Editors' Choice for December 2015

Alina Ibragimova plays the violin concertos of J.S. Bach with an appealing fusion of period practice and warm modern sound.

— Blair Sanderson

The Soul Train Legend Award honoree's satisfying first original-material solo album in ten years.

— Andy Kellman

Celebrating life snatched from the jaws of death, this quartet delivers a mosaic of metal, hard rock, and sprawling psychedelia.

— Thom Jurek

Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra open their live Beethoven cycle with the first two symphonies and two modern works.

— Blair Sanderson

Audio/video box set offers an in-depth look at the making of one of the Boss' best and most important albums.

— Mark Deming

A fresh, vibrant, and smart country-pop debut from Cam, who has penned songs for Maggie Rose and Miley Cyrus.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Diego Ares premieres 29 unpublished harpsichord sonatas by Padre Antonio Soler, discovered in a manuscript in the Morgan Library.

— Blair Sanderson

A genuinely exciting new artist here, who is at the same time a representative of the great French conservatory tradition.

— James Manheim

This magnificent Mass in B minor is a testimony to the consistency of Gardiner's vision.

— James Manheim

The whole, rendered in festive, clear tones by Skidmore and Ex Cathedra, makes an immensely satisfying impression.

— James Manheim

Major expansion of the Mac's 1979 album contains two discs of live material, a disc of demos and variant mixes, and a full alternate version of Tusk.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Inspired by a move to the California desert, Kid606's third ambient release of 2015 is one of his most consistently enjoyable.

— Paul Simpson

Thorough set of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's 45s for the Atlantic subsidiary, 1958-1971, plus both sides of a shelved one.

— Andy Kellman

Richly sensual and strongly recommended for anyone with the slightest interest in the crucial music of Venice.

— James Manheim

The idiosyncratic singer/songwriter heads to the lounge and sings the blues on this 1968 set, now remastered and expanded.

— Mark Deming

Remastered edition of this eclectic, idiosyncratic effort where the self-styled Cowboy shows off his serious and playful sides.

— Mark Deming

Remastered edition of the producer and songwriter's first album for MGM; introduces his cowboy turned hipster persona.

— Mark Deming

Almost complete, thoroughly pleasing anthology of the top-tier dream pop band's 1989-1996 output for 4AD.

— Andy Kellman

Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir present a stirring reading of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

— Blair Sanderson

Mariss Jansons and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra offer a bright and ethereal performance of one of Mahler's most delightful symphonies.

— Blair Sanderson

Exhaustive eight-disc collection covering the legendary jazz trumpeter's final years at Warner Bros. from 1986-1991.

— Matt Collar

An unusually satisfying experiment involving the music of a composer whose legacy has hardly been explored creatively.

— James Manheim

Compilation bringing together some of the more obscure live recordings from Cole's short-lived '50s TV variety show.

— Matt Collar

Two of the Antipodes' finest pop songwriters captured on-stage together during a joint tour from 2013.

— Mark Deming

Bolder and in many ways bigger than his previous efforts, Black Market is a more introspective and ambitious album from Miami superstar Ross.

— David Jeffries

Expanded edition of this spare and atmospheric fusion of folk and indie rock from moonlighting members of Doveman.

— Mark Deming

The LOX member returns with his first solo album since 2010 and he's as raw and rough as ever.

— David Jeffries

The deluxe vinyl reissue of the band's moody 2005 album featured demos and downloadable bonus tracks.

— Heather Phares

The duo (and assorted friends) deliver a compelling, conceptual, album-length work in three parts.

— Thom Jurek

Teodor Currentzis and Musica Aeterna explore the folk music underpinnings of Igor Stravinsky's 1913 ballet, Le Sacre du printemps.

— Blair Sanderson

Remastered proto-punk masterpiece that defines the nexus between pro wrestling, cheap burgers, and dumb music for smart people.

— Mark Deming

The overall picture of Taverner that emerges from this is that of a composer fascinated by sound itself.

— James Manheim

The Irish R&B act's legendary recordings with Van Morrison, collected in one package with plentiful outtakes and live cuts.

— Mark Deming

The singer's third project with producer Ethan Johns is another powerful set of stripped down, blues-based roots music.

— Mark Deming

Debut album from the smooth young Australian singer with poignant confessionals of love, youth, and yearning.

— Neil Z. Yeung

Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra deliver Scriabin's Le Divin Poème and Le Poème de l'extase with brilliance and precision.

— Blair Sanderson

Music from Horowitz's later life has a marvelous rarefied quality, and this live recording is no exception.

— James Manheim