Lana Del Rey

Ultraviolence

Interscope / Polydor

Pop/Rock

Hollywood pop star moves into more patient and jazz-inflected moods on this Dan Auerbach-produced album.

— Fred Thomas

Willie Nelson

Band of Brothers

Legacy / Sony Legacy

Country

On his first new album of predominantly original material in nearly two decades, the singer and songwriter is in top form.

— Thom Jurek

Deadmau5

While(1<2) [Bonus Tracks]

Capitol / Virgin

Electronic

The Mau5 stretches out and gets spacy on this surprisingly serene and sound double album.

— David Jeffries

Sam Smith

In the Lonely Hour

Capitol

Pop/Rock

Rather than capitalize on his major hits with Disclosure and Naughty Boy, the unique singer and songwriter debuts with heartbroken balladry.

— Andy Kellman

The Knife

Shaken-Up Versions

Brille / Mute / Rabid

Electronic, Pop/Rock

Newly recorded renditions of the songs the duo played on the Shaking the Habitual Tour unite the different eras of the Knife's music.

— Heather Phares

Eblis Álvarez / Meridian Brothers

Salvadora Robot

Soundway

Electronic

The sophomore Soundway outing from this group ecstatically explores a range of Caribbean rhythms through rock, electro, and psychedelia.

— Thom Jurek

Linkin Park

The Hunting Party

Warner Bros. / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

Linkin Park return to rock on their sixth album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Felice Brothers

Favorite Waitress

Dualtone Music

Pop/Rock

Roots rockers play particularly explicit homage to the Band on an album that suggests a cleaner, 21st century Basement Tapes.

— Mark Deming

Joshua Redman

Trios Live

Nonesuch / Warner Bros.

Jazz

Adventurous, highly engaging live album featuring Redman's trio on two separate dates.

— Matt Collar

Jennifer Lopez

A.K.A.

Capitol

Pop/Rock

J-Lo goes all in on heavy dance on her eighth album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Soft Pink Truth

Why Do the Heathen Rage?

Thrill Jockey

Electronic

Drew Daniel's house and techno versions of black metal make for some of his most personal, and fascinating, music.

— Heather Phares

Miniature Tigers

Cruel Runnings

Yebo Music

Pop/Rock

The Brooklyn outfit takes a more sophisticated studio approach to its disco and synth pop fixations.

— Matt Collar

Mary J. Blige

Think Like a Man Too

Epic

Stage & Screen, R&B

A refreshingly different soundtrack -- an all-MJB set featuring upbeat collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Rodney Jerkins, and Pop & Oak.

— Andy Kellman

Charlie Haden / Keith Jarrett

Last Dance

ECM

Jazz

This volume was taken from the same sessions that resulted in the duo's lovely 2010 offering Jasmine.

— Thom Jurek

Boris

Noise

Sargent House

Pop/Rock

This always mercurial band ties together its muses, jumping nicely from dream pop to drone metal to screamo.

— Fred Thomas

The Antlers

Familiars

Anti-

Pop/Rock

Fourth album from this Brooklyn trio focuses on lush horn arrangements and darkly dreamy production.

— Fred Thomas

Lower

Seek Warmer Climes

Matador

Pop/Rock

Danish punk band summons the intensity of early post-punk pioneers on its churning debut full-length.

— Fred Thomas

White Lung

Deep Fantasy

Domino

Pop/Rock

The third album from these Canadian punks retains the frantic template of melody and passion of their earlier records.

— Fred Thomas

Nightmares on Wax

N.O.W. Is the Time

Warp

Electronic

From raw house to smooth downtempo material, an even-handed sampling of all seven albums from George Evelyn and co., Warp's most enduring act.

— Andy Kellman

Cerebral Ballzy

Jaded & Faded

Cult Records

Pop/Rock

The Brooklyn-based hardcore revivalists team up with Dave Sitek to deliver an album that finds them attempting to step out of the shadows of giants.

— Gregory Heaney

Tiësto

A Town Called Paradise

Casablanca / Musical Freedom / Republic / Virgin EMI

Electronic

The superstar DJ returns with a Icona Pop, Ladyhawke, and Krewella on a set of mainstream EDM.

— David Jeffries

Slawomir Kurkiewicz / Michal Miskiewicz / Trygve Seim / Marcin Wasilewski / Jacob Young

Forever Young

Deutsche Grammophon / ECM

Jazz

On his third ECM date, the Norwegian guitarist showcases a fine new quintet with Trygve Seim and pianist Marcin Wasilewski's trio.

— Thom Jurek

Big Freedia

Just Be Free

Queen Diva Music

Rap

Furious drum machines and fierce lyrics combine on the drag queen's delicious debut.

— David Jeffries

Dignan Porch

Observatory

Faux Discx

Pop/Rock

The band returns to its lo-fi roots on this set of appealingly scruffy, bittersweet songs.

— Heather Phares

DJ Vadim

Dubcatcher

BBE

Reggae

A deep and different alternative to Major Lazer, Vadim's electro-meets-rasta album is also excellent.

— David Jeffries

NRBQ

Brass Tacks

Big Notes / Clang / Clang!

Pop/Rock

The revamped lineup of these cult heroes sounds more like the classic edition than ever, and thankfully in all the right ways.

— Mark Deming

Ian McLagan / Ian McLagan & the Bump Band

United States

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock

The former Faces keyboardist still travels the endless highway of the good groove on this easygoing but satisfying album.

— Mark Deming

Frog Eyes

Carey's Cold Spring

Paper Bag Records

Pop/Rock

The Canadian band's sixth long-player feels the most immediate in its woe, both lyrically and musically.

— James Christopher Monger

David Gray

Mutineers

Iht Records

Pop/Rock

With Lamb's Andy Barlow, Gray makes a quietly colorful, well-sculpted adult pop LP.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Martyn

The Air Between Words

Ninja Tune

Electronic

Martijn Deykers' all-analog third album offers his richest amalgamations of house, techno, and dubstep yet.

— Andy Kellman

Max Richter

Retrospective

Deutsche Grammophon / Universal

Electronic

Collection of four of the composer's finest works, augmented with worthy bonus material.

— Heather Phares

Various Artists

C86

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock

Expanded version of landmark NME cassette adds two more well-chosen discs of well-known and obscure indie pop, noise pop, and off-kilter post-punk.

— Tim Sendra

Lone

Reality Testing [Clear LP]

R&S

Electronic

A relaxed but no less joyous set from Matt Cutler, his second album for Belgium's mighty R&S.

— Andy Kellman

Ghost Town

The After Party

Fueled by Ramen Records

Pop/Rock

Ghost Town deliver polished pop and EDM with a macabre metal edge on their sophomore effort.

— Gregory Heaney

Hiromi / The Trio Project

Alive

Concord / Telarc

Jazz

On her third album with this trio, the pianist delivers genuine surprise with advanced compositions and colorful grooves.

— Thom Jurek

Cleaners from Venus

Cleaners from Venus, Vol. 3

Captured Tracks

Pop/Rock

Four albums from Martin Newell's homemade pop project reissued in this box set, including the superb Living with Victoria Grey.

— Mark Deming

Donnie and Joe Emerson / Donnie Emerson / Joe Emerson

Still Dreamin Wild: Lost Recordings 1979-1981

Light in the Attic Records

Pop/Rock

Light in the Attic delve deeper into the work of Donnie & Joe Emerson with a collection of unreleased soft rock and new age gems.

— Gregory Heaney

Jacob Young

Forever Young

ECM

Jazz

On his third ECM date, the Norwegian guitarist showcases a fine new quintet with Trygve Seim and pianist Marcin Wasilewski's trio.

— Thom Jurek

John Powell

How to Train Your Dragon 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] [Bonus Track]

Sony Classical

Stage & Screen

Powell finds the sweet spot between flat-out, life-affirming adventure and folksy sentimentality.

— James Christopher Monger

Various Artists

Playing for Change 3: Songs Around the World

Blue Mountain / Palm Pictures / Playing for Change

International, Pop/Rock

An all-star international pop cast delivers a warm and winning mix of the familiar and the exotic.

— James Christopher Monger

Ronnie Earl / Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters

Good News

Stony Plain

Blues

In another excellent offering, the band showcases why it is one of the most consistent and dynamic outfits in contemporary blues.

— Thom Jurek

Seasurfer

Dive In

Saint Marie

Pop/Rock

German trio from former Dark Orange founder delivers a debut of elegant, melodic shoegaze and a goth attitude.

— Timothy Monger

The Downtown Fiction

Losers & Kings

Fearless Records

Pop/Rock

The band's second album is textbook emo pop played with enough energy and youthful charm to keep it from being too formulaic.

— Tim Sendra

The Front Bottoms

Rose

Andy Childs / Bar/None Records

Pop/Rock

The New Jersey folk-punk duo deliver a short set of previously unrecorded fan favorites on an EP named after the drummer's grandmother.

— Timothy Monger

Radio Moscow

Magical Dirt

Alive / Alive Naturalsound Records

Pop/Rock

Expanded to a real power trio for the first time, these Iowa stoner rock mavens sound livelier and stronger on album number four.

— Mark Deming

Vanna

Void [LP]

Pure Noise

Pop/Rock

As furious, punishing, and relentlessly hateful a collection of songs as one can ingest in one sitting.

— James Christopher Monger

Glass Towers

Halcyon Days

Dine Alone

Pop/Rock

Majestic, '80s post-punk-influenced debut from the Australian outfit.

— Matt Collar

Jaki Byard

The Late Show: An Evening with Jaki Byard: Live at the Keystone Korner, Vol. 3

HighNote Records

Jazz

A relaxed and intimate solo piano performance in front of a respectful and appreciative audience.

— Steve Leggett

Netherlands Radio Choir / Kaspars Putniņš

Rachmaninov: Vespers

BIS

Classical

Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil (commonly known as Vespers) is vibrantly performed by Kaspars Putnins and the Netherlands Radio Choir.

— Blair Sanderson

Duo Gazzana

Poulenc, Walton, Dallapiccola, Schnittke, Silvestrov

ECM

Classical

Walton's Toccata for violin and piano is beautifully paired with Dallapiccola's Tartiniana seconda for a tour de force effort.

— James Manheim

Pablo Heras-Casado / Concerto Köln

El Maestro Farinelli

Archiv Produktion

Classical

The Concerto Köln gives this novel music a good deal of rhythmic zest and the effort was worth it.

— James Manheim

Hexnut / New Music Raleigh / Karen Galvin / Donna Shin

D.J. Sparr: 21207

Centaur Records

Classical

Strongly recommended for those interested in new experiments with music that incorporates popular elements, but is not "crossover."

— James Manheim

Hannu Lintu / Valerie Hartmann-Claverie / Angela Hewitt

Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie

Ondine

Classical

Olivier Messiaen's Turangalîla-symphonie has become his best-known orchestral work, and this SACD from Ondine is one of the finest recordings.

— Blair Sanderson

Francesco Piemontesi

Mozart: Piano Works

Naïve

Classical

Piemontesi plays five piano works by Mozart that represent the chief forms of solo keyboard music in the Classical era.

— Blair Sanderson

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