Featured New Releases for
August 21, 2015

Album cover for E-MO-TION by Carly Rae JepsenEditors' Choice
Carly Rae Jepsen

E-MO-TION

Interscope / Schoolboy / Silent Records / Universal Music
Pop/Rock
Sophisticated yet exuberant as a crush, Jepsen's second album established her as a consistently winning pop star.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Meliora by GhostEditors' Choice
Ghost

Meliora

Loma Vista / Universal Music
Pop/Rock
Ghost look toward world domination with their most accessible and expertly executed meld of pop, rock, and metal yet.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Right Here Right Now by Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks

Right Here Right Now

Louder Than Life / Relativity Entertainment
R&B
The singer's R&B-oriented third album, executive produced by Sparkle soundtrack collaborator Salaam Remi, shows some significant artistic growth.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Wild Ones by Kip Moore
Kip Moore

Wild Ones

MCA / MCA Nashville
Country
On his long-awaited second album, the new millennial country singer redefines himself as a heartland rocker from the '80s.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for The Great Unknown by Rob ThomasEditors' Choice
Rob Thomas

The Great Unknown

Atlantic
Pop/Rock
The Matchbox 20 singer broadens his horizons and discovers some previously untapped levity on his fine third solo album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Immortalized by Disturbed
Disturbed

Immortalized

Reprise
Pop/Rock
The sixth studio album from the Windy City heavy rock unit and their first outing since 2010's Asylum.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for The Meth Lab by Method Man
Method Man

The Meth Lab

Tommy Boy / Touch Entertainment
Rap
With Hanz On as executive producer, the Wu-Tang rapper's first solo album in nine years is wonderfully live and loose.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Star Wars by WilcoEditors' Choice
Wilco

Star Wars

Anti- / dBpm
Pop/Rock
Jeff Tweedy and his bandmates roll tape, turn up their amps, and create their most playful and spontaneous work in years.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for High by Royal HeadacheEditors' Choice
Royal Headache

High

What's Yr Rupture?
Pop/Rock
The band's second thrilling blast of soulful garage punk tightens their sounds and brings the vocals up front where they belong.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for High Country by The SwordEditors' Choice
The Sword

High Country

Razor & Tie / Razor & Tie Direct, Llc
Pop/Rock
The Austin, Texas-based retro-metal band's fifth and most compelling long player to date.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for The Awakening by P.O.D.
P.O.D.

The Awakening

T-Boy Records / Universal
Pop/Rock
The ninth studio long-player and first conceptual album from the faith-based Cali hard rockers.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Mudflowers by The Last Hurrah!!Editors' Choice
The Last Hurrah!!

Mudflowers

Rune Grammofon
Pop/Rock
The third effort by this ever-revolving recording project lovingly revisits the sound of early L.A. country-rock and more.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Future/Vintage by Mayday!
Mayday!

Future/Vintage

RBC / Strange Music
Rap
The veteran crew return and prove they can offer something more subdued and polished without losing their punch.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Burning Bridges by Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi

Burning Bridges

Island
Pop/Rock
A brief, power ballad-heavy collection intended not as a new Bon Jovi album but as one for the fans.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Rise to Power by BattlecrossEditors' Choice
Battlecross

Rise to Power

Metal Blade
Pop/Rock
This longstanding Michigan outfit blends a dazzling array of styles into its brand of thrash metal on this ambitious offering.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Carry the Ghost by Noah Gundersen
Noah Gundersen

Carry the Ghost

Dualtone Music
Pop/Rock, Folk
Still remarkably intimate, the indie folkster's edgier second full-length offers introspection with (relatively) boosted volume and textures.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Hidden Fields by The TelescopesEditors' Choice
The Telescopes

Hidden Fields

Tapete Records
Pop/Rock
Harking back to its late-'80s sound, the band returns from years of experimental recordings with a dark, menacing nightmare pop album.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Minecraft Volume Alpha by C418Editors' Choice
C418

Minecraft Volume Alpha

Ghostly International
Stage & Screen
Immensely popular video game's first soundtrack volume, originally released in 2011 and issued in physical formats by Ghostly International in 2015.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Hermits on Holiday by DRINKS
DRINKS

Hermits on Holiday

Birth / Birth Records
Pop/Rock
Weird, art-damaged guitar experiments, and the occasional song, from two leading lights of the 2010s' neo-psych scene.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Music for Dogs by Gardens & Villa
Gardens & Villa

Music for Dogs

Secretly Canadian
Pop/Rock
A wistful post-punk indie pop brew of all-danceable tunes intensified by producer Jacob Portrait (Unknown Mortal Orchestra).

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Back to Birth by Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene

Back to Birth

Yep Roc
Pop/Rock
After five years touring and recording with others, the rambling songman returns with his own album produced by Steve Berlin.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Nephew in the Wild by Advance BaseEditors' Choice
Advance Base

Nephew in the Wild

Orindal Records / Tomlab
Pop/Rock
Owen Ashworth, formerly known as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, embraces family life and returns with his most mature album yet.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Forgive Yourself by Publicist UK
Publicist UK

Forgive Yourself

Relapse Records
Pop/Rock
Goth-tinged post-punk heaviness from this band of metal and indie veterans; runs from darkly witty to just plain dark.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Dark Black Makeup by Radkey
Radkey

Dark Black Makeup

Little Man / Strange Loop Records
Pop/Rock
An old-school blast of misunderstood youth-fueled horror punk delivered with both punch and panache.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Jason James by Jason James
Jason James

Jason James

Country
The Texas City native turns in a sparkling debut with a clean, retro flavor and clever songwriting.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for M by MyrkurEditors' Choice
Myrkur

M

Relapse Records
Pop/Rock
The Garm-produced debut album from this one-woman black metal band is dark, creative, and innovative.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for All Around Us by Briana Marela
Briana Marela

All Around Us

Jagjaguwar
Pop/Rock
Seattle soundscape crafter goes to Iceland and, with Alex Somers (Jónsi), produces a peculiar, reverb-soused album that's a sound more than songs.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for FW14 by Christian Rich
Christian Rich

FW14

Lucky Number
R&B
The Grammy-winning production duo makes its LP debut with this slick and stylish concept album.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Wot Oz by Herbcraft
Herbcraft

Wot Oz

Woodsist
Pop/Rock
Matt Lajoie's spiritually minded psych-rock project solidifies its lineup as a trio and creates its most focused, accomplished work yet.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Wave[s] by Mick Jenkins
Mick Jenkins

Wave[s]

Cinematic Music Group
Rap
Following several mixtapes, the Chicago-based MC's first official release highlights his intelligent lyrics and aggressive delivery.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Blood Red River by Scientists
Scientists

Blood Red River

Numero Group
Pop/Rock
Early EP from the Australian post-punks who debuted their new sound as Kim Salmon became their uncontested leader.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for The Scientists by Scientists
Scientists

The Scientists

Numero Group
Pop/Rock
Debut album from these crucial Australian post-punkers is more garagey and tuneful than their dark, blues-shot later efforts.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Duo. by Maggie O'Connor / Mark O'ConnorEditors' Choice
Maggie O'Connor / Mark O'Connor

Duo.

OMAC
Country
Part of the charm of this is the nature of the arrangements, reminiscent of Renaissance bicinia, with a teacher and student part that gradually converge in virtuosity.

— James Manheim

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