The Black Keys

No Rain, No Flowers

Warner Music / Warner Records

Pop/Rock

Quickly recovering after a tumultuous 2024, the Ohio duo deliver another reliable set of catchy blues-rock.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Osees

ABOMINATION REVEALED AT LAST

Deathgod

Pop/Rock

A blistering excursion into the group's punk side, tempered by the occasional prog side trip; it's a prime example of why the band is so vital.

— Tim Sendra

Beach Bunny

Tunnel Vision

AWAL

Pop/Rock

The third album by the Chicago punk-pop group is a little more polished but still full of heart and soul.

— Tim Sendra

Anamanaguchi

Anyway

Polyvinyl

Pop/Rock, Electronic

The chiptune heroes convened in the American Football house to write their most traditionally band-oriented album yet.

— Paul Simpson

Big Freedia

Pressing Onward

Queen Diva Music

Religious, Pop/Rock

Surprisingly powerful pivot to gospel that infuses songs of hope and resilience with the energy of New Orleans bounce.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Field Medic

Surrender Instead

Alternate Side Records / Many Hats

Pop/Rock

A decade into his craft, this multi-genre songwriter brings a newfound self-assuredness to some of his best written and most carefully arranged songs to date.

— Fred Thomas

Galaxie 500

CBGB 12.13.88

Silver Current

Pop/Rock

Ripping live set from 1988 that shows a more energetic side of the legendary indie rock band as they tear through songs from Today.

— Tim Sendra

No Joy

Bugland

Sonic Cathedral

Pop/Rock

The genre-defiant polymath collaborates with co-producer Fire-Toolz on an album of maximalist pop that never stops changing gears but somehow never overwhelms.

— Fred Thomas

Ada Lea

when i paint my masterpiece

Saddle Creek Records

Pop/Rock

A mercurial 16-song set (whittled down from 200) tied together by live-in-studio sessions with her backing trio produced by Luke Temple.

— Marcy Donelson

Lee "Scratch" Perry

Crucial Cuts From the Heart of the Ark (1973-1978)

Shanachie

Reggae

A brief but powerful selection of standouts from the trailblazing producer's fabled Black Ark studio.

— Paul Simpson

Daniel Johnston

Love Lives Forever (BBC Sessions 2003-2011)

Trussed

Pop/Rock

This live compilation collects tracks from five different BBC sessions, highlighting the constant qualities of this idiosyncratic songwriter's musical language.

— Fred Thomas

A Certain Ratio

Live in America

Mute

Pop/Rock

Originally self-released on cassette, this documents the post-punk band's 1985 gigs in support of fellow Mancunians New Order.

— Andy Kellman

Felix Klieser / Jamie Phillips / Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern

Northern Colours

Berlin Classics

Classical

Nordic repertory suits this armless horn player well.

— James Manheim

Joseph Bastian

Amy Beach

Solo Musica

Classical

A worthwhile collection of Beach's somewhat neglected orchestral output.

— James Manheim

Francesca Chiejina / Sarah Connolly / David Temple / Crouch End Festival Chorus / London Mozart Players

Elgar: The Kingdom

Signum Classics

Classical

Elgar's lesser-known sequel to The Dream of Gerontius receives a smaller-scale but passionate performance.

— James Manheim

Nikolay Shugaev / Yuri Medianik / Tyumen Philharmonic Orchestra

Weinberg: Complete Music for Cello & Orchestra

Naxos

Classical

The cello brings out Weinberg's considerable lyrical talents to the maximum on this recording by little-known but fine players.

— James Manheim

David Hill / Durham Cathedral Choir / Daniel Cook

Herbert Howells: Psalms and Psalm Preludes

Regent

Classical

Unusual psalm-based material reduces Howells' musical language to the small scale.

— James Manheim

Nicholas Collon / Christian Tetzlaff / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Sibelius: Symphony No. 5; Two Serenades; Two Serious Melodies; Swanwhite

Ondine

Classical

A strong Sibelius Fifth is paired with sparsely played orchestral works, which are effective in this context.

— James Manheim

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