The Band / Bob Dylan

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes - Complete

Columbia / Legacy

Pop/Rock

Long-awaited official release of all of the legendary Basement Tapes recorded by Dylan and the Band in 1967.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Neil Young

Storytone

Reprise / Warner Bros.

Pop/Rock, Blues

A big, sloppy valentine to new love, cars, and the Earth, delivered in two parts: one with an orchestra, one solo acoustic.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Calvin Harris

Motion

Columbia / Columbia Records

Pop/Rock, Electronic

The EDM-pop architect returns with more tightly constructed tracks featuring a bevy of A-list collaborators.

— Heather Phares

Deerhoof

La Isla Bonita

Polyvinyl / Upset the Rhythm

Pop/Rock

Classic punk and funk are just a few of the elements the band incorporates into another engaging musical whirlwind.

— Heather Phares

Theophilus London

Vibes!

Warner Bros.

R&B

Assisted by Leon Ware, the Force M.D.'s, Devonte Hynes, and Jesse Boykins III, among others, this handily trumps the artist's 2011 debut.

— Andy Kellman

Grouper

Ruins

Kranky

Pop/Rock

Recorded in Portugal, this is some of the ambient artist's most vulnerable and beautiful music.

— Heather Phares

The Doobie Brothers

Southbound

Sony Music

Pop/Rock

The Doobies invite a host of contemporary country singers to come and sing the band's classic hits.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Ani DiFranco

Allergic to Water

Righteous Babe Records

Folk, Pop/Rock

This intimate set was produced and mixed by the artist during the midnight hours with excellent songs and performances.

— Thom Jurek

Wildbirds & Peacedrums

Rhythm

The Leaf Label / Leaf Spain

Pop/Rock

Honed by consistent touring, the duo focuses on powerful vocals and percussion with stunning results.

— Heather Phares

Paul McCartney & Wings / Paul McCartney / Wings

Venus and Mars [Deluxe Edition]

Hear Music / MPL Communications / Universal

Pop/Rock

Deluxe edition of the 1975 album contains an appealing collection of non-LP hits like "Junior's Farm," B-sides, demos, live cuts, and outtakes.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Paul McCartney / Paul McCartney & Wings / Wings

Wings at the Speed of Sound [Bonus Tracks]

Concord Music Group / Hear Music / Universal

Pop/Rock

Deluxe edition of 1976 album is heavy on demos and highlighted by a "Beware My Love" with Led Zeppelin's John Bonham on drums.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

AJ Davila y Terror Amor / AJ Davila

Beibi

Burger Records

Pop/Rock

The second album from Davila 666 leader in 2014 is another fun blast of glammy garage punk, this time in glorious lo-fi.

— Tim Sendra

The Chills

The BBC Sessions

Fire Records

Pop/Rock

Complete recordings from three mid-'80s Peel sessions made by this essential early indie band from New Zealand.

— Fred Thomas

Teyana Taylor

VII

Def Jam / Getting Out Our Dreams

R&B

A stellar set of slow jams from a singer whose career was considered D.O.A. in 2008.

— Andy Kellman

Clark / Christopher Clark

Clark

Warp

Electronic

Warp mainstay Chris Clark returns to the tiles with invigorating techno and balances it with evocative ambient material.

— Andy Kellman

Deptford Goth

Songs

37 Adventures

Pop/Rock

A woozy mix of sad and sunny electronica, the London act's second LP is a mood piece of subtlety and sensuousness.

— Timothy Monger

Mariachi El Bronx

Mariachi El Bronx (III)

ATO / White Drugs

Latin, Pop/Rock

Synthesizers and electronics color the punk-turned-mariachi outfit's most innovative album to date.

— Matt Collar

Korallreven

Second Comin'

Cascine

Pop/Rock

The Swedish duo's second album is synthier, warmer, and more ebullient than their first, which is really saying something.

— Tim Sendra

Les Sins

Michael

ADA / Company Records

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Chaz Bundick takes time off from Toro y Moi to explore various forms of dance music and proves himself quite adept at all of them.

— Tim Sendra

Arca

Xen

Mute

Electronic

The producer's debut album delivers uniquely emotional, organic music that revels in its state of flux.

— Heather Phares

Robert Scott

The Green House

Flying Nun

Pop/Rock

Delicate and dreamy third solo album by long-running member of the Bats and the Clean.

— Fred Thomas

The Band / Bob Dylan

The Bootleg Series, Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes - Raw

Columbia / Legacy

Pop/Rock

Double-disc distillation of the big Basement Tapes box contains all the major Dylan originals from the sessions.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Various Artists

Blue Note: Uncompromising Expression - The Singles Collection

Blue Note

Jazz

This five-disc set compiles singles from Blue Note's catalog that commenced in 1939 and goes through the early 21st century.

— Thom Jurek

The Rolling Stones

From the Vault: Hampton Coliseum (Live in 1981)

Eagle Rock

Pop/Rock

Archival release of a December 1981 gig recorded on the same tour that produced the Still Life LP and the 1983 theatrical documentary.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Thelonious Monk

'Round Midnight: The Complete Blue Note Singles (1947-1952)

Blue Note

Jazz

Compiles all of the influential jazz pianist's original 78 rpm singles for Blue Note.

— Matt Collar

Bette Midler

It's the Girls!

EastWest / Warner Bros.

Pop/Rock, Vocal

The vocal legend pays homage to classic girl groups of the '40s, '50s, '60s, and beyond.

— Matt Collar

Big Star

Live in Memphis

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

Long-awaited release of the homecoming concert from Big Star's 1994 reunion tour, the only full-length show ever filmed by the band.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Davila 666

Pocos Años, Muchos Daños

Burger Records

Pop/Rock

A collection of non-LP single sides from these Spanish garage punks; diverse, satisfying, and full of lo-fi fire.

— Mark Deming

Dean Blunt

Black Metal

Rough Trade

Pop/Rock

The Big Star and Pastels samples on this half of Hype Williams' first Rough Trade album are more indicative than its title.

— Andy Kellman

Eric Bibb

Blues People

Stony Plain

Blues

Modern acoustic blues that is calm, serious, warm, thoughtful, and wonderfully recorded.

— Steve Leggett

John Denver

All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection

Legacy / Sony Music

Pop/Rock

The iconic American singer/songwriter is covered in detail on this 90-song, career-spanning box set which shows why he so endeared himself to fans.

— Timothy Monger

Dick Wagner

Dick Wagner

Real Gone Music

Pop/Rock

Solo debut from the noted Alice Cooper and Lou Reed sideman is big, glossy, and anthemic, but could actually use more guitar.

— Mark Deming

Megafortress

Believer

Driftless Recordings

Electronic, Pop/Rock

Full-length debut from this complex Brooklyn pop experimentalist makes anxiety and confusion sound incredibly pretty.

— Fred Thomas

Springtime Carnivore

Springtime Carnivore

Autumn Tone Records

Pop/Rock

Smart and tuneful pop music that merges sounds from the '60s and the 21st century; featuring Greta Morgan of Gold Motel.

— Mark Deming

Sylvester Stewart / Sly Stone

I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969-70

Light in the Attic Records

Pop/Rock, R&B

The complete output of the funk pioneer's short-lived label, providing the link between Stand! and There's a Riot Goin' On.

— Mark Deming

Spain

Sargent Place

Dine Alone

Pop/Rock

Languid but powerful late-night music from Josh Haden and Company, featuring his father Charlie Haden's final recordings.

— Mark Deming

Virginia Wing

Measures of Joy

Fire Records

Pop/Rock

Eerie debut of angular, otherworldly sounds from this UK-based indie pop trio.

— Fred Thomas

Tom Findlay / Groove Armada

LateNightTales Presents Automatic Soul

LateNightTales

Electronic

The Groove Armada member goes back to the early '80s for this prime mix of post-disco and R&B electro.

— David Jeffries

Lee Bannon

Main/Flex

Babygrande Records / Chillectro / iHipHop

Rap, Electronic

The left-field hip-hop producers go way left with this spacy dispatch from a drum'n'bass planet.

— David Jeffries

Magic Castles

Sky Sounds

A / A.

Pop/Rock

The Minneapolis neo-psychedelic quintet expands to fill the room with a colorful, highly retro sophomore release.

— Timothy Monger

Tim Wheeler

Lost Domain

Atomic Heart / RED Music Solutions

Pop/Rock

The debut solo album from Ash front man Tim Wheeler, Lost Domain is as emotionally heavy as it is melodious.

— James Christopher Monger

Dirty South

With You

Astralwerks

Electronic

Following in the footsteps of Avicii, the EDM producer goes pop with this satisfying experiment.

— David Jeffries

High Ends

Super Class

Dine Alone

Pop/Rock

The slacker, one-man electro-dance party side project of Yukon Blonde frontman Jeffrey Innes.

— James Christopher Monger

Various Artists

5 Years of Bedroom Suck Records

Bedroom Suck

Pop/Rock

Massive 27-track compilation celebrates five years from this tireless Australian indie label.

— Fred Thomas

Gustavo Dudamel / Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

Mahler: Symphony No. 7

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela present a compelling performance of Gustav Mahler's oddest symphony.

— Blair Sanderson

Thomas Dausgaard / Swedish Chamber Orchestra

Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

BIS

Classical

Thomas Dausgaard's recordings of Franz Schubert's early symphonies offer authentic Classical practices in the super audio format.

— Blair Sanderson

Marin Alsop / Orquestra Sinfónica do Estado de São Paulo - OSESP

Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1 'Classical' & 2; Dreams

Naxos

Classical

Prokofiev's "Classical" Symphony and the volatile Symphony No. 2 are performed by Marin Alsop and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.

— Blair Sanderson

Baiba Skride / Vasily Petrenko / Lauma Skride

Karol Szymanowski: Violin Concertos; Myths

Orfeo

Classical

Violinist Baiba Skride plays Szymanowski's two violin concertos and joins her sister Lauma Skride in the chamber work Myths.

— Blair Sanderson

Choir of Westminster Abbey / James O'Donnell / Britten Sinfonia

Music for Remembrance

Hyperion

Classical

A strong entry in the crowded field of recordings of the Duruflé Requiem, with excellent Hyperion sound.

— James Manheim

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