Spoon

Lucifer on the Sofa

Matador

Pop/Rock

Steeped in the gritty ambience of Austin, the band's tenth album finds new possibilities in rock's traditions.

— Heather Phares

Eddie Vedder

Earthling

Republic / Seattle Surf Co. / Virgin

Pop/Rock

A surprisingly joyful and vibrant solo album from Eddie Vedder, filled with superstar cameos.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Alt-J

The Dream

Atlantic

Pop/Rock

The focused fourth set from the English alt-rock trio takes a typical kitchen-sink approach to sonics with evocative results.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Mary J. Blige

Good Morning Gorgeous

300 Entertainment

R&B

MJB's first album in five years covers familiar ground with subtly stellar results.

— Andy Kellman

Big Thief

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You

4AD

Pop/Rock

A sprawling double album intended as a showcase for the range of songwriter Adrianne Lenker and the band as a unit.

— Marcy Donelson

Urge Overkill

Oui

Omnivore

Pop/Rock

Reuniting for the first time in a decade, Urge Overkill find sustenance in the heavy rock they used to treat as a lark.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Amos Lee

Dreamland

Dualtone Music

Pop/Rock

A warm, soulful sincerity marks Lee's eighth studio album.

— Matt Collar

Andy Bell

Flicker

Sonic Cathedral

Pop/Rock

The second solo album from the Ride guitarist/songwriter traverses a wide range of styles while meditating on self-acceptance and the passing of time.

— Fred Thomas

Adam Miller

Gateway

Inner Magic

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The first solo album from the Chromatics guitarist and founding member is a private dream world of patient instrumental cityscapes.

— Fred Thomas

Foxes

The Kick

PIAS

Pop/Rock

Sleek set of escapist dance-pop from the English pop vocalist.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Delvon Lamarr / Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

Cold as Weiss

Colemine

Jazz

On their third studio offering, the trio get greasier, grittier, and groovier while celebrating the addition of hard-swinging drummer Dan Weiss.

— Thom Jurek

Ethan Iverson

Every Note Is True

Blue Note

Jazz

A warm and engaging trio collaboration between the pianist and two veteran jazz stars.

— Matt Collar

Shamir

Heterosexuality

Antifragile Music

Pop/Rock, Rap

The multi-faceted singer/songwriter's eclectic eighth album proudly defies boxes and labels of all kinds.

— Heather Phares

Joywave

Cleanse

Hollywood

Pop/Rock

The alt-rock outfit faces existential dread and global uncertainty with wit, heart, and another set of groove-based gems.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Author & Punisher

Krüller

Relapse Records

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Tristan Shone refines and expands his style of droney industrial metal, with members of Tool making guest appearances.

— Paul Simpson

Boulevards

Electric Cowboy: Born in Carolina Mud

Normaltown Records

R&B

Jamil Rashad's grimiest and moodiest LP, produced by members of the Indications and Twin Peaks, is as appealing as any of his first three.

— Andy Kellman

Voivod

Synchro Anarchy

Century Media

Pop/Rock

Four decades on, this Canadian quartet prove without doubt that they remain the kings of progressive thrash metal.

— Thom Jurek

Fort Romeau

Beings of Light

Ghostly International

Electronic

British house producer Fort Romeau branches out into a more ambient, textural direction on his third full-length.

— Paul Simpson

Mild Orange

Looking for Space

Mild Orange

Pop/Rock

The Kiwi dream pop band expands their sound with a more robust production aesthetic.

— Timothy Monger

Night Shop

Forever Night

Dangerbird Records

Pop/Rock

Justin Sullivan (Flat Worms, the Babies) doubles down on Dylan-descended indie and early rock & roll influences on his evocative sophomore LP.

— Marcy Donelson

OMBIIGIZI

Sewn Back Together

Arts & Crafts / Universal

Pop/Rock

A wise, affecting, and eloquent project from two indie music stalwarts who are also Canadian First Nations people.

— Mark Deming

Rick Braun

Rick Braun

Brauntosoarus / Brauntosoarus Music

Jazz

The trumpeter marks 30 years since his debut with a sophisticated and romantic eponymous album.

— Matt Collar

Rob Burger

Marching With Feathers

Western Vinyl Records

Avant-Garde

A sort of peaceful protest album from the composer and Tin Hat Trio founder.

— Paul Simpson

Apollo Brown / Stalley

Blacklight

Mello Music Group

Rap

Ohio rapper Stalley sounds right at home on this determined collaboration with Detroit beatmaker Apollo Brown.

— Paul Simpson

Mandy Morton / Mandy Morton & Spriguns / Spriguns

After The Storm: Complete Recordings

Grapefruit

Pop/Rock, Folk

A thorough and compelling document of one of U.K. folk-rock's lesser-known talents.

— Timothy Monger

Kenneth Hamilton

Kenneth Hamilton plays Liszt, Vol. 1: Death and Transfiguration

Prima Facie

Classical

Precise performances of later Liszt, focusing on compositional innovations rather than virtuosity.

— James Manheim

Lise Davidsen / Leif Ove Andsnes

Edvard Grieg

Decca

Classical

Soprano Davidsen confirms her status as a major star in this recital of Grieg songs familiar and rarer.

— James Manheim

Antoine Tamestit / Sabine Fehlandt / Bernhard Forck / Akademie für Alte Musik, Berlin

Georg Philipp Telemann: Viola Concertos; Overtures; Fantasias

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

Excellent Telemann recording that captures the wildly innovative quality of his music.

— James Manheim

Steven Beck

George Walker: Five Piano Sonatas (1953-2003)

Bridge

Classical

A valuable survey of Walker's piano sonatas, cleanly and clearly played, traces his development.

— James Manheim

Julien Libeer

J.S. Bach & Beyond: A Well-Tempered Conversation

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

Bach's Well-Tempered Klavier, in conversation with works whose connections to it, aren't necessarily obvious.

— James Manheim

Daniel Barenboim / Wiener Philharmoniker

Neujahrskonzert 2022 / New Year's Concert 2022

Sony Classical

Classical

An ultra-traditional Vienna New Year's Eve concert from Barenboim makes a good introduction to the event for newcomers.

— James Manheim

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