Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen on Broadway

Columbia / Sony Music

Pop/Rock

A double-disc document of Bruce Springsteen's groundbreaking Broadway show.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Decemberists

Traveling On

Capitol

Pop/Rock

An EP containing five leftovers from the I'll Be Your Girl album, all sounding different than the finished record.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

ZAYN

Icarus Falls

RCA

Pop/Rock

The former One Directioner's sophomore effort is overly long but deserves attention if there's time to spare.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Big Star

Live on WLIR

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

The power pop cult heroes are captured in rough and ready form on this live session cut for radio broadcast in early 1974.

— Mark Deming

Chvrches

Hansa Session EP

Glassnote Entertainment Group

Pop/Rock

The synth pop trio delivers heartfelt acoustic versions of Love Is Dead highlights.

— Heather Phares

Outrageous Cherry

Meet You in the Shadows

Burger Records

Pop/Rock

Released a year after guitarist Larry Ray's death, the band's final album is a warm, joyous last hurrah.

— Heather Phares

Porter Ray

Eye of the Beholder

Sub Pop

Rap

Seattle rapper follows up his dreamy 2017 debut with an EP of similarly atmospheric hip-hop.

— Fred Thomas

Maya Jane Coles

Waves & Whirlwinds

I/AM/ME

Electronic

This EP-length follow-up to the double-album Take Flight offers a similar blend of tech-house rhythms and pop instincts.

Gudrun Gut

Moment

Monika Enterprise

Electronic

Filled with stark atmospheres, compelling vocals, and dry feminist wit, the producer's third solo album is one of her most complete statements.

— Heather Phares

Lee Ranaldo

Electric Trim Live at Rough Trade East

Mute

Pop/Rock

Former Sonic Youth guitarist delivers a passionate, robust solo acoustic performance on this live version of his 2017 studio album.

— Mark Deming

Tom Brumley / Tom Brumley & the Buckaroos

Steelin' the Show

Omnivore

Country

17 tracks highlighting the outstanding work of Buck Owens' pedal steel player from 1963 to 1969.

— Mark Deming

Delia Derbyshire Appreciation Society

Wow and Flutter

Six Degrees

Electronic, New Age

Second album of warm, bubbly ambient compositions from Garry Hughes and Harvey Jones.

— Paul Simpson

Ian Bostridge / Antonio Pappano

Requiem: The Pity of War

Warner Classics

Classical

Star tenor Ian Bostridge achieves a very strong entry in the string of releases marking the centenary of the end of World War I.

— James Manheim

Jakub Józef Orliński

Anima Sacra

Erato

Classical

A major new countertenor voice sings fine obscure repertory -- worthwhile on both counts.

— James Manheim

ORA Singers / Suzi Digby

The Mystery of Christmas

Harmonia Mundi

Classical, Holiday

A superbly constructed Christmas program, beautifully executed by this small choir.

— James Manheim

Grace Davidson / David Miller

John Dowland: First Booke of Songes or Ayres

Signum Classics

Classical

Grace Davidson sings John Dowland's First Book of Songes or Ayres with a pure, unaffected delivery, accompanied on lute by David Miller.

— Blair Sanderson

Mark Elder / Hallé Orchestra

Elgar: Wand of Youth Suites; Salut d'Amour; Nursery Suite; Chanson de Nuit

Hallé

Classical

Not children's music but youthful melodies realized in adulthood; fun for all ages!

— James Manheim

Allan Clayton / Julius Drake

Liszt: The Complete Songs, Vol. 5

Hyperion

Classical

A fine entry in Hyperion's complete cycle of Liszt songs, with poetry squarely in the mainstream of the composer's song production.

— James Manheim

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