Tank and the Bangas

The Heart, the Mind, the Soul

Verve / Verve Forecast

R&B

A three-part spoken-word project with production from James Poyser, Iman Omari, and Robert Glasper.

— Andy Kellman

Kasey Chambers

Backbone

Country, Pop/Rock

The brilliant Australian singer/songwriter boldly demonstrates why she's been a giant of roots music for a quarter-century.

— Mark Deming

Charli xcx

Brat and It's Completely Different But Also Still Brat

Electronic, Pop/Rock

The singer/songwriter responds to Brat's massive success by going deeper into the album's musings on fame, friendship, creativity, and love.

— Heather Phares

The Linda Lindas

No Obligation

Epitaph

Pop/Rock

Fun and invigorating sophomore set from the young California punks delivers on the "growing up" promise of the debut.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Samara Joy

Portrait

Verve

Jazz, Vocal

The Grammy-winning singer leads a lushly arranged octet on her fourth album.

— Matt Collar

Field Music

Limits of Language

Memphis Industries

Pop/Rock

A synthy, '80s prog rock aesthetic marks the British duo's ninth album.

— Matt Collar

Goat

Goat

Rocket / Rocket Recordings

Pop/Rock

The band deliver the usual dose of gnarly guitars, freak folk, and mystical biker psych, this time with some well-played hip-hop influences added in.

— Tim Sendra

Jelly Roll

Beautifully Broken

Republic

Rap

The Southern hip-hop star's powerful and vulnerable tenth LP is rooted in themes of mental health and addiction.

— TiVo Staff

Darius Jones

Legend of E'boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)

AUM Fidelity

Jazz

The alto saxophonist and his trio examine free jazz, spirituals, gospel, blues, and wild improvisation on the seventh entry in his Manish Boy project.

— Thom Jurek

Nicolay

Terra Firma

Foreign Exchange Music

Electronic, R&B

A varied and cohesive collaborative work from the Grammy-nominated producer, this ranges from some unexpected boom bap to an "IYKYK" nod to Stevie Wonder.

— Andy Kellman

Dawes

Oh Brother

BWSCD / Dead Ringers

Pop/Rock

Dawes' first album as a duo is a refreshing, back-to-basics production.

— Matt Collar

Immanuel Wilkins

Blues Blood

Blue Note

Jazz

With a quartet, vocalists, and select guests, the alto saxophonist explores a racial incident from 1964 through a lens that reflects modern society.

— Thom Jurek

The Offspring

Supercharged

Offspring

Pop/Rock

The California punk veterans deliver an aptly titled 11th set that plays to their strengths with catchy pop-punk and classic hardcore anthems.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Various Artists

Cosmic American Music: Motel California

Numero / Numero Group

Pop/Rock, Country

The second volume of a compilation series focused on obscure country-rock and psychedelic Americana artists from the late '60s and early '70s.

— Fred Thomas

The Aerovons

World of You: The Complete Recordings

Grapefruit

Pop/Rock

Beatles-inspired pop from a teen band from the '60s plus recordings made in the following decades, all rich in harmonies, melodies, and pop goodness.

— Tim Sendra

Caroline Says

The Lucky One

Western Vinyl Records

Pop/Rock

Memories and absences engulf the present on Caroline Sallee's tender, dreamy third album, which was entirely self-recorded.

— Marcy Donelson

The Headhunters

The Stunt Man

Ropeadope

Jazz

A year after Live at Brooklyn Bowl, the NOLA-based jazz-funk legends return with one of their most raucous and musically sophisticated albums yet.

— Thom Jurek

The Necks

Bleed

Northern Spy

Pop/Rock, Avant-Garde, Jazz

On its 23rd album, the Australian piano trio offer a single 42-minute composition centered on the theme of stillness.

— Thom Jurek

Tucker Zimmerman

Dance of Love

4AD

Pop/Rock, Folk

An invigorating collaboration between an underrated veteran artist and his much younger labelmates, Big Thief.

— Timothy Monger

Tyshawn Sorey / Tyshawn Sorey Trio

The Susceptible Now

Pi / Pi Recordings

Jazz

The drummer's trio with pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Harish Raghavan ambitiously explores and expands tunes from the jazz and R&B books.

— Thom Jurek

Office Dog

Doggerland

New West

Pop/Rock

A more ruminative and atmospheric version of the already moody New Zealand trio emerges on an EP named for the submerged land mass.

— Marcy Donelson

E L U C I D

REVELATOR

Fat Possum Records

Rap

The New York-based experimental rapper incorporates more live instrumentation on this frantic, unpredictable, and ultimately hopeful effort.

— Paul Simpson

Hawksmoor

Oneironautics

Soul Jazz

Electronic, Pop/Rock

James McKeown's second release for Soul Jazz Records channels British ambient and progressive music in addition to German kosmische.

— Paul Simpson

Jenny Scheinman

All Species Parade

The Royal Potato

Jazz

The jazz violinist and composer presents a wild and expansive double album inspired by Northern California's Lost Coast.

— Timothy Monger

François Lazarevitch / Sandrine Chatron / Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien

Mozart: Concertos pour flûte; Concerto pour flûte et harpe

Alpha

Classical

Historical instruments reveal new sounds in these familiar flute works.

— James Manheim

Mahan Esfahani

Bach: Preludes; Inventions; Sinfonias

Hyperion

Classical

Bach's teaching pieces reveal depths in the hands of a highly distinctive interpreter.

— James Manheim

Nathalie Stutzmann / Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World"; American Suite

Erato / Warner Classics

Classical

An exciting Dvořák recording bodes well for a great American orchestra and its new conductor.

— James Manheim

Helsinki Chamber Choir / Nils Schweckendiek

Joy & Asymmetry: Rautavaara, Aho

BIS

Classical

Related but contrasting choral works from two leading Finnish composers, teacher and student.

— James Manheim

La Rêveuse / Florence Bolton / Benjamin Perrot

Marin Marais: Tombeau pour Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe

Harmonia Mundi

Classical

A sharp rendition of Marais' somewhat underappreciated viol music effectively places it in historical context.

— James Manheim

Barbara Buntrock / Christian Tetzlaff / Tanja Tetzlaff / Lars Vogt

Brahms: Piano Quartets Nos. 2 & 3

Ondine

Classical

A cancer-stricken pianist's final recording offers deep performances of contrasting works.

— James Manheim

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