Promise of the Real / Neil Young

Earth

Atlantic / Reprise

Pop/Rock

A genuinely weird live album that pairs Neil Young & the Promise of the Real with a flotilla of animal noises.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Avett Brothers

True Sadness

Republic

Pop/Rock, Folk

Far from being an album for wallowing in the depths of grief, True Sadness is a record about the emergence of hope.

DJ Shadow

The Mountain Will Fall

Mass Appeal

Electronic

Less sample-based yet typically sprawling suite of hip-hop mutations from Josh Davis, featuring Run the Jewels and Matthew Halsall.

— Andy Kellman

The Felice Brothers

Life in the Dark

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock, Country

Americana group returns to the themes and sound of 2014's Favorite Waitress, with not dissimilar results.

— Mark Deming

Broods

Conscious

Capitol / Island

Pop/Rock

A great leap from their downtempo debut, the New Zealand siblings' sophomore set vaults them into a glimmering pop future.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Deerhoof

The Magic

Polyvinyl

Pop/Rock

Inspired by the music they loved as kids, the band's sprawling 13th studio album is peppered with moments of anarchic fun.

— Heather Phares

Eggs Over Easy

Good 'n' Cheap: The Eggs Over Easy Story

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock

A double-disc set of the complete works of the pioneering pub rock band.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Bangles

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Bangles!

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

Compilation of the group's early days, full of spunky garage rock and Day-Glo jangle pop, all delivered with a joyous, youthful energy.

— Tim Sendra

Cassius

Ibifornia

Polydor

Electronic

Mike D, Cat Power, Ryan Tedder, and others join the French duo on this welcoming tropical house concept album.

— David Jeffries

Marquis Hill

The Way We Play

Concord Jazz

Jazz, Rap

The Concord debut from the 2014 Thelonious Monk Institute's International Jazz Competition-winning Chicago trumpeter.

— Matt Collar

Mick Harvey

Delirium Tremens

Mute / Mute Artists

Pop/Rock

The welcome third entry in the Australian musician's influential interpretations of Serge Gainsbourg music arrives 22 years after his first.

— Thom Jurek

Comet Control

Center of the Maze

Tee Pee / Teepee Records

Pop/Rock

The band's second album of dream-pop-meets-metal-meets-psych-meets-shoegaze is even better than their impressive debut, thanks to improved production and hookier songs.

— Tim Sendra

Kandace Springs

Soul Eyes

Blue Note

R&B

Refined debut album from a singer, songwriter, and keyboardist who earned the admiration of Prince.

— Andy Kellman

Cash Cash

Blood, Sweat & 3 Years

Atlantic / Big Beat Records / Elektra / Warner Music

Electronic

From trap to tropical, this party-starting monster is packed with guest vocalists on bangers that would make Swedish House Mafia proud.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Daedelus / Kneebody

Kneedelus

Brainfeeder

Electronic

The experimental jazz crew Kneebody pitches to underground electronica producer Daedelus and the ball gets hit into deep left field.

— David Jeffries

The Explorers Club

Together

Gold Star Records

Pop/Rock

Another meticulous effort marked by the band's Beach Boys-inspired harmonies and '70s Baroque pop influences -- plus a Steely Dan entry.

— Marcy Donelson

Oh Pep!

Stadium Cake

Dualtone Music

Pop/Rock

The full-length debut of Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs blends elements of rock, electronic, and folk into a breezy indie pop.

— Marcy Donelson

Alice Bag

Alice Bag

Don Giovanni

Pop/Rock

First solo LP from the L.A. punk veteran is a smart, eclectic, and energetic set full of outspoken songs and solid performances.

— Mark Deming

Delorean

Muzik

Phlex

Pop/Rock, Electronic

The Spanish band's sixth album is their most house-influenced to date, with barely a guitar in sight, only warm-hearted electro-pop.

— Tim Sendra

Various Artists

Sherwood at the Controls, Vol. 2: 1985-1990

On U Sounds

Pop/Rock

More radical productions and dub mixes from the On-U founder, highlighted by tracks from Tackhead, Ministry, and the Beatnigs.

— Andy Kellman

Bun E. Carlos

Greetings From Bunezuela!

Entertainment One

Pop/Rock

Former Cheap Trick drummer and some talented friends play a set of their favorite covers, both famous and obscure.

— Mark Deming

Christian Fennesz / Jim O'Rourke

It's Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry

Editions Mego

Electronic

The two veteran experimental guitarists reflect on loss and emotional confusion on their first collaboration without Peter Rehberg.

— Paul Simpson

Marvin Gaye

Volume Three: 1971-1981

Motown

R&B

Simple and sharp bundling of the seven albums the singer released during his artistic peak, including What's Going On and I Want You.

— Andy Kellman

Puro Instinct

Autodrama

Manifesto / Manifesto Records

Pop/Rock

Arriving five years after their debut, the Kaplan sisters' confident second album juxtaposes '80s fantasy and 2010s reality.

— Heather Phares

Rich Robinson

Flux

Circle Sound / Universal

Pop/Rock

A muscular, warm record that trades upon Robinson's roots while still feeling fresh.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Riff Raff

Peach Panther

Sony BMG

Rap

G-Eazy, Danny Brown, Gucci Mane, and others join the wild MC on his satisfying sophomore release.

— David Jeffries

Augustines

This Is Your Life

PIAS

Pop/Rock

A big, emotionally naked, relentlessly melodic blast of anthemic indie rock that does everything but ask the audience to go ahead and pump their fists.

— James Christopher Monger

Jeff Parker

The New Breed

International Anthem

Jazz

The Tortoise guitarist explores hip-hop production techniques on his first solo album since relocating to Los Angeles.

— Paul Simpson

Math and Physics Club

In This Together: EPs, B-Sides, Rarities, and Unreleased Songs 2005-2015

Matinée

Pop/Rock

Collection of early tracks from EPs, unreleased songs, and rarities, and a nice reminder of how good the indie pop band was/is.

— Tim Sendra

Mindless Behavior

#OfficialMBmusic

Conjunction

R&B

Featuring two new members, the pop-R&B group bolts from the kiddie circuit with some boastful, womanizing, pitch-corrected slow jams.

— Andy Kellman

DOROTHY

ROCKISDEAD

Roc Nation / Universal

Pop/Rock

Self-styled badass rock & roll revival -- equal parts Sunset Strip Sleaze and Black Keys -- from the L.A.-based quartet.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Drowners

On Desire

Frenchkiss Records

Pop/Rock

Like the band's peppy, Strokes-ian debut, On Desire dims the lights and offers up a brooding profile shot of love gone astray.

— James Christopher Monger

Landing

Third Sight

El Paraiso

Pop/Rock

The Connecticut-based indie veterans continue to play their timeless brand of supremely calming, unhurried space rock.

— Paul Simpson

LUKA

Summon Up a Monkey King

CTD

Pop/Rock

Both heartfelt and playful, the sophomore LP from Luke Kuplowsky's solo moniker reminds us that love makes fools of us all.

— Marcy Donelson

Marian Hill

Act One [LP]

Republic

Pop/Rock, Electronic

The Philly outfit's full-length debut of arty, stripped-down, electronic R&B.

— Matt Collar

Mikey Erg

Tentative Decisions

Don Giovanni

Pop/Rock

Pop-punk journeyman releases his first solo album, a tuneful set that's witty, emotive, and hard-hitting.

— Mark Deming

The Mystery Lights

Mystery Lights

Wick Records

Pop/Rock

The New York outfit marries city grit with classic garage fervor on its debut for Daptone's rock imprint, Wick Records.

— Timothy Monger

Ólafur Arnalds

LateNightTales

LateNightTales

Pop/Rock

The Icelandic composer's contribution to the after-hours mix series is heavier on the melancholy than most volumes.

— Paul Simpson

Sunburst

Ave Africa: The Complete Recordings 1973-1976

Strut

International, R&B

The complete recorded output of Sunburst, a well-regarded but short-lived Tanzanian band from the '70s.

— Paul Simpson

The Hairs

While I Hated Life, Barbarian

Old Flame Records

Pop/Rock

Kevin Alvir's rickety Brooklyn freak-pop project turns in a warmly crafted and tuneful LP.

— Timothy Monger

The Interrupters

Say It Out Loud

Hellcat Records

Pop/Rock

Second album from this L.A. ska-punk quartet shows the band can really play, but their songwriting is another matter.

— Mark Deming

Seven Davis, Jr.

Future Society

R2 Records

Electronic, R&B

The left-field house/R&B producer showcases several like-minded talents from across the globe on this compilation.

— Paul Simpson

Andris Nelsons / Boston Symphony Orchestra

Under Stalin's Shadow: Shostakovich - Symphonies Nos. 5, 8 & 9

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Live recordings that have both energy and clarity, these can stand with any British or Continental readings.

— James Manheim

Nicholas Angelich

Dedication

Erato

Classical

A logical, enjoyable Romantic piano recital with three works dedicated to the composer of one of the others.

— James Manheim

Richard Egarr / Scottish Opera

Gilbert & Sullivan: HMS Pinafore

Linn Records

Classical

The Scottish Opera's historically informed production of HMS Pinafore was recorded at the 2015 Edinburgh International Festival.

— Blair Sanderson

Martha Argerich

Live from Lugano 2015

Warner Classics

Classical

Martha Argerich & Friends present their annual collection of live performances at the Lugano Festival in Switzerland.

— Blair Sanderson

Various Artists

Iain Hamilton: The Bermudas; Piano Concerto No. 1; Cantos for Horn, Tuba, Harp and Orchestra

Lyrita

Classical

The works here catch some of the range and make a case for reviving Hamilton's music in general.

— James Manheim

Various Artists

Shakespeare in Music & Words

Decca

Classical, Comedy/Spoken

Decca's Shakespeare in Music & Words is a two-CD tribute to the Bard of Avon on the 400th anniversary of his death.

— Blair Sanderson

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