Ozzy Osbourne

Patient Number 9

Epic

Pop/Rock

The metal superstar continues his late-in-the-game comeback on his 13th solo album, with guest appearances from a host of world-famous rock guitarists.

— Fred Thomas

John Legend

Legend

Republic

R&B

A double album from the EGOT, this features some of his strongest falsetto work and an abundance of feel-good material.

— Andy Kellman

KT Tunstall

Nut

Blue Elan Records

Pop/Rock

The Scottish singer/songwriter closes her ambitious Soul, Body, Mind trilogy with this lively, pop-polished conclusion.

— Neil Z. Yeung

The Afghan Whigs

How Do You Burn?

BMG / BMG Rights Management

Pop/Rock

Part three of Greg Dulli's reinvention of his outstanding band of the 1990s starts off well but loses steam well before it's over.

— Mark Deming

Built to Spill

When the Wind Forgets Your Name

Sub Pop

Pop/Rock

A late-career stunner that finds Doug Martsch giving the band's trademark indie rock sound a deeply psychedelic overhaul that's subtle and dreamily melancholy.

— Tim Sendra

Sudan Archives

Natural Brown Prom Queen

Stones Throw

R&B

Diversifying as a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Brittney Parks outdoes herself with her powerful second album.

— Andy Kellman

Delta Spirit

One Is One

New West

Pop/Rock

One Is One finally get the recipe right, crystallizing the band's multifaceted style into something that is uniquely theirs.

— James Christopher Monger

Charles Stepney

Step on Step

International Anthem

R&B, Jazz

A compilation of home demos recorded by the legendary Chicago instrumentalist and soul producer.

— Matt Collar

Santigold

Spirituals

Little Jerk Records

Pop/Rock

Emerging from a lengthy hiatus, the multifaceted artist delivers uncompromising, empowering songs made for and in difficult times.

— Heather Phares

Stella Donnelly

Flood

Secretly Canadian

Pop/Rock

While still lithely melodic and musically playful, a more vulnerable second album that explores personal and societal relationships.

— Marcy Donelson

Kane Brown

Different Man

Sony Music

Country

A diverse, people-pleasing set that finds Kane Brown exploring a fresh, fluid take on country traditions.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Kinks

Muswell Hillbillies/Everybody’s In Show-Biz - Everybody’s A Star

BMG

Pop/Rock

The Kinks' first two albums for RCA are showcased on this handsome super deluxe box set.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Dave Davies

Living on a Thin Line

Green Amp Records / Red River

Pop/Rock

A companion album to Dave Davies' memoir that's heavy on 2000s material.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Jockstrap

I Love You Jennifer B

Rough Trade

Pop/Rock

The full-length debut from this experimental London duo is pop at its most baffling, but is kept listenable and thrilling by its captivating design.

— Fred Thomas

Brian Blade / Christian McBride / Brad Mehldau / Joshua Redman

LongGone

Nonesuch

Jazz

Organic, jovial interplay marks the second album from the saxophonist's reunited '90s quartet.

— Matt Collar

Julian Lennon

Jude

BMG / BMG Rights Management

Pop/Rock

A contemplative, impassioned album that finds Julian Lennon coming to terms with his past and looking toward the future.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Sampa the Great

As Above, So Below

Loma Vista

Rap, R&B

Sampa's second album takes influence from past and present African music styles from Zamrock to amapiano.

— Paul Simpson

Son Little

Like Neptune

Anti-

Pop/Rock, R&B, Blues

The singer and songwriter explores the traumas of his past through his trademark blend of R&B and hip-hop.

— Mark Deming

Marlon Williams

My Boy

Dead Oceans

Pop/Rock

The Kiwi crooner sounds energized, engaged, and sonically curious on his buoyant third record.

— Timothy Monger

Sault

Air

Forever Living Originals

R&B

Producer Inflo narrows his focus to restorative orchestral and choral compositions.

— Andy Kellman

Gabe Gurnsey

Diablo

Phantasy Sound

Electronic

Working closely with vocalist Tilly Morris, the producer fuses house, techno, synth pop, and electroclash into hedonistic grooves.

— Heather Phares

Fred Hersch / Enrico Rava

The Song is You

ECM

Jazz

An intimate and unpredictable duo album featuring the Italian trumpet icon and the acclaimed pianist.

— Matt Collar

Daniel Christiansen / Matthew Flegel / Scott Munro / Preoccupations / Michael Wallace

Arrangements

Preoccupations

Pop/Rock

The band returns to dense, gritty rock on songs that balance the outrage and resignation of life in the early 2020s.

— Heather Phares

Robbie Williams

XXV

Columbia

Pop/Rock

Teaming with Metropole Orchestra, the English pop star reworks some of his most beloved hits in grand, mature fashion.

— Neil Z. Yeung

The Boys with the Perpetual Nervousness

The Third Wave Of...

Bobo Integral

Pop/Rock

Members of Dropkick and El Palacio de Linares revisit their tender mix of jangle and power pop on an album highlighted by a duet with Mary Lou Lord.

— Marcy Donelson

Unwound

Live Leaves

Numero

Pop/Rock

Recordings from various stops along a 2001 tour document the live rendering of this Olympia, Washington punk band's most complex and adventurous phase.

— Fred Thomas

Terri Lyne Carrington / Leo Genovese / Wayne Shorter / Esperanza Spalding

Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival

Candid

Jazz

This historic date was performed by a one-off quartet at 2017's Detroit Jazz Festival during Wayne Shorter's tenure as artist in residence.

— Thom Jurek

Ari Lennox

Age/Sex/Location

Dreamville / Interscope

R&B

Working closely again with Elite, the Dreamville affiliate reaffirms her standing as one of the most fascinating artists in progressive R&B.

— Andy Kellman

Freedy Johnston

Back on the Road to You

Forty Below Records

Pop/Rock, Country

There's a bit too much polish on this collection from the great songwriter, but more than enough fine tunes to compensate.

— Mark Deming

Jeff Parker / Eric Revis / Nasheet Waits

Eastside Romp

Rogue Art

Jazz

A well-considered and well-executed studio collaboration between the Tarbaby rhythm section and the L.A.-based guitarist.

— Thom Jurek

Air Waves

The Dance

Fire Records

Pop/Rock

The Brooklyn project's D.I.Y. guitar and synth pop have never felt so pleasingly abstract or appealing.

— Timothy Monger

Clear Path Ensemble

Solar Eclipse

Soundway

Electronic, Jazz

The second album by this New Zealand project boasts juxtaposes '70s jazz fusion inspirations with EDM production and club culture.

— Thom Jurek

Mary Bevan / Catherine Carby / John Andrews / Brook Street Band

John Frederick Lampe: The Dragon of Wantley

Resonus Classics

Classical

Little-known and utterly delightful put-on of Handelian operatic conventions.

— James Manheim

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 11

Chandos

Classical

The superb conclusion to Bavouzet's revelatory Haydn piano sonata cycle.

— James Manheim

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective

Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn: Piano Sextet; Piano Quartet; Piano Trio

Chandos

Classical

Little-known chamber works from brother and sister Mendelssohn from the innovative Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective.

— Keith Finke

Various Artists

Gity Razaz: The Strange Highway

BIS

Classical

Neo-Expressionist chamber works show a mastery of string colors by this young composer.

— James Manheim

Tredegar Town Band / Ross Knight / Martyn Brabbins / Ian Porthouse

Vaughan Williams on Brass

Albion

Classical

The Tredegar Town Band presents Vaughan Williams' music originally written for brass band, along with arrangements of other works.

— Keith Finke

Johannes Gustavsson / Oulu Symphony Orchestra

Ludvig Norman: Symphony No. 3; Overtures

Ondine

Classical

Works by the "Swedish Brahms" live up to the billing.

— James Manheim

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