Every element of the album reflects a band testing its limits, seeing where they could go next.
MY OLD, FAMILIAR FRIEND winds up as an effective showcase for his craft even if it never quite grabs ahold the way LAPALCO did.
Another set of emo-synth-pop-disco which may or may not be ironic, but is deliriously hooky.
The 2007 live Monterey recording by this co-op supergroup quartet is beyond reproach in terms of originality, execution, and pure heartfelt jazz genius.
Originally released in 1978, this unique 20-track album features Wilson's fine vocals floating intimately over a partially dubbed-out landscape of Prince Jammy remixes.
Another album of finely crafted, traditionally-rooted country music featuring several songwriting contributions from George's son Bubba.
Nothing conveys Hank Thompson's consistency like this 30-track, single-disc collection from Raven -- it's the best introduction to the classic country singer ever assembled.
AWE OWE puts folk, jazz, electronic, and pop music through a distinctly Latin filter.
The mix remains strictly within the realm of disco and post-disco from 1976 through 1984.
Ellipse showcases Heap's sweet, crisp sound with emotionally and musically diverse songs.
A warm flurry of fuzzy guitar, disjointed crashing drums, and childlike vocals yelled in unison.
Emerging indie rock icon creates nostalgic yet inescapably timeless pop punk on anticipated second record.
With stronger jazz influences than any previous Henry album, the sprawling Blood from Stars is his most sophisticated, redemptive, and romantic album yet.
Partially roots itself in the singer's past work and otherwise branches out from it.
Lightning Dust's sophomore album is as stark and strange as the duo's debut, although more elegantly dressed with string arrangements, computerized drumbeats, and reverb effects.
RADIOLARIANS III is a fitting parting shot in an experiment that perhaps worked beyond its participants' expectations.
Danish band's fifth studio album is their most straightfoward effort yet.
Mount Eerie transforms influences like black metal, gamelan, and David Lynch soundtracks into a powerful and gentle album.
The belly laughs still hurt real hard and the wordplay, observations, and delivery remain brilliant, often wicked.
Recorded live with minimal editing, the warm and immediate Still Your Man is Paul Burch's most compelling collection of songs yet.
These 17 tracks from 1978 and 1980 LPs illustrate what a tremendously expressive vocalist deep soul singer Randy Brown was at his peak.
Comprehensive four-disc overview of the rock-folk troubadour's lengthy career.
Stunning from top to bottom, Emergence features Hargrove leading a 19-member big band on a set of 11 standards and originals.
Largely abandoning Trinity's posturing and false bravado and returning to Dutty Rock's lightness and fun, Imperial Blaze is enjoyable from beginning to end.
Supergroup's debut features four MCs with deserved egos working together in perfect concord.
Long-running roots rockers return in 2009 after a 3-year layoff, their grit and riffery no worse for wear.
Assembling everything that this underrated Liverpool quintet cut for Decca Records between 1963 and 1966 plus several obscurities, this is the absolutely definitive Mojos compilation.
With 14 songs driven by soul, strength, and fierce belief, the Reigning Sound turn down the tempo and let their R&B influences step forward.
Tribal yet graceful, The Snake reveals a darker side to the duo's vocals and percussion approach.