Featured New Releases for
February 19, 2016

Album cover for The Life of Pablo by Kanye West
Kanye West

The Life of Pablo

Getting Out Our Dreams
Rap
A fascinating and flawed return with support from Young Thug, Madlib, Kendrick Lamar, and others.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Painting With by Animal CollectiveEditors' Choice
Animal Collective

Painting With

Domino / Domino Recording
Pop/Rock
Calling it "our Ramones record," the indie experimenters' tenth LP puts a premium on tightened forms, lively beats, and nimble vocal interplay.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for In My Mind by BJ the Chicago KidEditors' Choice
BJ the Chicago Kid

In My Mind

Motown
R&B
Long overdue Motown debut from a gospel- and soul-rooted singer and songwriter who appeared on several high-charting albums during 2014 and 2015.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Lola by Carrie RodriguezEditors' Choice
Carrie Rodriguez

Lola

Luz / luzrecords
Country
The Austin-based singer, songwriter, and violinist formed an all-star band to record "culturally blended music for a culturally blended world."

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Life of Pause by Wild NothingEditors' Choice
Wild Nothing

Life of Pause

Captured Tracks
Pop/Rock
A more mature and well-produced version of their sound, with longer, more emotionally involved songs.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Here Be Monsters by MotorpsychoEditors' Choice
Motorpsycho

Here Be Monsters

Rune Grammofon
Pop/Rock
Norway's veteran psychonauts explore the vast reaches of inner space with this sprawling yet refined offering.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Victorious by Wolfmother
Wolfmother

Victorious

Universal
Pop/Rock
On their fourth album, Andrew Stockdale and a crew of new personnel head to Hollywood to work with producer Brendan O'Brien.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for The Art of Hustle by Yo Gotti
Yo Gotti

The Art of Hustle

Epic
Rap
Pusha T, 2 Chainz, and the massive hit "Down in the DM" all land on the Memphis MC's great 2016 LP.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Banshee by The Cave SingersEditors' Choice
The Cave Singers

Banshee

Jagjaguwar
Pop/Rock
Fifth album from the Seattle indie-folk quartet expands on their quiet and gritty sides with intelligence and soul.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Ultimate Care II by Matmos
Matmos

Ultimate Care II

Thrill Jockey
Electronic
A Whirlpool washing machine provides the inspiration for one of the duo's subtlest and most audacious albums.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Dig Deep by After the Burial
After the Burial

Dig Deep

Sumerian Records
Pop/Rock
The Minnesota-based prog-metalcore unit's fifth LP and first set of new material released after the death of co-founder and guitarist Justin Lowe.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for It Calls on Me by Doug TuttleEditors' Choice
Doug Tuttle

It Calls on Me

Trouble in Mind
Pop/Rock
Less psychedelic trickery and more of a folk-rock jangle on Tuttle's second album, but the songs are just as good, maybe even better.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Seth Bogart by Seth BogartEditors' Choice
Seth Bogart

Seth Bogart

Burger Records
Pop/Rock
Stepping out from behind the Hunx name, Bogart's debut is a bubbling blast of good-time bubblegum-flavored electro pop.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Die Alone by Gazebos
Gazebos

Die Alone

Hardly Art
Pop/Rock
Seattle quartet's debut album sounds like a lost, late-'70s new wave album, though not one you can consistently dance to.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Daze by Brood MaEditors' Choice
Brood Ma

Daze

Tri Angle
Electronic
An action-packed soundscape of cyber warfare from a London-based producer making his debut for Tri Angle.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Grasque by Choir of Young Believers
Choir of Young Believers

Grasque

Ghostly International
Pop/Rock
The third studio long player from the Danish pop collective goes deep into ambient R&B and '90s slow jam electro-pop.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Velvet Arc by Chuck JohnsonEditors' Choice
Chuck Johnson

Velvet Arc

Trouble in Mind
Folk, Pop/Rock
Celebrated for his acoustic guitar playing, the composer and experimentalist switches to electric, with a rhythm section for this rootsy outing.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Golden Daze by Golden DazeEditors' Choice
Golden Daze

Golden Daze

Autumn Tone Records
Pop/Rock
Underneath its dreamy psych and lo-fi textures, the California duo's debut offers some solid pop songcraft.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Phase by Jack GarrattEditors' Choice
Jack Garratt

Phase

Interscope / Island
Pop/Rock
Arriving on a wave of sizable British hype, this exciting debut combines powerful soul and deft electronics to create an entirely immersive journey.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Album cover for Side Pony by Lake Street Dive
Lake Street Dive

Side Pony

Nonesuch
Pop/Rock
The eclectic Boston quartet dig into a hooky, vintage '60s and '70s soul-inspired sound on their first album for Nonesuch.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for Creation by Lightstorm
Lightstorm

Creation

Drag City
Pop/Rock, New Age
Collection of tracks from two self-released LPs by a psychedelic new age glam rock group who formed in California during the '60s.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for LNZNDRF by LNZNDRF
LNZNDRF

LNZNDRF

4AD
Pop/Rock
Half instrumental, improvisational debut of the trio of Ben Lanz (Beirut) and Scott and Bryan Devendorf (the National) with a post-punk palette.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Mowing by Michael Nau
Michael Nau

Mowing

Suicide Squeeze
Pop/Rock
The serene solo debut of Cotton Jones' leader retains the warm nostalgia of the band's penchant for psychedelic and AM pop.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for DJ-Kicks by MoodymannEditors' Choice
Moodymann

DJ-Kicks

!K7
Electronic
A coup for !K7's long-running mix series, featuring 11 custom edits and a prized highlight from the DJ/producer's Mahogani Music label.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Rocket Science by Rick SpringfieldEditors' Choice
Rick Springfield

Rocket Science

Frontiers Records
Pop/Rock
The actor/musician's 18th album is an energetic set, including songs written with members of Rascal Flatts and the Hold Steady.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Rot Forever by Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls

Rot Forever

Broken World Media / Standard Brickhouse
Pop/Rock
The Montana-bred indie rock trio offers a sprawling and gutsy debut.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Neo by So Pitted
So Pitted

Neo

Sub Pop
Pop/Rock
The debut LP from Seattle-based noise-rock/slacker-punk trio is pure Sub Pop.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Moments in Time by Stan GetzEditors' Choice
Stan Getz

Moments in Time

Resonance
Jazz
Captivating live album featuring Stan Getz performing with his quartet at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in 1976.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for Love Yes by TEEN
TEEN

Love Yes

Carpark Records
Pop/Rock
The band delivers equally sensual and challenging explorations of romance's aftermath.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Wise Ol' Man by The Fall
The Fall

Wise Ol' Man

Cherry Red
Pop/Rock
Remixes and instrumentals pad the track list, but the highlights of this EP are way high, including the title cut.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for From the Deep by The Heliocentrics
The Heliocentrics

From the Deep

Now-Again
Jazz
The eclectic British ensemble dips into its archives for a batch of psychedelic jazz-funk tunes recorded at its old home base, Quatermass Studios.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Better Off Dead by The Shivas
The Shivas

Better Off Dead

K Records
Pop/Rock
Sweet lo-fi wanderings from this Portland-based combo, with songs good enough to keep them on the right track.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Subterranean by Tracy Bryant
Tracy Bryant

Subterranean

Burger Records
Pop/Rock
First full-length solo effort from the Corners founder balances garage rock grit with early psychedelic wanderlust.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for The Wild Mercury by VandaveerEditors' Choice
Vandaveer

The Wild Mercury

MRI / Whitespace
Folk, Pop/Rock
Mark Heidinger's long-tenured alt-folk project turns in a beautifully crafted and deeply personal fifth album.

— Timothy Monger

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