Rufus Wainwright

Take All My Loves: 9 Shakespeare Sonnets

Deutsche Grammophon

Pop/Rock

An ambitious (and elegant) mix of accompanied readings, opera, and chamber pop to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death.

— Marcy Donelson

Guided by Voices

Please Be Honest

Guided by Voices, Inc.

Pop/Rock

Robert Pollard goes D.I.Y. on this album, where he simulates the sound of his band by playing all the instruments himself.

— Mark Deming

A$AP Ferg

Always Strive and Prosper

RCA

Rap

The A$AP Mob member's sophomore LP is a diverse success with an excellent guest list.

— David Jeffries

Andy Stott

Too Many Voices

Modern Love

Electronic

The Mancunian's rhythms are sludgy as ever, but synthetic choral elements and bright keyboard melodies add some color to his fourth proper album.

— Andy Kellman

Nicolas Godin

Contrepoint

Because Music

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Layering genres and eras as well as moods and sounds, the Air musician's delightful solo debut celebrates musical history and creativity.

— Heather Phares

Susanna

Triangle

Susannasonata

Pop/Rock

The artist's first solo album since 2012 explores spirituality and superstition in emotional, experimental ways.

— Heather Phares

Alpha Blondy & the Solar System / Alpha Blondy

Positive Energy

VP Records

International, Reggae

The West African reggae singer's aptly titled 16th LP features Ijahman Levi and Tarrus Riley as guests.

— David Jeffries

Higher Authorities

Neptune

Domino

Pop/Rock

Clinic's Adrian "Ade" Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley debut their dub-infused side project with an album co-produced by Adrian Sherwood.

— Paul Simpson

Josh Kelley

New Lane Road

Sugar Hill

Pop/Rock, Country

The singer and songwriter gets personal on his eighth album, which merges country with laid-back classic rock.

— Mark Deming

Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds / Kid Congo Powers

La Arana Es la Vida

In the Red Records

Pop/Rock, Blues

Fourth time's the charm, as the former Gun Club and Cramps guitarist hits his stride as a frontman with his solo project.

— Mark Deming

Benjamin Dean Wilson

Small Talk

Tapete Records

Pop/Rock

An offbeat and polarizing pop platter from this dry-witted Great Plains bard.

— Timothy Monger

Carlos Niño

Flutes, Echoes, It's All Happening!

Leaving Records

Electronic

The well-connected L.A. producer continues to find common ground between spiritual jazz, new age, and hip-hop on this stunning album.

— Paul Simpson

Nik Bärtsch / Nik Bärtsch's Mobile

Continuum

ECM

Avant-Garde

After a decade of silence, the Swiss pianist and composer resurrects his first recording ensemble and issues a gem.

— Thom Jurek

Candlebox

Disappearing in Airports

Pavement / Pavement Entertainment

Pop/Rock

Grunge-era rockers return to duty with a new lineup, a new label, and their longtime commitment to hard and heavy songs.

— Mark Deming

Greys

Outer Heaven

Carpark Records

Pop/Rock

The Toronto post-punk outfit's excellent second outing feels like pure creative growth.

— Timothy Monger

Mean Jeans

Tight New Dimension

Fat Wreck Chords

Pop/Rock

More willfully dumb songs about beer, bad luck, and Michael Jackson from these Pacific Northwest funny punks.

— Mark Deming

Paul Young

Good Thing

New State

Pop/Rock

An immaculate return to soul by the veteran British singer.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Free Time

In Search of Free Time

Underwater Peoples

Pop/Rock

The group's second album of relaxed, slightly off-kilter, Felt-influenced indie pop was recorded in Brooklyn and Australia.

— Tim Sendra

Programm

A Torrid Marriage of Logic and Emotion

The Hand

Pop/Rock

Impressive debut full-length from a Toronto-based quartet whose dark yet hopeful sound blends post-punk and psychedelic influences.

— Paul Simpson

Sean McCaul

Midnight at the Purple Palace

Underwater Peoples

Jazz, Classical

Dreamy, colorful studio debut full-length by a skilled vibraphonist who regularly busks in New York City subways.

— Paul Simpson

The New Mastersounds

The Nashville Session

Royal Potato Family

R&B, Jazz

Recorded live in analog and pressed on vinyl lacquers, this riotous live-in-studio date is the band's finest recorded moment.

— Thom Jurek

Claudio Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Claudio Abbado: The Last Concert

Berliner Philharmoniker

Classical

A fitting close to the career of Claudio Abbado, conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic from 1990 until May of 2013.

— James Manheim

Martin Fröst

Roots

Sony Classical

Classical

Fröst's playing has never been better. This is a fine introduction to one of the great instrumentalists of the present.

— James Manheim

Michael Spyres / Angela Meade / Mark Elder / Hallé Orchestra

Donizetti: Le Duc d'Albe

Opera Rara

Classical

The unfussy choral and orchestral work conducted by Sir Mark Elder is an attraction of this necessity for Donizetti buffs.

— James Manheim

Kent Nagano / Anne-Catherine Gillet / Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

Honegger & Ibert: L'Aiglon

Decca

Classical

With a convincing libretto and a lightness in Nagano's hands, this is a real find for lovers of French opera.

— James Manheim

Howard Griffiths / WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

Carl Maria von Weber: Complete Overtures

CPO

Classical

The overtures of Carl Maria von Weber are explored by Howard Griffiths and the WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln on this 2015 CPO release.

— Blair Sanderson

Frank Peter Zimmermann / Antoine Tamestit / Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra / Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 2 & 5; Sinfonia Concertante

Haenssler / Hänssler Classic

Classical

Frank Peter Zimmermann completes his cycle of Mozart's violin concertos with this 2016 Hänssler Classic release.

— Blair Sanderson

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