Editors' Choice for January 2011

Album cover for Afrodesia

Afrodesia

Luv N' Haight

Afrodesia, the sole and ultra rare album by the Afro-Soultet, gets a welcome reissue by Luv N'Haight.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Kaputt

Kaputt

Merge

Utilizes '80s sophisti-pop, Northern soul, and straight-up adult contemporary to deliver a flawed but fascinating record.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Guider

Guider

Kranky

Disappears' second album is sleeker and even more ferocious than their debut.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Unlearn

Unlearn

Hardly Art

The lo-fi indie duo appropriates doo wop, '60s psych, and garage rock on its Hardly Art debut.

— Jason Lymangrover

Album cover for Kiss Each Other Clean

Kiss Each Other Clean

Warner Bros.

Iron & Wine's fourth full-length album is their most exceedingly well produced to date, and Sam Beam's songs are as strong as ever.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for The London Sessions

The London Sessions

EMI Music Distribution / Parlophone / Virgin

While on their 2010 world tour, LCD Soundsystem stopped by a London studio to rip through the highlights of their live set.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Hilarious

Hilarious

Comedy Central Records

On the appropriately titled Hilarious, the recently divorced standup comedian gives his thoughts on reentering the dating world at the age of 41.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for By the Hedge

By the Hedge

Captured Tracks / Fab

Minks' moody pop comes into its own on the duo's first full-length.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Fabric 55

Fabric 55

Fabric

Sam Shackleton's exhilirating contribution to the Fabric series consists of his own unclassifiable productions, just over half of which are brand-new.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Napa Asylum

Napa Asylum

Drag City

Sic Alps return from a two-and-a-half-year hiatus with a sprawling mosaic of psych-pop and noise.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Sahel Folk

Sahel Folk

Thrill Jockey

On his second album -- and first in the West -- guitarist Sidi Touré and friends play the organic Songhai Blues of Mali.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Kudos

Kudos

Fire Records

Surf City's debut album is an impressive and memorable blend of noise and melody inspired by Flying Nun Records, Sonic Youth, and classic '90s indie rock.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Cape Dory

Cape Dory

Fat Possum Records

The husband/wife duo writes nostalgic pop songs that mine the '50s for inspiration, but with a modern, noisy sound.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for ...Love You

...Love You

Fortuna POP!

The comically inclined U.K. indie pop band ends on a high note after ten years together.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for II

II

Dirtnap Records

Taking a lesson from '60s garage punk, Ottawa's the White Wires offer up a dozen songs blessed with great melodies, memorable hooks, and lyrics that are cool, witty, and heartfelt all at once.

Album cover for Friends for Now

Friends for Now

Kanine Records

Though influenced heavily by shoegazers and Sonic Youth, the quintet from San Francisco creates its own unique noise on its debut album.

— Tim Sendra