Featured New Album Releases

Kings of Leon

WALLS

RCA

Pop/Rock

The Tennessee outfit's seventh studio album is a loose, inspired set that balances youthful energy with a hard-won, literate maturity.

— Matt Collar

Big Star

Complete Third

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

Obsessive and definitive examination of the creation of Alex Chilton's eccentric, damaged masterpiece.

— Mark Deming

Mono

Requiem for Hell

Temporary Residence

Pop/Rock

Reuniting with Steve Albini, the Japanese post-rock quartet go back to basics and deliver their noisiest and most emotional album yet.

— Thom Jurek

Jagwar Ma

Every Now & Then

Mom + Pop Music

Pop/Rock

The Australian duo's second album is just as danceably psychedelic and steeped in the '90s as their debut, though a little more focused and direct.

— Tim Sendra

Jamie Lidell

Building a Beginning

Jajulin

R&B

Modern, family-man soul from the singer and producer, assisted by musicians including Daru Jones and Pino Palladino.

— Andy Kellman

Swet Shop Boys

Cashmere

Customs

Rap

A well-produced, very focused, and politically relevant album that isn't afraid to laugh in the face of prejudice.

Bell X1

Arms

Bellyup

Pop/Rock

The Irish indie rockers' seventh LP sweetens the tone with a focus on grooves, texture, and calm reassurance.

— Marcy Donelson

Benoît Pioulard

The Benoît Pioulard Listening Matter

Kranky

Electronic

The project's sixth album returns to its folktronic roots and explores heavy subjects with a light touch.

— Heather Phares

Bushman's Revenge

Bushman's Fire [LP]

Rune Grammofon

Jazz, Pop/Rock

On their second killer live album, the Oslo power trio are augmented by saxophonist Kjetil Moster and keyboardist David Wallumrod.

— Thom Jurek

Black Marble

It's Immaterial

Ghostly International

Pop/Rock

Now a solo project, the cold wave act's second record is a little less murky, a little more sunny, but still very synthy.

— Tim Sendra

Johnnyswim

Georgica Pond

Big Picnic Records / WEA

Pop/Rock, Folk, Blues

Gorgeous and moving soul-folk chronicle by a young couple navigating the highs and lows of marriage and family.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Terry Malts

Lost at the Party

Slumberland

Pop/Rock

The trio's third album strips away the punk guitars (mostly) and replaces them with rich, power pop-inspired arrangements.

— Tim Sendra

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Dissociation

Cooking Vinyl / Party Smasher

Pop/Rock

The revered and eclectic New Jersey mathcore ensemble release their sixth and final album.

— Rob Wacey

The Lemon Twigs

Do Hollywood

4AD

Pop/Rock

A couple of teens made an album that sounds like Sparks playing the Harry Nilsson catalog, only weirder.

— Tim Sendra

Real Numbers

Wordless Wonder

Slumberland

Pop/Rock

Jangling indie pop done in the classic C-86 style by energetic young Minnesota-based band.

— Tim Sendra

The Orb

COW (Chill Out, World!)

Kompakt

Electronic

Arriving 25 years after their seminal debut, the Orb offer a sort of peaceful protest with their spontaneously recorded 14th album.

— Paul Simpson

Wadada Leo Smith

America's National Parks

Cuneiform Records

Jazz

The composer and his Golden Quintet deliver a masterwork examining the central ideas behind our National Parks and his own.

— Thom Jurek

Christian Kjellvander

A Village: Natural Light

Tapete Records

Pop/Rock

The Swedish singer/songwriter's poignant seventh album is a stand for love, family, and community in a time of doubt and chaos.

— Thom Jurek

The Game

1992

eOne

Rap

Jayceon Taylor's nostalgic and anachronistic eighth proper album features some of his richest, most fervent narratives.

— Andy Kellman

Zeds Dead

Northern Lights

Deadbeats

Electronic

Debut full-length from the Toronto electronic duo with scene-stealing guest appearances and moody atmospheric explorations.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Katie Melua

In Winter

BMG Rights Management / Sony BMG

Holiday, Pop/Rock

A gorgeously rendered, winter-themed album featuring Melua backed by the Gori Women's Choir.

— Matt Collar

Moby / Moby & the Void Pacific Choir

These Systems Are Failing [Deluxe Edition]

Little Idiot / Mute

Electronic

Mostly the work of Moby alone, a tightly concentrated set of throttling, apocalyptic glam-punk.

— Andy Kellman

Phil Collins

The Singles

Atlantic / Rhino

Pop/Rock

Non-chronological double-disc set of Phil Collins' singles focuses attention on the hits that weren't necessarily chart-toppers.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Purling Hiss

High Bias

Drag City

Pop/Rock

More hooky and high-stepping rock tunes from Mike Polizze, accompanied by enough guitar riffs to feed an army.

— Mark Deming

Katie Gately

Color

Tri Angle

Electronic

The sound designer's fascinating debut combines the avant-garde and pop with surreal wit.

— Heather Phares

Powell

Sport

XL

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The London-based producer (and co-founder of the Diagonal label) presents his debut full-length of gritty, post-punk-inspired electronics.

— Paul Simpson

The Notwist

Superheroes, Ghostvillains & Stuff

Alien Transistor

Pop/Rock

The group's expansive live album unites their boundary-breaking music with energy and creativity.

— Heather Phares

Blackberry Smoke

Like an Arrow

3 Legged Records

Country

Blackberry Smoke deliver another satisfying Southern Rock album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Bushman's Revenge

Jazz, Fritt Etter Hukommelsen

Rune Grammofon

Jazz

This Norwegian power trio's first "all-jazz" record delivers clever originals and cover tunes by McCoy Tyner and Albert Ayler.

— Thom Jurek

Two Door Cinema Club

Gameshow

Glassnote Entertainment Group

Pop/Rock

A hooky set of disco and new wave-infused anthems that bring to mind an inspired blend of David Bowie, Chic, and the Bee Gees.

— Matt Collar

C Duncan

The Midnight Sun [LP]

Family Vineyard / Fat Cat / FatCat Records

Pop/Rock

The much anticipated sophomore outing from the Glaswegian pop confectioner is a cosmopolitan chamber pop delight.

— James Christopher Monger

Chris Young

It Must Be Christmas

RCA

Holiday, Country

A nicely relaxed holiday album from the country crooner.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Conor Oberst

Ruminations

Nonesuch

Pop/Rock

Ruminations sees Oberst going full-on Nebraska, delivering a raw, difficult, and often beautiful set of deeply personal songs with minimal accompaniment.

— James Christopher Monger

Crying

Beyond the Fleeting Gales

Run for Cover Records

Pop/Rock

The New York trio ditch their chiptune roots on this exuberant debut that merges pop, prog, and '80s stadium rock.

— Timothy Monger

D.D Dumbo

Utopia Defeated

4AD / Liberation Music

Pop/Rock

The Australian art-pop auteur introduces a unique vision on his vibrant and ambitious debut.

— Timothy Monger

Helado Negro

Private Energy

Asthmatic Kitty

Pop/Rock

On these politically charged songs, Roberto Carlos Lange's embrace of his musical and cultural heritage is stronger than ever.

— Heather Phares

Axis: Sova

Motor Earth

God?

Pop/Rock

The Chicago act deepens its explorations of scuzzy drum machine-propelled boogies and wild, dirty guitar rock.

— Timothy Monger

JoJo

Mad Love

Atlantic

Pop/Rock

Solid restart from the R&B-inspired pop vocalist, her first album in ten years.

— Andy Kellman

Jonny Fritz

Sweet Creep

ATO

Pop/Rock

Self-styled eccentric singer and songwriter shows he's a first-rate tunesmith beneath the goofy surface.

— Mark Deming

Josienne Clarke / Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker / Ben Walker

Overnight

Rough Trade

Pop/Rock, Folk

The acclaimed U.K. folk duo continue to explore British traditions, Americana, and even jazz on their Rough Trade debut.

— Timothy Monger

Las Kellies

Friends & Lovers

Fire Records

Pop/Rock

The band's first album as a duo is a stripped-down post-punk rock album, with almost none of the dub and funk influence of Total Exposure.

— Tim Sendra

Mr. Lif / L'Orange

The Life & Death of Scenery

Mello Music Group

Rap

Beatmaker L'Orange and conscious MC Mr. Lif join forces to produce a brief but powerful dystopian concept album.

— Paul Simpson

Luke Haines

Smash the System

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock

The Ex-Auteurs frontman ditches the conceptual architecture of past outings in favor of a more singles-oriented, though no less idiosyncratic, collection of new material.

— James Christopher Monger