Featured New Releases for
May 3, 2024

Dua Lipa

Radical Optimism

Warner Music / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

With the help of Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, the pop star takes the high road after a breakup with this focused third set.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Sia

Reasonable Woman

Atlantic

Pop/Rock

The tenth studio set from the Aussie pop wiz matches the power and intensity of her mid-2010s mainstream peak.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Kamasi Washington

Fearless Movement

Young

Jazz

Using the idea of dance as a creative and physical engine, the saxophonist's star-studded cast travel across jazz, funk, fusion, R&B, and more.

— Thom Jurek

Broadcast

Spell Blanket: Collected Demos 2006-2009

Warp

Pop/Rock, Electronic

Gathering demos for what would have been the pioneering electronic pop duo's fifth album, this collection abounds with raw brilliance.

— Heather Phares

Camera Obscura

Look to the East, Look to the West

Merge

Pop/Rock

Beautifully sad, warmly played and sung album about death and healing made with subtle country-rock and electronic accents.

— Tim Sendra

Mdou Moctar

Funeral for Justice

Matador

International, Pop/Rock

A sonically thrilling and rallying dispatch from the Niger-based guitar hero.

— Timothy Monger

The Lemon Twigs

A Dream Is All We Know

Captured Tracks

Pop/Rock

The '70s-inspired power pop band mixes up their subjects of obsession, re-creating styles of the Beach Boys, '70s power pop, soft rock, and the Beatles.

— Fred Thomas

Ibibio Sound Machine

Pull the Rope

Merge

International

With Ross Orton producing, mixing, and programming for the first time, the band comes off as a driving, futurist funk machine.

— Thom Jurek

Adeem the Artist

Anniversary

Four Quarters Entertainment / Thirty Tigers

Country, Pop/Rock

Producer Butch Walker helps move the acclaimed Americana singer/songwriter into the country mainstream.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Penny Arcade

Backwater Collage

Tapete Records

Pop/Rock

Understated, moody, and perfectly constructed melancholy album made by James Hoare, ex of bands like Veronica Falls and the Proper Ornaments.

— Tim Sendra

Charlotte Day Wilson

Cyan Blue

R&B

Emotionally complex and more spontaneous second album from the Juno- and Polaris-nominated R&B singer/songwriter.

— Andy Kellman

Hana Vu

Romanticism

Ghostly International

Pop/Rock

The L.A. indie wunderkind enters her twenties with a heavy heart on an often infectious second album produced with Day Wave's Jackson Phillips.

— Marcy Donelson

Nubiyan Twist

Find Your Flame

Strut / Universal

Jazz

The fourth long-player by this English nonet features the debut of powerful new frontwoman Aziza Jaye.

— Thom Jurek

Jasmine Myra

Rising

Gondwana / Universal

Jazz

English saxophonist's second outing employs the same band and an even more remarkable set of original compositions.

— Thom Jurek

Jessica Pratt

Here in the Pitch

Mexican Summer

Pop/Rock

Pet Sounds-informed production, mercurial bossa nova breezes, and expanded instrumentation broaden the insular sound world of this already captivating singer/songwriter.

— Fred Thomas

Jharis Yokley

Sometimes, Late at Night

Rainbow Blonde

Electronic, R&B

Unorthodox breakup album from the acrobatic drummer, supported only by keyboardist BIGYUKI and vocal appearances from José James and Taali.

— Andy Kellman

Cody Carpenter / John Carpenter / Daniel Davies

Lost Themes IV: Noir

Sacred Bones

Electronic, Pop/Rock, Stage & Screen

Trio centered around pioneering horror movie director explores emotions beyond fear and dread on this collection of tense, moody, cinematic instrumentals.

— Fred Thomas

Maurice White

Manifestation

Omnivore

R&B

The posthumous second solo album from the EWF leader gathers collaborations with fellow songwriter/producer Preston Glass.

— Andy Kellman

Olli Ahvenlahti

Mirror Mirror

Wejazz

Jazz

The Finnish pianist updates the sound of his '70s fusion ensemble with his post-bop quintet.

— Matt Collar

Goran Kajfes Tropiques / Goran Kajfeš

Tell Us

Wejazz

Jazz, Pop/Rock

On the quartet's third long-player, they enlist cello and violin to expand their harmonic reach, also adding drama and dynamic and compelling textures.

— Thom Jurek