Editors' Choice for December 2023

The trumpeter leads a deeply meditative yet still celebratory trio collaboration with the veteran jazz masters.

— Matt Collar

A sharply presented box containing expanded editions of the Queen of Soul's first five '70s studio albums.

— Andy Kellman

The comic-themed rap supergroup continue their saga, mixing playful bravado with moments of nostalgic reflection.

— Paul Simpson

A canny blend of folk-influenced songs with post-punk-informed arrangements on this album from former Midlake singer Tim Smith.

— Mark Deming

The trio traces the vicious circle of trauma and abuse with a furious and wounded blend of industrial, metal, and pop.

— Heather Phares

Remixes of tracks from the Brooklyn rapper's autobiographical 2021 effort, improving on the material by setting it to an abstract noir canvas.

— Paul Simpson

A bold mezzo-soprano program, equally brilliant in conception and execution.

— James Manheim

These unreleased live instrumental performances by Les McCann's early trios are a welcome, wonderful-sounding surprise.

— Thom Jurek

Recorded live in the studio with a band, the Cotton Jones leader embraces an especially dreamy, seductive impressionism on his fifth solo outing.

— Marcy Donelson

A triple-disc comp assembles the group's 1973 studio albums with a wide-open Radio Bremen broadcast from 1972.

— Thom Jurek

The art rocker returns with his first album of original material in 20 years: a probing collection filled with empathetic new beginnings.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The third album from this Australian indie collective tries out new styles and songwriting approaches on every track.

— Fred Thomas

Triumphant best-of set that showcases 20 years of hits from the Las Vegas showmen.

— Neil Z. Yeung

The band's vaunted trilogy comes to an end with its most stylistically diverse and musically dramatic volume.

— Thom Jurek

The 40th anniversary edition of this groundbreaking alt-rock classic includes early demos and live recordings from concerts in 1981 and 1983.

— Fred Thomas