Maggie Rogers

Don't Forget Me

Capitol

Pop/Rock

The singer-songwriter's third album is a candid, musically assured statement of her independent spirit.

— Matt Collar

girl in red

I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!

Columbia

Pop/Rock

A confident, often celebratory set of alt-pop and dance-rock that finds the candid lyricist rebounding from the mental-health struggles of her debut.

— Marcy Donelson

Mark Knopfler

One Deep River

Blue Note / EMI / EMI Records

Pop/Rock

A reliable mix of sentimentality, wit, and warm storytelling from the English journeyman.

— Timothy Monger

Shabaka Hutchings / Shabaka

Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace

Impulse! / Verve

Jazz

The first full-length by the British jazzman to fully explore his commitment to the flute, with an illustrious cast.

— Thom Jurek

James Elkington / Nathan Salsburg

All Gist

Paradise of Bachelors

Folk

The two fingerstyle guitar aces converge for a third volume of intricate and tasteful duets.

— Timothy Monger

Nia Archives

Silence Is Loud

Island

Electronic, R&B

Full-length debut from the award-winning singer/producer, seamlessly blending jungle's head-rush breakbeats with neo-soul introspection.

— Paul Simpson

Meshell Ndegeocello

Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City

Red Hot Organization

Jazz

Meshell Ndegeocello explores the music and example of Sun Ra, aided by a star-studded cast that includes Marshall Allen and Immanuel Wilkins.

— Thom Jurek

Spooner Oldham / Texas

The Muscle Shoals Sessions

Le Label

Pop/Rock

A stripped-down, soulful set that almost plays like a duet album between Sharleen Spiteri and legendary soulman Spooner Oldham.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

DRAM

DRAM&B

Waver

R&B

The rapper/crooner's fourth album bridges the anything-goes creativity of his early days and his later serious soulfulness.

— Heather Phares

Linkin Park

Papercuts

Warner Music / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

Thoughtfully curated collection of emotionally charged smash hits from the Grammy-winning, genre-busting crew.

— Neil Z. Yeung

The Reds, Pinks & Purples

Unwishing Well

Slumberland

Pop/Rock

A set of reflective and subdued songs from this Bay Area jangle pop outfit brings back some of the textural dreaminess of their earlier output.

— Fred Thomas

These Immortal Souls

EXTRA

Mute

Pop/Rock

This collection of single tracks and live cuts helps present a complete picture of the group's gripping blend of gothic drama and noise-damaged guitar rock.

— Tim Sendra

These Immortal Souls

Get Lost (Don't Lie!)

Mute

Pop/Rock

First album by a band who inherited the mantle of noisy drama rock from the Birthday Party.

— Tim Sendra

These Immortal Souls

I'm Never Gonna Die Again

Mute

Pop/Rock

The band's second album of noisy, dramatic, and fiery guitar rock is more layered and arranged, but still just as gloriously desperate and damaged.

— Tim Sendra

Orbital

Orbital

London / London Records

Electronic

Double-CD reissue of the U.K. techno duo's seminal debut, including rarities, remixes, and two previously unreleased tracks.

— Paul Simpson

Louisa Stancioff

When We Were Looking

Yep Roc

Pop/Rock

Produced by Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive), an accomplished debut that merges alt-country, indie folk, dreamy psych, and dolefulness.

— Marcy Donelson

METZ

Up on Gravity Hill

Sub Pop

Pop/Rock

This notoriously hard-hitting band make more room for melody and nuance than ever before, without sacrificing their power.

— Mark Deming

Bodega Ben / Bodega

Our Brand Could Be Yr Life

Chrysalis Records / SD

Pop/Rock

The band inject their arch new wave with guitars of all sorts -- jangling to grungy -- while crafting a fine indie rock LP.

— Tim Sendra

The Cryin' Shames

Friendly Persuasion: Please Stay

Cherry Red

Pop/Rock, R&B

Archival compilation fills out the timeline of this Joe Meek-affiliated mid-'60s band with a wealth of previously unreleased material.

— Fred Thomas

Tyler Hubbard

Strong

EMI / EMI Nashville

Country

The Florida Georgia Line singer finds a way to mature with ease on this finely crafted mainstream country-pop album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Kenny Garrett / Svoy

Who Killed AI?

Mack Avenue

Electronic, Jazz

The saxophonist balances improvisation with groove-based soundscapes on his first all-electronic album.

— Matt Collar

Pye Corner Audio

The Endless Echo

Ghost Box

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The producer's contemplation of the passing of time captures his music at its pensive, mysterious best.

— Heather Phares

Elizabeth King

Soul Provider

Bible & Tire Recording Company

Blues, R&B

On her third Bible & Tire outing, the sacred soul queen and her backing band move through gospel, blues, funk, and truth.

— Thom Jurek

Lizz Wright

Shadow

Blues & Greens Records / Lightyear

Jazz

The singer's first studio album in seven years, and the first for her label, features Meshell Ndegeocello, Brandee Younger, and Angélique Kidjo.

— Andy Kellman

Bridget Kearney

Comeback Kid

Keeled Scales

Pop/Rock, R&B

Engaging third album of soulful, literate pop from the Lake Street Dive bassist/songwriter.

— Matt Collar

Clarissa Connelly

World of Work

Warp

Pop/Rock, Avant-Garde

A piano-based fourth LP with plenty of spacey components and inspirations spanning medieval music, rock, Celtic music, poetry, philosophy, and more.

— Marcy Donelson

Maggie Rose

No One Gets Out Alive

Big Loud Records

Country, Pop/Rock

The singer's fourth album showcases her vintage-inspired country-soul vibe.

— Matt Collar

Various Artists

My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall

Oh Boy

Country

One of the handful of Black women writing songs in Nashville in the 1990s and beyond gets a tribute from Black women country and Americana artists.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Bad Bad Hats

Bad Bad Hats

Bad Bad Hats / Don Giovanni

Pop/Rock

The self-titled fourth album from this Minneapolis duo is pure indie pop satisfaction from start to finish.

— Mark Deming

Kölner Akademie / Michael Alexander Willens

Mozart: Overtures

BIS

Classical

An enjoyable set of Mozart overtures featuring brisk tempos and crisp attacks.

— James Manheim

Javier Camarena / Angel Rodríguez

Sogno: Tosti Songs

PentaTone Classics

Classical

A nuanced rediscovery of Tosti's songs from a rising tenor.

— James Manheim

Edward Gardner / Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Grieg: Symphonic Dances; Before a Southern Convent; etc.

Chandos

Classical

Grieg favorites and obscurities for orchestra in crisp, compelling performances.

— James Manheim

Jonian Ilias Kadesha / CHAARTS Chamber Artists

Suite italienne: Vivaldi, Sollima, Stravinsky

Linn Records

Classical

A fresh take on the neoclassic impulse effectively mixes Baroque, 20th century, and contemporary selections.

— James Manheim

Amanda Majeski / Simon O'Neill / Simon Rattle / London Symphony Orchestra

Janácek: Katya Kabanova

LSO Live

Classical

Superb turns by several leads in this driven, dramatically effective Janáček opera.

— James Manheim

Louise Alder / Tim Mead / Jonathan Cohen / Arcangelo

Handel: Theodora, HWV 60

Alpha

Classical

Elegant solo singing and bright, clean playing bring this grim martyrdom oratorio alive.

— James Manheim

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