Jack White

Fear of the Dawn

Third Man Records

Pop/Rock

A cacophonic, adventurous album built upon the titular concept of eosophobia.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Father John Misty

Chloë and the Next 20th Century

Sub Pop

Pop/Rock

Fifth album from this cynical singer/songwriter softens his acerbic wit with gorgeous orchestral arrangements.

— Fred Thomas

Wet Leg

Wet Leg

Domino

Pop/Rock

The group's cheeky, occasionally heartbroken debut captures twenty-something angst with all the wit and fun of their viral singles.

— Heather Phares

The Linda Lindas

Growing Up

Epitaph

Pop/Rock

Endearing coming-of-age debut from the youthful California foursome is a catchy blend of punk, new wave, and power pop.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Orville Peck

Bronco

Columbia

Country, Pop/Rock

Second album from country's subversive masked man builds on the excellence of his debut and bests it at every turn.

— Mark Deming

Camila Cabello

Familia

Epic

Latin

The "Havana" singer celebrates her Latin American roots on her vibrant third album.

— Matt Collar

Pavement

Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal

Matador

Pop/Rock

A double-disc expansion of Pavement's final album filled with demos, rehearsals, B-sides, and live tracks.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Lucius

Second Nature

Mom + Pop Music

Pop/Rock

Co-producer Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow guest on a set of '80-infused disco-pop and power ballads that seek out composure following heartbreak.

— Marcy Donelson

Calexico

El Mirador

Anti-

Pop/Rock

The group's tenth studio album is a vibrant celebration of their musical and cultural roots.

— Heather Phares

Joe Satriani

The Elephants of Mars

Ear Music / Edel

Pop/Rock

Long-running guitar virtuoso explores the deepest corners of his imagination on this patiently crafted album of fantastic dreamscapes, nostalgic detours, and often fun-loving compositions.

— Fred Thomas

Kae Tempest

The Line is a Curve

American Recordings

Rap

More aesthetically modern and approachable than his last outing, Tempest's fourth LP is a wonder of resilience and resolve.

— Timothy Monger

The Regrettes

Further Joy

Warner Records

Pop/Rock

The Regrettes choose positivity, pop, and new wave on this sleek, vibrant album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

HEALTH

DISCO4 :: Pt. II

Loma Vista

Pop/Rock

The second half of the L.A. trio's collaborative project expands its focus to the worlds of metal, industrial, and rap.

— Heather Phares

Pillow Queens

Leave the Light On

Royal Mountain / Royal Mountain Records

Pop/Rock

A more pensive, introspective follow-up to their Ireland-charting debut, In Waiting, that still delivers the voltage.

— Marcy Donelson

The Good Ones

Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky

Six Degrees

International

The Rwandan folk group returns with their fourth collection of raw and poignant, yet always compassionate songs.

— Timothy Monger

Daniel Rossen

You Belong There

Warp

Pop/Rock

The Grizzly Bear singer/songwriter's first solo album is a dazzling, passionate triumph.

— Heather Phares

Dedicated Men of Zion

The Devil Don't Like It

Bible & Tire Recording Company

Religious

On its second Bible & Tire outing, this North Carolina-based sacred soul quartet pulls out all the stops with a collection of grooving spirituals.

— Thom Jurek

Deer Scout

Woodpecker

Carpark Records

Pop/Rock

The full-length debut of Dena Miller's alias combines her folk-inclined melodies, gentle performance disposition, and evocative way with words.

— Marcy Donelson

Horace Andy

Midnight Rocker

On-U Sound

Reggae

Reggae vocalist is in prime form more than 50 years in, with production from Adrian Sherwood helping to place this dubby, mysterious among his best.

— Fred Thomas

Whatever the Weather

Whatever the Weather

Ghostly International

Electronic

Loraine James' first pseudonymous release is a mixture of moody ambient pieces and rainy-day IDM.

— Paul Simpson

Oceanator

Nothing's Ever Fine

Polyvinyl

Pop/Rock

A compelling mix of grungy, melody-rich despondency and ebullient, late-July power punk.

— James Christopher Monger

Tord Gustavsen / Tord Gustavsen Trio

Opening

ECM

Jazz

The pianist and composer returns to exploring hymnody, folk song, neo-classical, and jazz in a trio with new bassist Steinar Raknes.

— Thom Jurek

Cinthie

DJ-Kicks: Cinthie

!K7

Electronic

Fluid, ecstatic mix from the Berlin-based DJ, switching between deep house, swinging garage, and piano rave belters with ease.

— Paul Simpson

Good Looks

Bummer Year

Keeled Scales

Pop/Rock

Debut LP from this Texas quartet merges an alt-country feel with an indie rock sound, paired with smart and deeply incisive lyrics.

— Mark Deming

Klaus Tennstedt / Jessye Norman / London Philharmonic Orchestra

Strauss: Five Songs; Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme; Salome (excerpts)

LPO

Classical

Blazing 1986 live performance from Norman makes the best-seller charts anew thanks to the London Philharmonic archives.

— James Manheim

Ian Bostridge

Tormento d'Amore

Warner Classics

Classical

Tenor Bostridge scores with a selection of gorgeous and little-known Neapolitan Baroque arias.

— James Manheim

Florie Valiquette / Hervé Niquet / Orchestre de l'Opéra de Rouen Normandie

Saint-Saëns: Phryné

Palazzetto Bru Zane

Classical

Delightful, highly Mozartian comic opera by Saint-Saëns proves highly worthy of revival.

— James Manheim

Modestas Pitrenas / Rheinland-Pfalz Staatsphilharmonie

Ernst von Dohnányi: Concertos; Variations on a Nursery Song

Capriccio Records

Classical

Excellent performances of Dohnányi works that are well worth revival, catching the humor in the Variations on a Nursery Song.

— James Manheim

Joyce DiDonato / Maxim Emelyanychev / Il Pomo d'Oro

EDEN

Erato

Classical

A conceptually vague but musically startling program helps DiDonato score anew.

— James Manheim

John Eliot Gardiner / Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists

Bach: St. John Passion [2021 Recording] [CD & Blu-Ray Audio]

Deutsche Grammophon

Classical

Highly dramatic St. John Passion draws energy from its live, socially distanced performance in a theatrical setting.

— James Manheim

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