The National

Laugh Track

4AD

Pop/Rock

On this swift sequel to First Two Pages of Frankenstein, the National loosen up ever so slightly.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Replacements

Tim [Let It Bleed Edition]

Rhino / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

A Super Deluxe reissue of the Replacements' major-label debut is highlighted by a fresh mix that makes the album sound raw and alive.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

James Blake

Playing Robots Into Heaven

Polydor / Republic

Electronic

The singer/songwriter, producer, and star collaborator returns to his club roots on one of the most honest releases of his career.

— Paul Simpson

Teenage Fanclub

Nothing Lasts Forever

Merge

Pop/Rock

The Scottish group's 12th album is a poetic rumination on the passing of time and the eternal promise of love.

— Matt Collar

Kylie Minogue

Tension

BMG / BMG Rights Management

Pop/Rock

Euphoric 16th album from the Australian dancefloor queen that carries the party from the disco to the club.

— Neil Z. Yeung

CHAI

CHAI

Sub Pop

Pop/Rock

On their fourth album, the group delve into the sounds of city pop, resulting in a predictably fun and carefree listening experience.

— Tim Sendra

Lydia Loveless

Nothing's Gonna Stand in My Way Again

Bloodshot

Pop/Rock

A superb set of songs about desire and consequences are rendered through the outstanding performances they deserve.

— Mark Deming

The Breeders

Last Splash [30th Anniversary Edition]

4AD

Pop/Rock

The remastered 30th anniversary edition of the band's alt-rock classic comes with a pair of engaging previously unreleased tracks.

Bibio

Sunbursting

Warp

Electronic

The companion EP to Bib10 delivers even smoother blends of seductive R&B, funk, and pop.

— Heather Phares

Brent Cobb

Southern Star

Ol' Buddy Records

Country, Pop/Rock

The country singer heads to Macon's Capricorn Sound Studios to cut a funky, laid-back Southern rock album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Kiefer

It's OK B U

Stones Throw

Jazz

The Los Angeles-based composer, producer, and keyboardist returns to solo studio work with his imagination and technique intact.

— Thom Jurek

yeule

Softscars

Ninja Tune

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Nat Ćmiel dives into shoegaze, grunge, and punk influences on their cathartic third album.

— Paul Simpson

Laurel Halo

Atlas

Awe / Awe

Electronic

A flowing sequence of orchestral ambient collages created in part during the artist's residency at Ina-GRM Studios in Paris.

— Andy Kellman

Mouse on Mars

Bilk

Sonig

Electronic

The pioneering electronic duo revisit an equally playful and transporting 1994 piece originally created for Finnish radio.

— Heather Phares

Devendra Banhart

Flying Wig

Mexican Summer

Pop/Rock

Producer Cate Le Bon applies a shadowy sheen of atmospheric synth pop to this singer/songwriter's malleable talents.

— Fred Thomas

Loraine James

Gentle Confrontation

Hyperdub

Electronic

On her third Hyperdub full-length, the Londoner reflects on her family and the music that helped shape her adolescent years.

— Paul Simpson

Colleen

Le Jour et la nuit du réel

Thrill Jockey

Electronic

The French composer/producer returns to her roots with poignant analog synth instrumentals reflecting the ever-changing nature of reality.

— Heather Phares

Will Butler / Sister Squares

Will Butler + Sister Squares

Merge

Pop/Rock

The first new album from this indie songwriter since leaving his longtime post in Arcade Fire adds adventurous experiments to his time-tested pop formula.

— Fred Thomas

Helena Hauff

Fabric Presents Helena Hauff

Fabric

Electronic

A masterful set of cyberpunk-leaning electro-techno from the esteemed Hamburg-based DJ.

— Paul Simpson

Jenny Owen Youngs

Avalanche

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock

Partly inspired by divorce, the songwriter's first LP in over a decade is a self-examining one featuring co-writes with S. Carey, Madi Diaz, and more.

— Marcy Donelson

K. Michelle

I'm the Problem

MNRK Music Group

R&B

Unvarnished outpourings dominate the singer/songwriter's sixth album, promoted as her last R&B LP ahead of a full changeover to country.

— Andy Kellman

Jeff Lorber / The Jeff Lorber Fusion

The Drop

Shanachie

Jazz

The keyboardist/composer and his longstanding trio make a marked return to jazz-funk on this polished, inspired set.

— Thom Jurek

Idris Ackamoor / Idris Ackamoor & the Pyramids

Afro Futuristic Dreams

Strut

Jazz, International

The saxophonist's and bandleader's largest lineup to date joins musical traditions from past and present in a new, boundaryless direction

— Thom Jurek

The Garment District

Flowers Telegraphed to All Parts of the World

22 / 23 Records / HHBTM

Pop/Rock

Delightfully trippy, catchy, and unpredictable, the fourth LP from Elephant 6 affiliate Jennifer Baron and co. expands the instrumentation and personnel.

— Marcy Donelson

Various Artists

All God's Children: Songs from the British Jesus Rock Revolution 1967-1974

Grapefruit

Pop/Rock, Religious

A fascinating exploration of the British variation of the late-'60s/early-'70s Jesus rock phenomenon.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

3Teeth

EndEx

Century Media

Pop/Rock

Armed with their melodic but brutal techno-industrial blasts, the Los Angeles instigators provide another soundtrack to the end of the world.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Another Michael

Wishes to Fulfill

Run for Cover Records

Pop/Rock

While remaining rooted in a tender folk-rock, the band spread their wings with diversions into stylized R&B, AM pop, and more, with mixed results.

— Marcy Donelson

Enemy

The Betrayal

Wejazz

Jazz

The third full-length from this London-based trio illustrates the complexity and vision in a radical approach to the jazz piano trio.

— Thom Jurek

Silesian String Quartet / Piotr Sałajczyk / Karolina Stalmachowska

Joachim Mendelson, Grazyna Bacewicz: Chamber Works

Chandos

Classical

Major rediscoveries are among these works by Polish composers who studied in Paris.

— James Manheim

Riccardo Muti / Elizabeth DeShong / Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Contemporary American Composers: Philip Glass, Jessie Montgomery, Max Raimi

CSO Resound

Classical

A strong symphony from Philip Glass marks this valedictory release.

— James Manheim

Thomas Gropper / Arcis-Vocalisten München / L'Arpa Festante

Carl Loewe: Jan Hus Oratorium, Op. 82

Oehms Classics

Classical

An unknown and dramatically effective oratorio on the life of religious reformer Jan Hus.

— James Manheim

Manfred Honeck / Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5; Schulhoff: Five Pieces

Reference Recordings

Classical

A superbly dramatic, Russian-spirited Tchaikovsky from an orchestra and a conductor who have jelled together.

— James Manheim

Ulf Wallin / Daniel Vlashi Lukaçi / Sueye Park / German Tcakulov

Allan Pettersson: Concerto for Violin & String Quartet; String Trio & Works for Violin and Piano

BIS

Classical

Chamber works from a composer best known as a symphonist offer insight into his compositional language.

— Keith Finke

ORA Singers / Suzi Digby

Sanctissima

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

Music for a liturgical service for the Feast of the Assumption, incorporating chant, Renaissance pieces, and modern works.

— James Manheim

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