Childish Gambino

Bando Stone & the New World

Matt Rothstein / RCA / Wolf & Rothstein

R&B, Rap

Donald Glover's final album under the Gambino banner is a fitting send-off that delves into R&B, rap, pop, and rock with finesse, style, and emotion.

— Tim Sendra

Beachwood Sparks

Across the River of Stars

Curation Records

Pop/Rock

The twangy California outfit emerge from a long hiatus with an album that evokes the warm, psychedelic glow of the moon.

— Matt Collar

Glass Animals

I Love You So F***ing Much

Polydor / Republic

Pop/Rock

The band responds to the isolating effects of success with sci-fi-tinged songs about love that retain all of their idiosyncratic charm.

— Heather Phares

George Benson / Robert Farnon Orchestra

Dreams Do Come True: When George Benson Meets Robert Farnon

Rhino / Warner Records

R&B, Jazz

The jazz and R&B icon unveils his long-lost 1989 orchestral album.

— Matt Collar

Orcas

How to Color a Thousand Mistakes

Morr Music

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The ambient pop duo returns after a decade-long hiatus with a full, confident sound and wise outlook.

— Heather Phares

Various Artists

Can't Seem to Come Down: American Sounds of 1968

Grapefruit

Pop/Rock

Well-chosen look at a tumultuous time in the world of music filled with both obscure songs by familiar artists and garage, psych, and rock rarities.

— Tim Sendra

Various Artists

From Punk to Ultra: The Plurex Story

Modern Harmonic

Pop/Rock

Led by tracks from future Factory act Minny Pops, this gathers punk and post-punk oddities issued by an Amsterdam-based label from 1978 through 1980.

— Andy Kellman

Al Di Meola

Twentyfour

Ear Music

International, Jazz, Pop/Rock

Recorded over four years, this double-length is a startling microcosm of the guitarist's development as both a player and composer.

— Thom Jurek

Matthew Bourne

Harpsichords

Discus

Avant-Garde

Chaotic, unhinged improvisations on three harpsichords in various states of disrepair, along with subtler collaborations with the duo Nightports.

— Paul Simpson

Tomasz Stańko / Tomasz Stańko Quartet

September Night

ECM

Jazz

A gorgeously rendered archival live album featuring the late Polish jazz trumpeter's quartet.

— Matt Collar

Elori Saxl

Drifts and Surfaces

Western Vinyl Records

Pop/Rock

The composer continues to explore the juxtaposition of nature and technology on a hypnotic, water-themed set of three commissioned works.

— Marcy Donelson

Deep Purple

=1

Ear Music

Pop/Rock

The classic rock legacy act sound as energized and creative as ever on their 23rd studio LP.

— TiVo Staff

Lilacs & Champagne

Fantasy World

Temporary Residence

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The first album in nearly a decade from the surreal, cinematic instrumental hip-hop project of Grails' Emil Amos and Alex Hall.

— Paul Simpson

Fenella Humphreys

Prism

Rubicon

Classical

Pieces the violinist encountered during the first COVID lockdown are forged into a cohesive program of unaccompanied violin music.

— James Manheim

Andrey Gugnin

Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite, Ballade & Lyric Pieces

Hyperion

Classical

Clean Grieg makes the composer seem a predecessor to Debussy, who disparaged him so.

— James Manheim

Christophe Rousset / Les Talens Lyriques

Cimarosa: L'Olimpiade

Château de Versailles

Classical

A rarely performed Olympic-themed opera by Cimarosa gets a fine treatment from top-notch singers.

— James Manheim

Trio Gaspard

Haydn: The Complete Piano Trios, Vol. 3; Kit Armstrong: Revêtements

Chandos

Classical

Fine Haydn piano trio series rolls on with distinctively profiled works.

— James Manheim

Stéphane Degout / Alain Planès

Gabriel Fauré: La Bonne Chanson; L'Horizon chimérique; Ballade; Mélodies

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

Carefully tinted dark colors suffuse this release featuring Fauré song cycles intended for a male voice.

— James Manheim

Kazushi Ono / Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra

Scriabin: Symphony No. 2

Evil Penguin Records Classic

Classical

Excellent sound propels a high-quality reading of Scriabin's Second.

— Keith Finke

Previous Week Next Week