort is a delightful treat for fans of the season.

— Tim Sendra

Linkin Park

Recharged

Warner Bros.

Pop/Rock

LP offers EDM and dubstep remixes of the entirety of the 2012 album Living Things.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Lily & Madeleine

Lily & Madeleine

Asthmatic Kitty

Pop/Rock

Equally wistful and comforting, the full-length debut from Indianapolis-based siblings Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz doesn't disappoint.

— James Christopher Monger

Moonface

Julia with Blue Jeans On

Jagjaguwar

Pop/Rock

The intoxicating second full-length outing under the Moonface moniker for Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) features just voice and piano.

— James Christopher Monger

Ed Kowalczyk

The Flood and the Mercy

Harbour / Soul Whisper Records

Pop/Rock

With help from R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck and Rachel Yamagata, the former Live singer assembles an impassioned, tuneful collection of modern rock.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Los Campesinos!

No Blues

Turnstile / Wichita

Pop/Rock

The band's fourth album is slick and over-cooked, and lacks the passion that made their early work so thrilling.

— Tim Sendra

Los Lobos

Disconnected in New York City

429 Records / Savoy Jazz

Latin, Country, Pop/Rock

Forty years into their career, the pride of East L.A. deliver an intimate yet emphatic acoustic set.

— Mark Deming

Humble Pie

Performance - Rockin' the Fillmore: The Complete Recordings

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

The four-disc complete reissue of Humble Pie's 1971 live album captures a moment in time.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Jonwayne

Rap Album One

Stones Throw

Rap

The underground producer becomes an underground MC on this weird and wonderful debut.

— David Jeffries

Far Out Fangtooth

Borrowed Time

Siltbreeze

Pop/Rock

Taking inspiration from stoner rock, shoegaze, and post-punk, Far Out Fangtooth make an impressive leap forward on their second full-length.

Thomas Rhett

It Goes Like This

Valory

Country

Full of radio-ready songs, this set should put Rhett over the top as a contemporary country star.

— Steve Leggett

Bad Religion

Christmas Songs

Epitaph

Pop/Rock, Holiday

Bad Religion deliver irony-free renditions of holiday classics on their first Christmas record.

— Gregory Heaney

Susan Boyle

Home for Christmas

Syco Music

Vocal, Holiday

The second seasonal LP from Susan Boyle is stronger and sweeter than her first.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Bardo Pond

Peace on Venus

Fire Records

Pop/Rock

This band now a sextet, presents a further -- more melodic and muscular -- development of their blown-out guitar-centric sound.

— Thom Jurek

Gyptian

Sex, Love & Reggae

VP Records

Reggae

There's more pop, electro, and club music than usual, but the reggae singer still shines on this fun weekend album.

— David Jeffries

The Sounds

Weekend

Arnioki Records

Pop/Rock

A joyous, dance-oriented blast of '80s-influenced new wave and post-punk from the Swedish outfit.

— Matt Collar

Russian Circles

Memorial

Sargent House

Pop/Rock

Russian Circles continue to deliver emotionally complex instrumentals on their heavy and haunting fifth album.

— Gregory Heaney

Super Wild Horses

Crosswords

Dot Dash

Pop/Rock

The noise pop duo's second album cuts down on the noise, adds some subtle nuances, and steps up the songwriting, which results in marked improvement.

— Tim Sendra

Dethklok

Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem – A Klok Opera

BS

Stage & Screen, Pop/Rock

Dethklok, the world's greatest cultural force and most powerful band in the universe, take listeners on a journey through their origins with A Klok Opera.

— Gregory Heaney

Hail of Bullets

III: The Rommel Chronicles

Metal Blade

Pop/Rock

The career of German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel is set to a brutal death metal soundtrack on Hail of Bullets' third album.

— Gregory Heaney

Kid606

Happiness

Tigerbeat6

Electronic, Pop/Rock

An unabashedly cheery set of songs, Happiness is also one of Kid 606's most consistent albums.

— Heather Phares

Kaito

Until the End of Time

Kompakt

Electronic

Hiroshi Watanabe's fourth proper album for Kompakt revisits the melodic neo-trance of his first two and throws a couple curve balls.

— Andy Kellman

Laurel Halo

Chance of Rain

Hyperdub

Electronic

The producer's second Hyperdub release is all-instrumental, full of steely experimental techno with numerous twists and turns.

— Andy Kellman

Maria Taylor

Something About Knowing

Saddle Creek Records

Pop/Rock

Azure Ray co-frontwoman's alternately rustic and dreamy fifth solo outing glows with post-maternity contentment.

— James Christopher Monger

Various Artists

I Am the Center: Private Issue New Age Music in America, 1950-1990

Light in the Attic Records

New Age, Avant-Garde, Pop/Rock

Light in the Attic delivers a musically ambitious, historic, deeply satisfying survey of the private press new age scene.

— Thom Jurek

Clara Hill

Walk the Distance

Tapete Records

Pop/Rock

The Berlin artist's first album in several years is surprisingly whimsical, involving low-key electro-pop, ambient, and even ragged indie rock.

— Andy Kellman

Ramones

The Sire Years 1976-1981

Rhino / Warner Bros.

Pop/Rock

Six good-to-amazing albums from the founding fathers of punk, including their four most essential studio efforts.

— Mark Deming

Schneider TM

Guitar Sounds

Bureau B

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Doing for six strings what Construction Sounds did for construction sites, Guitar Sounds sculpts distortion and feedback into hypnotic pieces.

— Heather Phares

Southern Culture on the Skids

Dig This

Kudzu Records

Pop/Rock

North Carolina trash rockers embrace recycling, recutting 13 tunes from 1994's Ditch Diggin'.

— Mark Deming

The Devil Makes Three

I'm a Stranger Here

New West

Country, Folk, Pop/Rock

Buddy Miller's production harnesses the band's chaotic energy without denying it.

— Steve Leggett

Upset

She's Gone

Don Giovanni

Pop/Rock

Impressive debut from punk pop trio made up of former members of Vivian Girls, Best Coast, and Hole.

— Tim Sendra

Dot Wiggin Band / Dorothy Wiggin

Ready! Get! Go!

Alternative Tentacles

Pop/Rock

The former Shaggs singer returns with her own band nearly 40 years after their breakup, and she's as charming and quirky as ever.

— Mark Deming

Trace Adkins

The King's Gift

Caliburn Records

Country, Holiday

A surprising, serious, satisfying Christmas album from the baritone country singer.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Mark Peters / Ulrich Schnauss

Tomorrow Is Another Day

Bureau B

Pop/Rock, Electronic

The duo's second collaboration is a more intriguing affair that brings depth and diversity to their new age-meets-dream-pop aesthetic.

— Heather Phares

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Blue Record

Jagjaguwar

Pop/Rock

Recorded in Ruban Nielson's basement, this solo acoustic EP replaces the band's psychedelic arrangements with hushed melancholy.

— Tim Sendra

Various Artists

In the Dark: Detroit Is Back

Still Music

Electronic

Still Music's sequel to 2005's In the Dark (The Soul of Detroit) features 24 tracks of underground house and techno from the Motor City.

— Andy Kellman

Various Artists

SMM: Opiate

Ghostly International

Electronic, Pop/Rock

Ranging from somber to spirit-lifting, the contributions to this ambient Ghostly compilation come strictly from outside the label's roster.

— Andy Kellman

Pampers

Pampers

In the Red Records

Pop/Rock

Sloppy but forceful garage punk attack from these Brooklyn-based noise merchants.

— Mark Deming

Phosphorescent

Muchacho de Lujo

Dead Oceans

Pop/Rock

Adds a disc featuring a dozen songs recorded live in London to an already arresting album.

— Steve Leggett

Sepultura

The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart

Nuclear Blast / PHD Wholesale

Pop/Rock

Sepultura seem to have hit their savage stride again, breaking their slump on their 13th studio album.

— Gregory Heaney

Steven Isserlis / Daniel Harding / Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Dvorák: Cello Concertos

Hyperion

Classical

There's something very personal and moving about this look into the great Cello Concerto in B minor.

— James Manheim

Armida Quartett

String Quartets: Bartók, Kurtág, Ligeti

CAvi-music

Classical

The Armida Quartet debuts with a bracing survey of music by Béla Bartók, György Kurtág, and György Ligeti.

— Blair Sanderson

Martin Fröst

Mozart

BIS

Classical

These works show the Fröst magic extends to chamber music and the whole album is as good as expected.

— James Manheim

Maurizio Pollini

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Opp. 7, 14, 22

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Pollini does very well with the sonatas, which really look forward to the monumental accomplishments of Beethoven's middle period.

— James Manheim

Rafał Blechacz

Chopin: Polonaises

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Rafal Blechacz has chosen seven of Chopin's Polonaises, which he plays with intense emotional involvement and bravura style.

— Blair Sanderson

Joseph Calleja

Amore

Decca

Vocal

Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja presents 19 favorites of the vocal repertoire on his 2013 release on Decca, Amore.

— Blair Sanderson

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