Sia

This Is Acting

RCA

Pop/Rock

The singer/songwriter continues to remake pop in her own image by reclaiming songs she wrote for Adele, Rihanna, and other superstars.

— Heather Phares

Dream Theater

The Astonishing

Atlantic / Roadrunner Records

Pop/Rock

Even in a catalog noted for its concept albums and sprawling ambition, this two-plus-hour rock opera pushes the band's envelope.

— Thom Jurek

Saul Williams

Martyr Loser King

Fader Label

Rap

Justin Warfield joins the poet, rapper, and artist on a challenging and compelling concept album.

— David Jeffries

Benji Hughes

Songs in the Key of Animals

Merge

Pop/Rock

A breezy, easy, and sometimes cheesy amalgamation of girl-crazed blue-eyed soul and Chateau Marmont bungalow freak-pop.

— James Christopher Monger

Tedeschi Trucks Band

Let Me Get By

Fantasy

Blues, Pop/Rock

On its first self-recorded album, this 12-piece behemoth has never sounded more relaxed, free, or on fire.

— Thom Jurek

Phil Collins

Face Value [Deluxe Edition]

Atlantic / Rhino

Pop/Rock

The Genesis drummer's first solo effort is a classic divorce album, filled with soft rock delights and bitter anthems.

— Tim Sendra

Phil Collins

Both Sides [Deluxe Edition]

Rhino

Pop/Rock

Leaving behind Genesis and a marriage, Phil Collins gets moody and personal on one of his best albums.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Walter Martin

Arts & Leisure

Ile Flottante Music

Pop/Rock

The former Walkmen member delivers a warm, witty second album that is equal parts memoir and meditations on art and mortality.

— Heather Phares

Bloc Party

Hymns

BMG Rights Management / Infectious Music

Pop/Rock

Despite two new members, the band's plaintive melodies and soul-baring -- and fascination with sex, drugs, and faith -- remain potent.

— Heather Phares

Benny Boeldt

8 of Cups

Carpark Records

Electronic

Exciting, inventive album of complex rhythms and vocal samples from the Baltimore electronic musician previously known as Adventure.

— Paul Simpson

Dr. Lonnie Smith

Evolution

Blue Note

Jazz

The Hammond B-3 icon makes his Blue Note return with this dynamic soul-jazz showcase.

— Matt Collar

Various Artists

Still in a Dream: A Story of Shoegaze 1988-1995

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock

Exhaustive trawl through the short history of shoegaze's glory years of 1988 to 1995, with loads of great guitar pop along the way.

— Tim Sendra

The Black Queen

Fever Daydream

The Black Queen / Universal

Pop/Rock

Lush, atmospheric debut of '80s sci-fi nostalgic soundscapes from supergroup project formed by members of Dillinger Escape Plan, Telefon Tel Aviv, Nine Inch Nails, and Puscifer.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Basement

Promise Everything

Run for Cover Records

Pop/Rock

The third full-length album of '90s-inspired grunge and melodic noise-rock from the British outfit.

— Matt Collar

The Miamis

We Deliver: The Lost Band of the CBGB Era (1974-1979)

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

Studio tracks, demos, and live material from a New York band of the '70s who fell into the gap between punk and pop.

— Mark Deming

Sierra Hull

Weighted Mind

Rounder / Rounder Records

Country

In her first record in five years, the mandolin virtuoso reinvents herself as a singer/songwriter with chops intact.

— Thom Jurek

Charlie Puth

Nine Track Mind

Atlantic

Pop/Rock

A showy debut from the theatrical singer/songwriter that showcases his balladry along with his penchant for song and dance.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Cian Nugent

Night Fiction

Woodsist

Pop/Rock

The Irish guitarist and his Cosmos deliver his first vocal album, revisiting a wealth of rock & roll influences along the way.

— Thom Jurek

Bonnie "Prince" Billy

Pond Scum

A Bbc Recording / Drag City

Pop/Rock

Collection of BBC radio sessions finds Will Oldham in spare but inspired form as he takes a second look at his back catalog.

— Mark Deming

Kevin Gates

Islah [Bonus Tracks]

Atlantic

Rap

The longtime mixtape artist goes official with this excellent debut album.

— David Jeffries

Wet

Don't You

Columbia / Columbia Records / Sony Music

Pop/Rock

Gorgeously pretty debut album of comforting R&B-inflected indie pop from much-hyped Brooklyn trio.

— Neil Z. Yeung

The Long Ryders

Final Wild Songs

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock

Career-spanning box set from the Americana pioneers features their three studio albums in full along with live tracks and rarities.

— Mark Deming

Buddy Miller

Cayamo Sessions at Sea

New West

Country

The noted guitarist and producer shares recordings he made on an annual music cruise with some very talented colleagues.

— Mark Deming

Tori Kelly

Unbreakable Smile [Repackaged]

Capitol

Pop/Rock

Positive-minded full-length debut from the pitch-perfect, resonant-voiced singer/songwriter.

— Matt Collar

Cross Record

Wabi Sabi

Ba Da Bing Records

Pop/Rock

Songwriter Emily Cross and her husband Dan Duszynski embrace the beauty of imperfection on their delicate yet tense second album.

— Paul Simpson

Emily Wells

Promise

Lefse Records / Thesis & Instinct

Pop/Rock

Elegant, occasionally eerie, collection of austere art-pop poems.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

MONEY

Suicide Songs

Bella Union

Pop/Rock

The enigmatic Manchester band returns with an expanded palette for an intense but tuneful sophomore LP produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J).

— Marcy Donelson

Your Friend

Gumption

Domino

Pop/Rock

The Kansas native delivers a debut LP of glimmering ambience and moody balladeering.

— Timothy Monger

Naked Lights

On Nature

Castle Face

Pop/Rock

Oakland band's debut for Castle Face transforms their sound from hazy psych-rock to urgent, dubby post-punk.

— Paul Simpson

Night Beats

Who Sold My Generation

Heavenly

Pop/Rock

Seattle-based garage/psych trio make their Heavenly Records debut with their brazen third LP.

— Timothy Monger

POP ETC

Souvenir

Pop Etc Records

Pop/Rock

The former Morning Benders' sophomore album drifts into a more despondent tone without sacrificing arena-minded pop production.

— Marcy Donelson

St. Lucia

Matter

Columbia / Columbia Records / RED Music Solutions / Sony BMG

Pop/Rock

The Brooklyn outfit showcases an effervescent, '80s-style synth pop sound on their sophomore album.

— Matt Collar

Walking on Cars

Everything This Way

Caroline / EMI / Virgin / Virgin EMI

Pop/Rock

Debut album from Irish band with a knack for huge hooks and powerful piano-driven rock.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Bron Area

The Trees and the Villages

Glass / Glass Records Redux

Pop/Rock

Moody, abstract 1983 full-length by a short-lived U.K. post-punk band with ties to Eyeless in Gaza.

— Paul Simpson

Wendy James

The Price of the Ticket

Wendy James

Pop/Rock

A weathered, lively, and reflective record made in conjunction with Lenny Kaye and Glen Matlock.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Ronald Brautigam

Beethoven: Complete Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 14

BIS

Classical

Fortepianist Brautigam's expressive style recommends this for those interested in the truly deep levels of the Beethoven.

— James Manheim

Grieg Trio

Haydn Piano Trios

Simax / Simax Classics

Classical

Grieg Trio makes a case for these works, nicely filling a hole in many Haydn collections.

— James Manheim

Ekaterina Litvintseva / Heribert Beissel

Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Profil - Edition Günter Hänssler

Classical

Ekaterina Litvintseva performs Chopin's piano concertos in a live concert with Heribert Beissel and the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn.

— Blair Sanderson

Miloš Karadaglić

Blackbird: The Beatles Album

Decca / Mercury Classics

Classical

Guitarist Miloš Karadaglić's collection of Beatles' songs is strongest when he plays solo or accompanied by just a double bass.

— James Manheim

The Clarinotts

The Clarinotts [Includes Booklet]

Mercury Classics

Classical

The Clarinotts play entertaining arrangements of clarinet classics on this debut album from Mercury Classics and DG.

— Blair Sanderson

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