Featured New Releases for
September 16, 2016

Album cover for We're All Gonna Die by DawesEditors' Choice
Dawes

We're All Gonna Die

Hub Records
Pop/Rock
A literate, lightly experimental fifth album from the Los Angeles outfit finds them pushing their rootsy rock in imaginative directions.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for Hard II Love by Usher
Usher

Hard II Love

RCA
R&B
The R&B superstar's most pleasing album in over a decade, highlighted by work with Pop & Oak, the-Dream, and PartyNextDoor.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for The Divine Feminine by Mac Miller
Mac Miller

The Divine Feminine

Warner Bros.
Rap
Crass and heartfelt love songs from the Rust Belt rapper, featuring collaborations with Ariana Grande, Anderson Paak, and Dâm-Funk.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Secular Hymns by Madeleine PeyrouxEditors' Choice
Madeleine Peyroux

Secular Hymns

Verve
Vocal
The acclaimed vocalist delivers an intimate set of covers recorded with her trio at the Parish Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in England.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for KoKoro by El Perro del MarEditors' Choice
El Perro del Mar

KoKoro

The Control Group
Pop/Rock
Adding a diverse array of world instruments to the already forward-thinking pop sound makes for the Swedish artist's most interesting record to date.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Kindly Now by Keaton Henson
Keaton Henson

Kindly Now

Oak Ten Records / PIAS / Play It Again Sam
Pop/Rock
The singer/songwriter's third official solo LP balances heart-wrenching balladry with occasionally experimental chamber pop.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Sonderlust by Kishi BashiEditors' Choice
Kishi Bashi

Sonderlust

Joyful Noise
Pop/Rock
K Ishibashi's third solo LP tweaks his sound toward the electronic and loads elaborate design into wistful dance grooves.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Braver Than We Are by Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf

Braver Than We Are

429 Records
Pop/Rock
Meat Loaf reunites with his greatest composer, Jim Steinman, for this operatic and bittersweet album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Bodywash by Mndsgn
Mndsgn

Bodywash

Stones Throw
R&B
More post-Dâm-Funk than it is post-Dilla, Ringgo Ancheta's second Stones Throw album is a kicked-back modern funk diversion.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Sinner by Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis

Sinner

Dot
Country
The Staind singer's second country album is an improvement over the first thanks to producer Buddy Cannon.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for DSU by Alex G
Alex G

DSU

Run for Cover Records
Pop/Rock
Label debut of songwriter and bedroom-recording specialist Alex Giannascoli, who'd already created a buzz with several uploaded records.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Disappear Here by Bad Suns
Bad Suns

Disappear Here

BMG / Vagrant
Pop/Rock
The L.A.-based band's much anticipated sophomore LP delivers a summery blast of windows-down guitar and synth pop with a post-punk twist.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Porcupine Meat by Bobby RushEditors' Choice
Bobby Rush

Porcupine Meat

Rounder / Rounder Records
R&B, Blues
On his best-produced album in years, the 83-year-old blues, soul, and funk wildman cuts the mustard and then some.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Pocho Aztlan by Brujeria
Brujeria

Pocho Aztlan

Nuclear Blast
Pop/Rock
First album in 16 years from these grindcore/death metal legends finds them covering familiar ground with impressive strength.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for CC Dust by CC Dust
CC Dust

CC Dust

K Records
Pop/Rock
Moody electro and New Order-style synth pop from a duo fronted by the impressive Mary Jane Dunphe, also of Olympia punk band Vexx.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Legends Never Die by Chinx
Chinx

Legends Never Die

eOne
Rap
The rapper's second posthumous effort is inferior to the first one, if not without some highlights.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Ride or Die by Devon Allman
Devon Allman

Ride or Die

Ruf Records
Blues
The most confident recording to date from this Southern songwriter and guitarist is drenched in blues, soul, and rock.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Popestar by Ghost
Ghost

Popestar

Loma Vista
Pop/Rock
Popestar finds Ghost parsing through their vestment-black Rolodex and pulling out a compelling quartet of covers, along with a new, radio-ready original.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for FurFour by Grumbling Fur
Grumbling Fur

FurFour

Thrill Jockey
Pop/Rock
Alexander Tucker and Daniel O'Sullivan continue to refine their experimental synth pop sound on their fourth album as Grumbling Fur.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Become Zero by Helen MoneyEditors' Choice
Helen Money

Become Zero

Thrill Jockey
Pop/Rock
Cellist/composer Alison Chesley's stunning fifth album (and first for Thrill Jockey) reflects on the death of both of her parents.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Orphée by Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jóhann Jóhannsson

Orphée

Deutsche Grammophon
Classical
The composer's first album in six years builds on the Orpheus myth, exploring death, rebirth, and creativity with affecting nuance and beauty.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Feature Magnetic by Kool Keith
Kool Keith

Feature Magnetic

Mello Music Group
Rap
Hip-hop's most legendary eccentric sounds energized and surreal as ever on this collaboration-heavy, mostly self-produced full-length.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for The Small Hours by Matt Berry
Matt Berry

The Small Hours

Acid Jazz
Pop/Rock
His first album recorded with a band is also the strongest collection of songs and performances yet from the actor/musician.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Psi by pattenEditors' Choice
patten

Psi

Warp
Electronic
With the help of a guest vocalist, patten's second album for Warp is more focused and immediate than past efforts.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Preoccupations by Preoccupations
Preoccupations

Preoccupations

Jagjaguwar
Pop/Rock
The Canadian indie rockers adopt a new name and a more accessible sound that's still full of rough, oddly moving beauty.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Alienist by Psychic TV
Psychic TV

Alienist

Angry Love Productions
Pop/Rock, Electronic
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge's long-running group continues its 21st century psychedelic rock sound while nodding to its acid house era.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Spaceland by Sin Fang
Sin Fang

Spaceland

Morr Music
Pop/Rock
Sindri Már Sigfússon abandons his project's folkier origins for glitchy, R&B-inflected electropop on an LP informed by the onset of panic attacks.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Dead Blue by Still Corners
Still Corners

Dead Blue

Wrecking Light
Pop/Rock
Inspired by the duo's move to the seaside, Still Corners' third album creates a compelling tension between their experimental and pop impulses.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Sumerlands by Sumerlands
Sumerlands

Sumerlands

Relapse Records
Pop/Rock
Philly power metal quintet readily references the music's unholy lineage, while adding enough individuality to create a memorable debut.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Tidal Wave by Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday

Tidal Wave

Hopeless Records
Pop/Rock
Tidal Wave sees Taking Back Sunday pay homage to their emo roots without falling back on destructive habits.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for The WiNK by Tim Presley
Tim Presley

The WiNK

Drag City
Pop/Rock
White Fence's Presley makes his solo debut on an off-kilter batch of songs produced and embellished by Cate Le Bon.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Fixion by Trentemøller
Trentemøller

Fixion

In My Room
Electronic
The Danish electronic mastermind's icy, minimalistic fourth LP is assisted by a trio of well-suited vocal collaborators.

— Timothy Monger

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