Editors' Choice for January 2018

Thomas Tallis: Queen Katherine Parr & Songs of Reformation
Obsidian Records
The vocal ensemble Alamire joins the viol consort Fretwork in this well-balanced portrait of 16th century English composer Thomas Tallis.
- Blair Sanderson
Encore
Atlantic / Elektra / Low Country Sound
Splitting the difference between retro-Southern soul and Van Morrison, Anderson East comes up with a minor gem.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A Man I’d Rather Be, Pt. 1
Earth Records
A handsomely packaged box of the guitarist and songwriter's first four albums, with new (and original) liner notes and previously unseen photos.
- Thom Jurek
Live at Lafayette's Music Room-Memphis, TN
Omnivore
Live recordings from January 1973 that capture the rock & roll side of this legendary power pop group.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Contra la Indecisión
ECM
On their first effort in six years, the trio traverse folk songs, classical pieces, and a slew of originals with lyricism and brilliant colors.
- Thom Jurek
The Thread That Keeps Us
Anti- / Epitaph
The band's trip to Northern California results in songs that are by turns gentle and bold, traditional and boundary-pushing.
- Heather Phares
Balbastre: Pièces de Clavecin, Livre 1
Aparte
Christophe Rousset plays the first book of the Pièces de clavecin by celebrated French harpsichordist Claude-Bénigne Balbastre.
- Blair Sanderson
George Frideric Handel: Ode for St. Cecilia's Day
Pan Classics
Handel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day and the Concerto grosso in A minor receive period-style interpretations from Daniela Dolci and Musica Fiorita.
- Blair Sanderson
Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets, Vol. 4
Wigmore Hall Live
The fourth volume of the Elias String Quartet's survey of Beethoven's string quartets presents Nos. 2, 7, and 12 in live recordings.
- Blair Sanderson
Ruins
Columbia / Sony Music
The Söderberg sisters follow up their major-label debut, Stay Gold, with a breakup album that draws power from discontent.
- Marcy Donelson
Fleetwood Mac [Deluxe Edition]
Reprise / Rhino
With the addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac became a pop band.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Terry Riley: The Palmian Chord Ryddle; At the Royal Majestic
Naxos
Riley has received less attention than Glass or even Reich. This makes a case that such neglect is misguided.
- James Manheim
Vessel of Love
Merge
British reggae singer and former Slits member Hollie Cook turns in her strongest album yet, with the help of super-producer Youth.
- Paul Simpson
Dearest Everybody
Release Me
On her first solo album since 2009, the songwriter looks with empathy, openness, and poignant reflection at the past and how it informs the present.
- Thom Jurek
All for One
Concord / Concord Jazz
An exuberant, deeply felt sophomore album of genre-bending jazz, gospel, and R&B from the award-winning vocalist and drummer.
- Matt Collar
Berlioz: Les Troyens
Erato
This 2017 concert recording by John Nelson and the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg presents Berlioz's Les Troyens in its entirety.
- Blair Sanderson
Saint-Saëns: Symphonic Poems
Naxos
Much of Saint-Saëns' prolific output contains gems; a thoroughly enjoyable three-quarters of an hour of music.
- James Manheim
Vision Songs, Vol. 1
Numero
Truly exceptional, revelatory album of avant-garde devotional synth pop songs recorded by new age pioneer Laraaji in 1984.
- Paul Simpson
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Concerto for Two Pianos; Circus Polka; Tango; Madrid
Hyperion
Marc-André Hamelin and Leif Ove Andsnes serve up an all-Stravinsky program of works for two pianos, leading off with Le Sacre du printemps.
- Blair Sanderson
Rifles and Rosary Beads
In The Black Records / Thirty Tigers
On her tenth album, the singer/songwriter collaborates with military veterans and their care givers in relating their poignant experiences.
- Thom Jurek
Lived Here Before
Matinée
The long-running indie pop band has never sounded more muscular or melodic, making this the group's best record yet.
- Tim Sendra
The Wagner Project
Harmonia Mundi
Matthias Goerne joins Daniel Harding and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra as he sings Wagnerian roles in this sampler from Harmonia Mundi.
- Blair Sanderson
Impossible Star
Flexidisc / Virtual Label
Jack Dangers and his cohorts return with another strong album of crunchy electro beats, spacy ambient synths, and social commentary.
- Paul Simpson
Invisible Threads
ECM
This trio with pianist Nelson Ayres and mallet percussionist Rob Waring explores melodic improvisation and group interplay with verve and elegance.
- Thom Jurek
Snares Like a Haircut
Drag City
A new label doesn't change much for the L.A. duo, and this is another thrilling blast of noise rock and shoegaze thrills.
- Tim Sendra
Defy
BMG / Rise Records
On the first LP following the departure of Austin Carlile, the Aaron Pauley-led OM&M defy doubts with pure power and melody.
- Neil Z. Yeung
Bach: The Art of Fugue
Decca
This is a bold experiment with one of the intellectual landmarks of classical music, using different combinations of instruments throughout.
- James Manheim
This Is Glue
Trouble in Mind
The New Zealand group's second album adds some needed energy and grit to their classic jangle pop sound.
- Tim Sendra
Songs of Praise
Dead Oceans
The South London band reinvigorates post-punk on its nervy debut.
- Heather Phares
The Official Body
Fat Cat / FatCat Records
The trio's frequently dazzling third album is a joyous celebration of post-punk's outsider status.
- Heather Phares
Team Dreams
Morr Music
The sophisticated results of a monthly collaboration with self-imposed deadlines sound far from rushed or rote.
- Marcy Donelson
Debussy: La Plus que Lente; Children's Corner; Images I & II; L'Isle joyeuse; Estampes
Hyperion
A nicely recorded Debussy recital that will repay repeated listenings.
- James Manheim
Chinese Butterfly
Concord Jazz
An engaging, fusion-soaked collaboration between the legendary jazz keyboardist and acclaimed drummer.
- Matt Collar
Beautiful Despair
Fire Records
Recorded at home in 1990 with bandmate Jowe Head, this batch of Daniel Treacy demos shows the eccentric genius at his oddly affecting best.
- Tim Sendra
Semicircle
Memphis Industries
Another exuberant blast of life-affirming, heartwarming fun that adds some marching band swagger to their trademark sunny indie pop/hip-hop/funk sound.
- Tim Sendra
Calm Before...
Sundazed
Sole album from this prep-school garage band is a surprisingly accomplished set of thoughtful originals and inspired covers.
- Mark Deming
Could It Be Different?
Alcopop! / Slumberland
The group's third album ups the sonic power and hook quotient while staying true to their emotional truth and noise pop roots.
- Tim Sendra
i can feel you creep into my private life
4AD
The duo's vibrant fourth album explores the political and cultural tumult of the late 2010s with anthemic heft and individualistic perspectives.
- Heather Phares
Freedom's Goblin
Drag City
Broad, expansive album is an eclectic vision of rock's past and present as seen through the eyes of the garage punk hero.
- Mark Deming
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; Rachmaninov: Spring; Debussy: Printemps
Onyx
Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic present an album of works by Debussy, Rachmaninov, and Stravinsky on the theme of spring.
- Blair Sanderson
Homage
Warner Classics
Frang pays homage to the early 20th century's great violinists with the pieces they played as short encores.
- James Manheim
Handel, Bach: Dixit Dominus; Magnificat
Alpha
Lionel Meunier leads Vox Luminis in period-style performances of Bach's Magnificat in D major and Handel's Dixit Dominus.
- Blair Sanderson
Strauss: Salome
PentaTone Classics
This hybrid SACD presentation by Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra makes Strauss' Salome a vivid audio showcase.
- Blair Sanderson