Sleater-Kinney

The Center Won't Hold

Mom + Pop Music

Pop/Rock

With the assistance of producer St. Vincent, Sleater-Kinney explore arty post-punk.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Hold Steady

Thrashing Thru the Passion

Frenchkiss Records

Pop/Rock

The Hold Steady reconvene for an album that finds them embracing middle age.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Thee Oh Sees

Face Stabber

Castle Face

Pop/Rock

A wildly expansive album that finds the band pushing their psychedelic formula even further out without breaking it even a little.

— Tim Sendra

Rick Ross

Port of Miami 2

Epic

Rap

The rapper incorporates autobiographical content to sobering effect on his tenth album, the sequel to his 2006 debut.

— Andy Kellman

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

Infest the Rats Nest

ATO

Pop/Rock

The ever-prolific band dive headfirst into riff-heavy, thrash-adjacent metal, composing a doomy tale about the death of Earth and what happens after.

— Tim Sendra

Shura

Forevher

Secretly Canadian

Pop/Rock

The singer/songwriter's triumphantly romantic second album celebrates love with joyous disco-pop and introspective ballads.

— Heather Phares

Friendly Fires

Inflorescent

Polydor / Universal

Pop/Rock

The band's first album in eight years is a winning update on their blend of dance, pop, and indie sounds.

— Heather Phares

Ride

This Is Not a Safe Place

Wichita

Pop/Rock

The Oxford quartet's second album following their re-formation is characterized by tempestuous extremes.

— Andy Kellman

Killswitch Engage

Atonement

Metal Blade

Pop/Rock

With all lineage trademarks on display alongside new production techniques and sonics, the band thrashes and burns through 11 new songs.

— Thom Jurek

Taylor McFerrin

Love's Last Chance

From Here

R&B

Casually affecting and more song-oriented second album from the R+R=Now member.

— Andy Kellman

Rodney Crowell

Texas

Rc1 Records / Rodney Crowell

Pop/Rock, Country

With a cast of fellow Texans, the Houston native pays wry, affectionate tribute to the Lone Star State.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Blanck Mass

Animated Violence Mild

Sacred Bones

Electronic, Pop/Rock

Benjamin John Power channels the emotional overload of the late 2010s with some of his most melodic and frenzied music.

— Heather Phares

Drew Holcomb / Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors

Dragons

Magnolia Music

Pop/Rock

The Americana stalwart and his longtime band team up with a spate of notable songwriters on this collaborative and engaging set.

— Timothy Monger

Dylan Scott

An Old Memory

Curb

Country

The country singer pays tribute to one of his idols, Keith Whitley.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Eilen Jewell

Gypsy

Signature

Country

On her first album of originals in four years, the Americana singer/songwriter addresses the tumult of the times with wit and empathy.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Lillie Mae

Other Girls

Third Man Records

Pop/Rock, Country

Collaborating with producer Dave Cobb, Lillie Mae expands and sharpens her focus.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Lionel Richie

Hello From Las Vegas [Live]

Capitol / Virgin EMI

R&B

A souvenir of Richie's splashy Vegas revue.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Various Artists

Hitsville: The Making of Motown

Motown

R&B, Stage & Screen

The soundtrack to the documentary about the legendary record label is a fine if unexceptional collection of iconic hits.

— Mark Deming

Versus

Ex Voto

Ernest Jenning

Pop/Rock

On their first new album in almost a decade, this indie pop institution mixes hopeful melodies with dystopic lyrical themes.

— Fred Thomas

Here Lies Man

No Ground to Walk Upon

Riding Easy Records

Pop/Rock

While brief, the third album from this Afro-metal project is rich with dark synth sounds and untamable riffs.

— Fred Thomas

The Body / Uniform

Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back

Sacred Bones

Pop/Rock

Second explosive, boundary-crushing collaboration between noise-rock duos Uniform and the Body.

— Paul Simpson

The Body / Uniform

Mental Wounds Not Healing/Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back

Sacred Bones

Pop/Rock

CD edition of the first two boundary-crushing collaborations by noise-rock duos Uniform and the Body.

— Paul Simpson

Ikebe Shakedown

Kings Left Behind

Colemine

R&B

Fourth album of cinematic instrumental soul from the Brooklyn septet, containing some of their most dramatic material.

— Paul Simpson

Field Mouse

Meaning

Top Shelf Records

Pop/Rock

The indie rockers' third album looks for meaning in uncertain times with a mix of the catchy and contemplative.

— Marcy Donelson

Bobby Rush

Sitting on Top of the Blues

Deep Rush Records

Blues, R&B

The veteran bluesman is writing, singing, and playing harp as well as ever, and shows he's just gotten better at making records.

— Mark Deming

Peter, Paul and Mary

At Newport 1963-1965

Shout! Factory

Folk, Pop/Rock

Live recordings of the trio's appearances at America's leading folk festival; fascinating history and superb vocals.

— Mark Deming

Loscil

Equivalents

Kranky

Electronic

Inspired by the photographs of Alfred Stieglitz, the producer/composer's beautiful 12th album is a fascinating meditation on artistic interpretation.

— Heather Phares

Madison Cunningham

Who Are You Now

Verve

Pop/Rock

The singer/guitarist's full-length debut for Verve impresses with efficient arrangements, sophisticated songcraft, and nuance.

— Marcy Donelson

Off with Their Heads

Be Good

Epitaph

Pop/Rock

On their first album of entirely new material since 2013, this weathered yet melodic punk band searches for deeper truths.

— Fred Thomas

Ross from Friends

Epiphany

Brainfeeder

Electronic

The British house producer follows his debut album with three more slightly grainy, intricately detailed club tracks.

— Paul Simpson

Goldfield Ensemble

Erika Fox: Paths

NMC

Classical

A worthy collection of works from old age by serialist Erika Fox.

— James Manheim

Riccardo Chailly / La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra

The Fellini Album: The Film Music of Nino Rota

Decca

Classical, Stage & Screen

An excellent survey of Rota's scores for Fellini, mostly arranged for full orchestral treatment.

— James Manheim

Kyle Stegall / Eric Zivian

Myrtle & Rose: Songs by Clara and Robert Schumann

Avie

Classical

A wonderful sleeper of a Schumann recording, with the real star a 1841 Viennese piano by Franz Rausch.

— James Manheim

Andrew Davis / Toronto Mendelssohn Choir / Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Fantasie sur la Tempète de Shakespeare

Chandos

Classical

Symphonie Fantastique from the durable pairing of Sir Andrew Davis and the Toronto Symphony has several nice touches.

— James Manheim

John Morris Russell / Cincinnati Pops Orchestra

Voyage

Fanfare Cincinnati

Classical

An imaginatively constructed and well-executed program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission.

— James Manheim

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