Featured New Releases for
October 8, 2021

James Blake

Friends That Break Your Heart

Republic

Electronic

The fifth album from the celebrated songwriter/producer continues the gradual warming of his sound, balancing his signature crushing sadness with moments of hope and acceptance.

— Fred Thomas

Lilly Hiatt

Lately

New West

Pop/Rock

A musically spare but emotionally rich album about love, betrayal, and the push and pull of dealing with other people.

— Mark Deming

BadBadNotGood

Talk Memory

Jazz

The Canadian jazz group return to their instrumental roots on their fifth album, which features guests such as Arthur Verocai and Laraaji.

— Paul Simpson

Violent Femmes

Why Do Birds Sing? [30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]

Craft Recordings / Craft Records

Pop/Rock

The 30th anniversary edition of these alt-rock figureheads' fifth album includes previously unreleased studio tracks and a full concert performance from 1991.

— Fred Thomas

Karen Peris

A Song Is Way Above the Lawn

Therese Records

Children's, Pop/Rock

Ten original children's songs of an appreciative, thoughtful nature equally well-suited for adults from the Innocence Mission co-founder.

— Marcy Donelson

Faust

1971-1974

Bureau B

Pop/Rock

Along with Faust's essential first four albums, this box set includes an album recorded at Giorgio Moroder's studio and other fascinating unreleased material.

— Paul Simpson

April Magazine

If the Ceiling Were a Kite, Vol. 1

Tough Love

Pop/Rock

Collection of tracks recorded between 2018 and 2020 by the lo-fi Bay Area collective who magically split the difference between slowcore and C-86.

— Tim Sendra

Carolyn Wonderland

Tempting Fate

Alligator / Alligator Records

Blues

After a four-year recording break, the Texas singer, songwriter, and guitar hero delivers her Alligator debut, produced by Dave Alvin.

— Thom Jurek

Craig Taborn

Shadow Plays

ECM

Jazz

On his second solo date for ECM, the pianist displays his dazzling improvisational acumen and compositional thought simultaneously.

— Thom Jurek

Sam Fender

Seventeen Going Under

Interscope / Polydor

Pop/Rock

The Springsteen disciple follows his U.K. chart-topping debut with a more autobiographical set that still offers its share of soaring anthems.

— Marcy Donelson

Efterklang

Windflowers

City Slang

Pop/Rock, Electronic

A gentle and comforting sixth album from the veteran Danish post-rock trio.

— Timothy Monger

Kurt Elling

SuperBlue

Edition

Vocal, Jazz

Potent funk and neo-soul vibes mark the singer's first collaboration with guitarist Charlie Hunter.

— Matt Collar

Trivium

In the Court of the Dragon

Roadrunner Records

Pop/Rock

The Florida quartet's tenth album is an ambitious collection of raging yet hook-laden tracks that look forward and back simultaneously.

— Thom Jurek

Screensaver

Expressions of Interest

Upset the Rhythm

Pop/Rock

The Melbourne quartet's darkly driving debut delivers timely and timeless expressions of post-punk doubt, paranoia, and isolation.

— Heather Phares

Lala Lala

I Want the Door to Open

Hardly Art

Pop/Rock

The hitherto raw, confessional project delivers a philosophical, perseverance-themed set vitalized by producer Yoni Wolf and guests like Ben Gibbard.

— Marcy Donelson

Papur Wal

Amser Mynd Adra

Libertino Records

Pop/Rock

Sprightly, slippery guitar pop from a Welsh group firmly in the Gorkys/Super Furry Animals lineage.

— Tim Sendra

Domingæ

Æ [White Vinyl]

Sacred Bones

Electronic

The former Föllakzoid guitarist reinvents herself with an album of dark, shifting experimental techno.

— Paul Simpson

ESP Summer

Kingdom of Heaven

Disciples

Pop/Rock

The first material in over 20 years from this collaborative project of members from Pale Saints and His Name Is Alive takes a turn towards psychedelic ambience.

— Fred Thomas