Featured New Releases for
April 12, 2019

Album cover for Begin Again by Norah Jones
Norah Jones

Begin Again

Blue Note / Virgin EMI
Pop/Rock
A collection of digital singles that showcase the singer/songwriter at her most elegantly adventurous.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Map of the Soul: Persona by BTS
BTS

Map of the Soul: Persona

Big Hit
Pop/Rock
The first installment of the Map of the Soul era finds the K-pop group at the peak of their performance and popularity.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Album cover for Ventura by Anderson .Paak
Anderson .Paak

Ventura

Aftermath
R&B
The Grammy winner's most concentrated and R&B-oriented album yet, recorded at the same time as 2018's Oxnard.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for The Hurting Kind by John Paul WhiteEditors' Choice
John Paul White

The Hurting Kind

Single Lock Records
Country
The Alabama-based singer/songwriter and producer pairs his trademark rural Americana with the classic countrypolitan sound.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Ribbons by BibioEditors' Choice
Bibio

Ribbons

Warp
Electronic
Stephen Wilkinson celebrates his tenth year on Warp with a masterful mix of pastoral reveries and surprising tangents.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Hifalutin by LowlyEditors' Choice
Lowly

Hifalutin

Bella Union
Pop/Rock
The group's second album builds on Heba's potential and showcases the intimacy within their ever-expanding songs.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for By Blood by Shovels & RopeEditors' Choice
Shovels & Rope

By Blood

Dualtone Music
Pop/Rock
The duo dress their noir-ish Americana with bold colors on this startling, satisfying album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for In the Shape of a Storm by Damien JuradoEditors' Choice
Damien Jurado

In the Shape of a Storm

Mama Bird Recording Co.
Pop/Rock
A set of unused songs spanning two decades, recorded quickly with mostly just acoustic guitar, and showcasing his songcraft at its most elemental.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Stroke Manor by The Minus 5
The Minus 5

Stroke Manor

Yep Roc
Pop/Rock
A sometimes dark but always fascinating album written by leader Scott McCaughey in the wake of a major stroke.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for V by The Budos BandEditors' Choice
The Budos Band

V

Daptone
Pop/Rock
With a host of situational changes in the rearview, the big band marry the sounds of their first three albums to hard rock and psych.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Live at the Paramount by Nirvana
Nirvana

Live at the Paramount

Geffen / Universal
Pop/Rock
A stellar hometown show, recorded five weeks after Nevermind was released when they were still full of noisy joy.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for A New Illusion by Rose Elinor Dougall
Rose Elinor Dougall

A New Illusion

Vermilion Records
Pop/Rock
The singer/songwriter's third album takes a turn away from the synth-y pop of her previous record toward a lushly organic, piano-based sound.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for State I'm In by Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis

State I'm In

Valory
Country
Aaron Lewis sounds at ease paying indirect homage to Waylon Jennings on this relaxed country album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Only You Can See It by Emily Reo
Emily Reo

Only You Can See It

Carpark Records
Pop/Rock
Though inspired by debilitating anxiety, the songwriter's third album continues a transition from murky lo-fi toward exuberant avant-pop.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Altered Signals by Ben Chatwin
Ben Chatwin

Altered Signals

Village Green
Electronic
Remixes of Ben Chatwin's brilliant Staccato Signals, ranging from floating orchestral dubstep to simmering acid techno.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Heavy Smoke by Rejoicer
Rejoicer

Heavy Smoke

Stones Throw
Electronic, Rap
The Israeli producer follows his 2018 Stones Throw debut with an EP of similarly offbeat yet relaxing grooves.

— Paul Simpson

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