Editors' Choice for May 2015

Album cover for California Nights

California Nights

Harvest / Universal / Virgin EMI

The band aims for the back of arenas with its slick and unabashedly '90s alt rock-influenced third album.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Dumb Flesh

Dumb Flesh

Sacred Bones

By turns ominous, poignant, and playful, Benjamin John Power's second full-length is a danceable memento mori.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Traveller

Traveller

Decca

Casually virtuosic debut from the neo-outlaw songwriter who penned hits for Kenny Chesney and Darius Rucker.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for In Plain Speech

In Plain Speech

Thrill Jockey

Fifth album and Thrill Jockey debut by Haley Fohr's haunting experimental folk project, and easily her most accomplished work yet.

— Paul Simpson

Album cover for Anxiety's Kiss

Anxiety's Kiss

Deathwish

The Louisville power punk trio offer a captivating blend of muscular post-punk, socio-political hardcore, and streamlined alt rock on their excellent fifth LP.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Boys

Boys

Zoo Music

The scuzz pop duo continues to grow into a great pop band where the guitar noise is equaled by the sharp hooks and catchy choruses.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Born Under Saturn

Born Under Saturn

Ribbon Music / Ribbon Records

The singular-sounding, rhythm-heavy Scottish art pop quartet is unique as ever on this excellent sophomore outing.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Sundown Over Ghost Town

Sundown Over Ghost Town

Signature / Signature Sounds / Signature Sounds Recording Company

The queen of the minor key returns to her home state of Idaho and turns in one of the strongest albums of her career.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Drei

Drei

Emika Records

After the all-instrumental, mostly piano effort Klavírní, the artist returns with her third proper album of bewitching electro.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Sol Invictus

Sol Invictus

Ipecac / Reclemation

Reunion set for the alt-rock pioneers is eclectic and unified, their best work since the confounding masterpiece Angel Dust.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Bleak

Bleak

Burger Records

Second album from L.A.-based garage psych band doubles the guitar power and delivers a stronger, tighter set of songs.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Heartbreak Pass

Heartbreak Pass

New West

Intelligent, charming, ambitious album from Howe Gelb's long-running band about the turbulent life of a touring musician.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for Choose Your Weapon

Choose Your Weapon

Flying Buddha
R&B

A double dose of dizzying brilliance from Erykah Badu's and Prince's favorite Australian avant-R&B band.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Why Make Sense?

Why Make Sense?

Domino

Paying tribute to vintage hip-hop, R&B and disco, the band's witty electro-pop sounds fresher than ever.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for It's All Just Pretend

It's All Just Pretend

Dualtone Music

More endearing, sunshiny melodies and harmonies from the Seattle quintet, who lean toward indie pop after balancing folk on their debut.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Tenderness

Tenderness

Masterworks / Sony Music

On his Sony Masterworks debut, the enigmatic songwriter teams with Larry Klein and comes up with a gem.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter

Slumberland

The band's second album is a hyper-focused blast of piercing pop and dynamic noise, poppier than their debut but just as strong.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for The Epic

The Epic

Brainfeeder

A massive, accessible, revelatory debut by the veteran L.A. saxophonist, his large band, strings, and a choir.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Creation

Creation

ECM

At 70, the pianist changes his method to produce a new solo work culled from five improvised performances.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Hud Dreems

Hud Dreems

Stones Throw
Rap

The underground producer makes his beat tape debut the same year he lands a production on the landmark To Pimp a Butterfly.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Non-Believers

Non-Believers

Merge

After over a quarter century of releasing records with Superchunk and Portastatic, their nominal frontman steps out with a synth pop-flavored solo album.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Back 2 Love

Back 2 Love

Shanachie
R&B

Featuring appearances from Phil Perry and Stokley Williams, the singer marks two decades as a solo artist with one of her best albums.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for II

II

Sub Pop

Smart and furiously powerful, the second album from this Canadian trio is a brutal but effective assault of sound.

— Mark Deming

Album cover for MCIII

MCIII

Merge

Adding some dramatic scope to his sound (with strings, horns, and a side-long concept), the singer/songwriter goes big without going flat.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Land

Land

Sinderlyn

Debut full-length by the London dream pop band finds them assimilating their influences and creating something fresh and haunting.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for The Good Fight

The Good Fight

Mello Music Group
Rap

Inspired, infectious, and heavy, the underground rapper's tenth album is an excellent blast of retro soul and social commentary.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Rituals

Rituals

Play It Again Sam

Another fine collection of Radiohead and Alt-J-inspired, widescreen cinematic pop from the Oklahoma-based outfit.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Saturn's Pattern

Saturn's Pattern

Atlantic / Elektra / Parlophone / PRW / Warner Bros. / Warner Music

A spacy, soulful rebirth for Paul Weller.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Gunnera

Gunnera

Joyful Noise

Experimental rock by members of the National and Menomena explores timbre, texture, and rhythm in synth pop soundscapes.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for Rivington Não Rio

Rivington Não Rio

Temporary Residence

Enhanced by Sam Dew, Rob Crow, and Helado Negro, the most substantial installment in a flurry of 2015 releases from Guillermo Herren.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for STS × RJD2
RJD2 / STS

STS × RJD2

RJ's Electrical Connections
Rap

Up-and-coming rapper makes his debut with the veteran producer and the listener is the winner.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Hairless Toys

Hairless Toys

Play It Again Sam

The former Moloko frontwoman's first album in eight years takes a tender, personal approach that's all the more powerful for its subtlety.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Pathway

Pathway

Metal Blade

This Bay area doom act reveal no sophomore slump on this date. Their meld of sounds and textures here is startling.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Bush

Bush

Columbia
R&B, Rap

Pharrell executive produces an excellent throwback album of disco and funk-flavored party starters.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Ask the Deep

Ask the Deep

Morr Music

The Icelandic singer and multi-instrumentalist delivers a sophomore LP of elegant art pop that is moody and lonesome, yet warmly engaging.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for Soul Food

Soul Food

Vanguard

Fourteen years after its debut, this supergroup makes a triumphant return with gospel wedded to rock, blues, boogie, and more.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Hive1

Hive1

Nonesuch / WEA

Written for modular synths and percussion, the composer's delightfully mercurial second album is some of his most playful and audacious music yet.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Nature

Nature

Kranky

Honey Owens returns with a transporting, organic set of psych pop that welcomes change and honors her roots.

— Heather Phares