Editors' Choice for May 2015
Darla Records / Elefant / Lost
Fascinating compilation of early material, alternate versions, and rarities by a pioneering Spanish synth pop group.
- Paul Simpson
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
Sacred Bones
By turns ominous, poignant, and playful, Benjamin John Power's second full-length is a danceable memento mori.
- Heather Phares
Virgin EMI
The second solo outing from the Killers singer is an infectious, synthy melange of '80s adult-contempo pop.
- Matt Collar
![Midnight Mission [2015] [Bonus Tracks]](https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=vGmf1_p0n5MGckgyIjVotVWnbEN5fCjifro6xhIBuB4=&f=4)
Omnivore
Folk rock soul, heartland rock ambitions, and arena rock swagger on the L.A. band's smart, powerful debut.
- Mark Deming
Matador
The former hardcore act fully embrace a moody, new post-punk sound on their fifth LP.
- Timothy Monger
Delphian
This program is absorbing from beginning to end as it is done here. Brilliantly diverse, gutsy, and very strongly recommended.
- James Manheim
Cleopatra
The Scott singer/songwriter explores his pop side (with help from six female duet partners) on this stellar offering.
- Thom Jurek
Decca
Casually virtuosic debut from the neo-outlaw songwriter who penned hits for Kenny Chesney and Darius Rucker.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
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
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
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
Orfeo
The biggest strength here, apart from Müller-Schott's muscular yet lyrical tone, is the choice of program. A thoroughly satisfying cello recital.
- James Manheim
Fire Records
The Swedish duo's second album is well-crafted and expansive, full of swirling keys, hypnotic female vocals, and soundtracky charm.
- Tim Sendra
Ribbon Music / Ribbon Records
The singular-sounding, rhythm-heavy Scottish art pop quartet is unique as ever on this excellent sophomore outing.
- Timothy Monger
Don Giovanni
Sax-enriched punk rock band cooks with righteous rage and inspiring joy on their first full album.
- Mark Deming
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
Emika Records
After the all-instrumental, mostly piano effort Klavírní, the artist returns with her third proper album of bewitching electro.
- David Jeffries
Harmonia Mundi
Music for 18 Musicians, Steve Reich's minimalist masterpiece, receives a brilliant performance by Brad Lubman and Ensemble Signal.
- Blair Sanderson
Cuneiform Records
Ambitious intergalactic electro-acoustic avant jazz opera continuing to document Chicago-based composer Rob Mazurek at his creative peak.
- Paul Simpson
Ipecac / Reclemation
Reunion set for the alt-rock pioneers is eclectic and unified, their best work since the confounding masterpiece Angel Dust.
- Mark Deming
Actes Sud / Musicales Actes Sud
This album of French pieces on Spanish themes shows Roth and his period instruments orchestra, Les Siècles, at their liveliest.
- Blair Sanderson
Mello Music Group
Usually a producer, Muldrow presents an album where she's strictly an MC and the results are excellent.
- David Jeffries
New West
Intelligent, charming, ambitious album from Howe Gelb's long-running band about the turbulent life of a touring musician.
- Mark Deming
Universal
Former Angry Young Man becomes the Larry David of pub rock, and it suits him perfectly on this sharp but laid-back set.
- Mark Deming
Flying Buddha
A double dose of dizzying brilliance from Erykah Badu's and Prince's favorite Australian avant-R&B band.
- Andy Kellman
4AD
The composer's fragmented, ethereal explorations of humanity and technology blur the line between intimate and invasive.
- Heather Phares
Domino
Paying tribute to vintage hip-hop, R&B and disco, the band's witty electro-pop sounds fresher than ever.
- Heather Phares
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
Masterworks
On his Sony Masterworks debut, the enigmatic songwriter teams with Larry Klein and comes up with a gem.
- Thom Jurek
Chandos
Andrew Davis and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra present a sonic showcase of works by Hector Berlioz, featuring violinist James Ehnes.
- Blair Sanderson
Harmonia Mundi
Beautifully recorded live at the Barbican Centre, this is a cornerstone Grieg recording for the 2010s.
- James Manheim
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
ECM
Legendary bassist celebrates his 80th birthday with a fine trio date playing career milestones and new tunes.
- Thom Jurek
Brainfeeder
A massive, accessible, revelatory debut by the veteran L.A. saxophonist, his large band, strings, and a choir.
- Thom Jurek
ECM
At 70, the pianist changes his method to produce a new solo work culled from five improvised performances.
- Thom Jurek
Stones Throw
The underground producer makes his beat tape debut the same year he lands a production on the landmark To Pimp a Butterfly.
- David Jeffries
Cosmica Records
A lush, inventive, and exciting debut from the eclectic Latin indie pop duo Sergio Mendoza and Luz Elena Mendoza.
- Timothy Monger
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
Hyperion
The Takács Quartet is gripping throughout. Highly recommended, evocative early Shostakovich, with excellent sound from England's Wyastone Estate concert hall.
- James Manheim
![#1 to Infinity [Bonus Track]](https://cdn-s3.allmusic.com/release-covers/400/0004/408/0004408602.jpg)
Legacy
Synchronized with a Caesar's Palace residency, all of the singer's number one pop hits from 1990-2008, plus a brand new song.
- Andy Kellman
Naxos
Marin Alsop and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra present two modernist masterpieces, Prokofiev's Third Symphony and his Scythian Suite.
- Blair Sanderson
Signum Classics
This St. John Passion by Chilcott is well thought out and original. Very strongly recommended.
- James Manheim
Shanachie
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
![Sylva [CD/DVD]](https://rovimusic.rovicorp.com/image.jpg?c=7SMlH_GE45cs4hDUm8M_exyhM-OFI8zG4l-qVpXXB1I=&f=4)
Impulse!
Brooklyn's jazz-funk heroes team with a symphony orchestra and swing hard in an ambitious groovefest.
- Thom Jurek
SFS Media
Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony present one of the most detailed and lucid presentations of Tchaikovsky's Fifth available.
- Blair Sanderson
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
Deutsche Grammophon
Myung-Whun Chung leads the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in a revelatory performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 9 in D major.
- Blair Sanderson
Chandos
Three orchestral works by Slovak composer Eugen Suchon are presented by Neeme Järvi and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra.
- Blair Sanderson
Mello Music Group
Inspired, infectious, and heavy, the underground rapper's tenth album is an excellent blast of retro soul and social commentary.
- David Jeffries
Play It Again Sam
Another fine collection of Radiohead and Alt-J-inspired, widescreen cinematic pop from the Oklahoma-based outfit.
- James Christopher Monger
Atlantic / Elektra / Parlophone / PRW / Warner Bros. / Warner Music
A spacy, soulful rebirth for Paul Weller.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Orfeo
Tenor Breslik's reading of Schubert's song cycle Die schöne Müllerin, where he has no shortage of competition, can only make his reputation grow.
- James Manheim
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
Temporary Residence
The composer and pianist returns with 11 outstanding new pieces that honor the joys and terrors of the world outside.
- Mark Deming
RJ's Electrical Connections
Up-and-coming rapper makes his debut with the veteran producer and the listener is the winner.
- David Jeffries
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
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
PentaTone Classics
Ozawa's quadraphonic recordings with the Boston Symphony of Ravel's orchestral works are an audiophile treat.
- Blair Sanderson
XL
The Las Vegas-based artist's debut album expands on the vibrant, genre-defying charm of his early singles.
- Heather Phares
Columbia
Pharrell executive produces an excellent throwback album of disco and funk-flavored party starters.
- David Jeffries
Honor Press
Debut album from this full-on noise punk band documents one of the longest and most impressive temper tantrums in history.
- Mark Deming
King's College Choir
Stephen Cleobury showcases the centuries-old organ of King's College, Cambridge, in works by Liszt, Mendelssohn, and Reubke.
- Blair Sanderson
Hyperion
Stephen Hough plays 27 selections from Grieg's collection of Lyric Pieces, which were composed between 1867 and 1901.
- Blair Sanderson
Steinway & Sons
Stewart Goodyear's second release for Steinway & Sons covers familiar ground with Rachmaninov's Second and Third piano concertos.
- Blair Sanderson
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
Raven / Raven Records
The group's first four albums -- and their biggest hits -- are combined with non-LP singles.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Nonesuch
Inspired collaboration between the genre-bending piano trio and the acclaimed jazz saxophonist.
- Matt Collar
Castle Face
After getting in touch with their softer side on Drop, the gnarly, noisy guitars are back on the band's sixth album in five years.
- Tim Sendra
Nonesuch
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
Burger Records
Israeli shoegaze trio pick up where their impressive 2013 debut left off.
- Paul Simpson
Godless-Hotspot
Another distinctive, high-quality album from the sly and sincere soul/funk/rock fusionist.
- Andy Kellman
Sinfonieorchester Basel / Solo Musica
Shakespeare's influence on Berlioz inspired some of his most impressive works, such as the King Lear Overture and Romeo and Juliet.
- Blair Sanderson
Atlantic / GC / Rhino
An obsessive fan's dream, this 14-disc deluxe box captures the band at an early peak with high-quality, dynamic sound.
- Thom Jurek
