Mickey Guyton

Remember Her Name

Capitol

Country

The long-awaited debut from Mickey Guyton broadens and expands upon her 2020 hit "Black Like Me."

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Alessia Cara

In the Meantime

Def Jam

Pop/Rock

On what could be titled The Even Greater Pains of Being Grown, the singer/songwriter balances personal turmoil with heightened melodicism.

— Andy Kellman

Angel Olsen

Aisles

Jagjaguwar

Pop/Rock

The indie piner trades heartbreak for dark, deadpan synth pop on a set of five '80s covers.

— Marcy Donelson

Poppy

Flux

Sumerian Records

Pop/Rock

Poppy surprises with her fourth album, focusing her vision and songwriting chops into a concentrated rock blast.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Angelo De Augustine / Sufjan Stevens

A Beginner's Mind

Asthmatic Kitty

Pop/Rock

Two indie rock songwriters offer up tunes inspired by their favorite movies, though the connection is sometimes hard to spot.

— Mark Deming

Various Artists

I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground & Nico

Verve

Pop/Rock

The 11 songs from the Velvet Underground's iconic debut album are interpreted by a handful of visionary artists.

— Mark Deming

Esperanza Spalding

Songwrights Apothecary Lab

Concord

Jazz, Pop/Rock

The acclaimed bassist/singer continues to explore a far-reaching and experimental blend of avant-garde jazz, art rock, R&B, and beyond.

— Matt Collar

Mac McCaughan

The Sound of Yourself

Merge

Pop/Rock, Avant-Garde

The indie rock icon fully integrates synthesizers into his sonic mix on yet another heartbreaking and hooky record.

— Tim Sendra

Natalie Imbruglia

Firebird

BMG

Pop/Rock

The singer's first album in six years balances hope and heartache -- and her smooth and edgy sides -- with assurance.

— Heather Phares

Nao

And Then Life Was Beautiful

RCA

R&B

The third album from the Mercury Prize- and Grammy-nominated R&B artist foregrounds her uncommonly lithe soprano vocals.

— Andy Kellman

The Shivas

Feels So Good/Feels So Bad

Tender Loving Empire

Pop/Rock

The Portland garage psych band explores self-reflective songwriting without losing any of the passion or drive of their earlier work.

— Fred Thomas

Anthony Hamilton

Love Is the New Black

My Music Box

R&B

Returning from a long break between albums, the singer begins his independent phase with help from Jermaine Dupri on several highlights.

— Andy Kellman

Caleb Landry Jones

Gadzooks, Vol. 1

Sacred Bones

Pop/Rock

The freewheeling Texan dives even deeper down the psych-rock K-hole on his sophomore set.

— Timothy Monger

Cold War Kids

New Age Norms, Vol. 3

Pop/Rock

The band concludes its trio of mini albums with a return to their anthemic roots.

— Heather Phares

Steely Dan

Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live

Geffen

Pop/Rock

A collection of highlights from Steely Dan's 2018 tour finds Donald Fagen carrying on without Walter Becker.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Donald Fagen

Donald Fagen's The Nightfly Live

Geffen / Universal

Pop/Rock

A 2019 concert performance of Donald Fagen's classic 1982 album The Nightfly.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Angels & Airwaves

Lifeforms

Rise Records

Pop/Rock

DeLonge amps up the guitars and punk energy on Angels & Airwaves sixth album.

— Matt Collar

Bomba Estéreo

Deja

Sony Music

Electronic, Latin, International

On album number six the Colombians invite a host of international guest artists to deliver their lushest, most elegantly detailed set to date.

— Thom Jurek

L'Orange

The World Is Still Chaos, But I Feel Better

Mello Music Group

Rap

Instrumental full-length from the elusive beatmaker, emphasizing the importance of celebrating small victories in order to cope with everyday struggles.

— Paul Simpson

Ada Lea

One Hand on the Steering Wheel the Other Sewing a Garden

Saddle Creek Records

Pop/Rock

Second album from this Montreal songwriter moves from the impressionistic writing style of earlier work into one that's stunningly direct.

— Fred Thomas

Magic Roundabout

Up

Third Man Records

Pop/Rock

Essential collection of tracks from a lost mid-'80s noise pop band that splits the difference between the JAMC and Shop Assistants.

— Tim Sendra

Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra / Arturo O'Farrill

Dreaming in Lions

Blue Note

Jazz

Performing with a tentet, the bandleader delivers two exceptionally creative multi-movement suites composed for a Cuban dance company.

— Thom Jurek

X Ambassadors

The Beautiful Liar

Interscope

Pop/Rock

A quirky, theatrical concept album that balances stadium-sized pop hooks with anti-war/anti-corporate greed sentiments.

— Matt Collar

Public Service Broadcasting

Bright Magic

PIAS

Pop/Rock, Electronic

An immersive and often radiant tribute to Germany's capital from the London art-rock collective.

— Timothy Monger

Mas Aya

Máscaras

Telephone Explosion

Electronic

Brandon Valdivia's clearest, most spacious release to date blends ambient textures, delicate beat programming, and traditional instrumentation.

— Paul Simpson

Henry Threadgill / Henry Threadgill Zooid

Poof

Pi Recordings

Jazz

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Henry Threadgill's longest-standing band delivers a playful, adventurous, idiosyncratic brand of modern jazz.

— Thom Jurek

Kiefer

When There's Love Around

Stones Throw

Jazz

The West Coast pianist, composer, and producer delivers a summery set on his first outing with a full band.

— Thom Jurek

Theo Croker

Blk2Life/A Future Past

Masterworks

Jazz

The trumpeter crafts another uplifting blend of funky jazz, hip-hop, and R&B.

— Matt Collar

Ashley Shadow

Only the End

Felte

Pop/Rock

Highlighted by a duet with Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a second album of touching, reverb-washed reflections from Vancouver's Ashley Webber.

— Marcy Donelson

Affinity

Affinity [Remastered & Expanded Box Set]

Esoteric Recordings

Pop/Rock

An expanded, remastered four CD boxed set by the short-lived progressive jazz-rock group.

Feininger Trio

Brahms, Zemlinsky: Piano Trios

Avi-Music / CAvi-music

Classical

A strong first installment in a new Brahms trios cycle, paired with trios by composers of the next generation.

— James Manheim

Frank Dupree / Rosanne Philippens / Case Scaglione

Nikolai Kapustin: Piano Concerto No. 4; Double Concerto; Chamber Symphony

Capriccio Records

Classical

Larger works, played with plenty of energy, from a composer who fused classical music and jazz in unusual ways.

— James Manheim

Jan Lisiecki

Frédéric Chopin: Complete Nocturnes

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Clear, melodic Chopin Nocturnes that conceal a wealth of art.

— James Manheim

Sean Shibe

Camino

PentaTone Classics

Classical

A superb recital of guitar music from the Spanish orbit, with vivid contrasts and innovations.

— James Manheim

Anna-Liisa Eller

Strings Attached: The Voice of Kannel

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

A unique deployment of a 2,000-year-old Estonian folk instrument in Renaissance and Baroque music has a striking effect.

— James Manheim

Aimi Kobayashi

Chopin: Preludes; Piano Works

Warner Classics

Classical

Powerful Chopin readings from Aimi Kobayashi that obscures no detail.

— James Manheim

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