Featured New Album Releases

Neutral Milk Hotel

The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel

Merge

Pop/Rock

Extensive box set that collects the entire recorded output of this mythical and fascinating indie band, including both studio albums and ample additional material.

— Fred Thomas

Gorillaz

Cracker Island

Parlophone / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

An unusually focused and efficient album from the virtual group.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Logic

College Park

BMG / BMG Rights Management

Rap

The eighth studio album from the multi-platinum rapper revisits his early days with personal memories and nostalgic golden era-influenced production.

— TiVo Staff

U.S. Girls

Bless This Mess

4AD

Pop/Rock

The eighth album from this ever-changing art pop act intertwines themes of motherhood with accessible disco-funk and synth-heavy arrangements.

— Fred Thomas

Dierks Bentley

Gravel & Gold

Capitol Nashville

Country

The country star celebrates two decades in the business by showing that all his old tricks still sound fresh.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Unloved

Polychrome: The Pink Album Postlude

Heavenly

Pop/Rock

The trio adds vibrant psychedelic and electronic touches to its maximalist pop on more songs from The Pink Album sessions.

— Heather Phares

Adam Lambert

High Drama

BMG

Pop/Rock

A covers album that touches upon both classics and modern favorites.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Lucero

Should've Learned by Now

Liberty and Lament

Pop/Rock

After two excellent but downbeat albums, the great Memphis band decides it's time to kick out the jams -- and they do.

— Mark Deming

Del Shannon

Stranger in Town: A Del Shannon Compendium

Edsel

Pop/Rock

Everything the brilliant singer/songwriter recorded throughout his up-and-down career, topped with hits, rarities, and previously unreleased tracks.

— Tim Sendra

The Church

The Hypnogogue

Communicating Vessels

Pop/Rock

The Church deliver a shimmering, sci-fi concept album that evokes the '80s goth psychedelia of their classic work.

— Matt Collar

Christian McBride / Christian McBride's New Jawn

Prime

Brother Mister

Jazz

The sophomore album from the bassist's exploratory, avant-garde quartet.

— Matt Collar

Faten Kanaan

Afterpoem

Fire Records

Avant-Garde, Electronic

The New York composer's fifth album is a delight of shape-shifting melodies and enchanting cyclical moods.

— Timothy Monger

En Attendant Ana

Principia

Trouble in Mind

Pop/Rock

The Parisian indie combo comes into their own on their confident yet surprisingly poignant third record.

— Timothy Monger

Miss Grit

Follow the Cyborg

Mute

Pop/Rock

A poignant commentary on technology and identity, the singer/songwriter's debut album reveals striking new levels to their electro-rock.

— Heather Phares

Shame

Food for Worms

Dead Oceans

Pop/Rock

Setting aside post-punk for a surging sound indebted to 1990s and 2000s indie, the South London quintet reignites the fury of its music.

— Heather Phares

Haircut One Hundred

Pelican West 40

Edsel

Pop/Rock

Deluxe edition of the band's sophisticated pop classic, featuring B-sides, 12" versions, songs recorded for a never-finished second album, and a 1982 live show.

— Tim Sendra

Various Artists

Soul'd Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection

Craft Recordings

R&B

The last word on the living word -- a lavish 12-disc box set documenting Stax Records' 1972 benefit concert for the Watts Summer Festival.

— Andy Kellman

John Lee Hooker

Burnin' [60th Anniversary Expanded Edition]

Craft Recordings

Blues

Recorded on a single day in Chicago, this immortal 1962 release pairs the great bluesman with the original incarnation of the Funk Brothers.

— Thom Jurek

Phil Selway

Strange Dance

Bella Union

A subdued, mature pop album highlighted by experimental textures looming on its fringes.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Buster Williams

Unalome

Smoke Sessions

Vocal, Jazz

The legendary bassist showcases vocalist Jean Baylor on this gorgeous quintet album.

— Matt Collar

Bobo Stenson / Bobo Stenson Trio

Sphere

ECM

Jazz, Classical

Fifty-two years after his ECM debut, the pianist's longstanding trio are still investigating connections between jazz, improvisation, and classical music.

— Thom Jurek