Editors' Choice for July 2021

Historically oriented Brahms piano concertos from Schiff are often revelatory.

— James Manheim

The singer/songwriter's first solo album in over a decade adds more nuance, urgency, hope, and frustration to her mesmerizing electro post-punk.

— Heather Phares

Adding in new sonic elements like Afro-pop grooves, West Coast sunshine pop harmonies, and introspective singer/songwriter feels, this is March's masterpiece.

— Tim Sendra

A comprehensive four-CD box that is the first set to thoroughly cover every aspect of Aretha's career.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Second full-length from electronic composer Nicolas Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington's collaborative project is dense and shapeshifting while maintaining exacting control.

— Fred Thomas

Eight-disc boxed set containing 11 albums (and more) from the unmistakable four-octave soprano and highly accomplished songwriter.

— Andy Kellman

The former One Dove singer returns after a decade-long break with an album of painfully intimate and lovely folk with strings and shatteringly honest vocals.

— Tim Sendra

The band advances on their pleasurable third album with lush ballads and robust disco grooves.

— Andy Kellman

Furious album from this New Zealand band with advanced degrees in early-'80s American underground guitar rock with a little post-punk gloom mixed in for fun.

— Tim Sendra

Nearly a decade after his death, the beloved Scottish singer/songwriter gets a well-deserved chance at rediscovery with this best-of.

— Thom Jurek

The Primal Scream frontman and former Savages leader step outside their comfort zones on these lush, elegantly heartbroken duets.

— Heather Phares

Fireworks and tons of personality from mezzo-soprano Lindsey mark a superb Baroque recital.

— James Manheim

Hamilton revives an enjoyable genre of old recordings with wonderful obscure material.

— James Manheim

The great East L.A. band cover a dozen songs from their hometown and show how much they've learned and how far they've grown.

— Mark Deming

This collaborative album from two distinctive personalities of experimental music reaches the highest articulation of their respective styles.

— Fred Thomas

On her first studio outing in a decade, the Brazilian singer/songwriter confronts disease, death, disaster, and loneliness with militant hope.

— Thom Jurek

This six-disc box offers 12 albums from the Mississippi pianist and singer/songwriter's best-known period in a gloriously designed package.

— Thom Jurek

The highly replayable debut album from the Stones Throw signee is full of intimate and offbeat R&B.

— Andy Kellman

A captivating journey of modern-day Tropicália from the supremely talented Brazilian singer/songwriter.

— Timothy Monger

This archival release showcases the drummer leading an incendiary quintet with Woody Shaw, Carlos Garnett, Harold Mabern, and Cecil McBee.

— Thom Jurek

A deeply engaging archival set of duo performances by the two jazz stars, both of whom passed away well before their time.

— Matt Collar

The reissue of this U.K. shoegaze band's moody, cinematic 2005 debut is expanded with seven previously unreleased tracks and remastering from Slowdive's Simon Scott.

— Fred Thomas

Debut effort from drummer/vocalist Jordyn Blakely's solo project updates the over-utilized shoegaze template with distant lo-fi production choices.

— Fred Thomas

Although unlikely to win over anyone not already sold on their formula, there is something admirable about the continuation of their off-kilter approach.

— Liam Martin

Another sunny blast of brilliantly fun and funky pop music done with the usual innocence and empowerment by the long-running group.

— Tim Sendra

The group's 1981 debut and one of the certifiable classics of L.A. punk shot through with desperate blues fever and rockabilly blood.

— Tim Sendra

The always reliable, long-running group deliver a masterpiece of highly arranged, emotionally powerful, and musically inventive heartbreak pop.

— Tim Sendra

Singer/songwriter Mackenzie Scott turns up the volume -- and the happiness -- on some of her catchiest and most confident songs.

— Heather Phares

On his vibrantly catchy fifth full-length, George Lewis, Jr. reconnects with his love of vintage soul and his Dominican roots.

— Heather Phares

Completed shortly before his death, the final album from this dancehall legend revisits multiple reggae classics with assistance from an all-star cast of guests.

— Fred Thomas

A handsome three-disc, field-recorded overview of under- documented, infectiously danceable party music from southeast Cuba.

— Thom Jurek