Editors' Choice for January 2023

Album cover for Say I Won't

Say I Won't

Fat Possum Records

The garage rock power trio conjure a menacing, '70s tube-amp atmosphere on their hooky, riff-heavy fifth album.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for Late Developers

Late Developers

Matador

Arriving just months after the indie pop institution's 2022 effort, this album continues its stylistic dabbling and exploration of existence and aging.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Leaving

Leaving

Fire Talk

A literate, melancholic sophomore set from the Chicago-based indie pop project of Maria Jacobson.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for On & On

On & On

Rainbow Blonde

An ardent jazz tribute to Erykah Badu, this features rising saxophonists Ebban Dorsey and Diana Dzhabbar in addition to James' rich baritone.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Smalltown Stardust

Smalltown Stardust

Sub Pop

King Tuff gets mellow and nostalgic with help from Sasami Ashworth on this beautiful -- and non-rocking -- singer/songwriter outing.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Time's Arrow

Time's Arrow

Cooking Vinyl

The band's bittersweet seventh album expresses the tricks that nostalgia plays on the heart and mind with songs that seem to stop time in its tracks.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Let's Start Here

Let's Start Here

Quality Control

This mumble rapper's foray into psychedelic soul is held together by the same curious, open spirit that shone on his best work before it.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Strays

Strays

Loma Vista

An adventurous, masterful record that can't quite be called Americana.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Rush!

Rush!

Arista

Italy's flamboyant Eurovision rockers deliver their third album and international debut.

— Matt Collar