Editors' Choice for November 2012

Excellent box set that captures 10cc in all their weird, wonderful glory.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Creeping, spellbinding menace from the "knackered house" sovereign, joined here by opera-trained singer Alison Skidmore and other voices.

— Andy Kellman

The R&B singer/songwriter's third eOne release is a typically easygoing but expressive set of open-hearted songs -- his best album since 2004.

— Andy Kellman

Lux marks yet another return to ambient music for Brian Eno; this one deceptively complex and adventurous.

— Thom Jurek

This collection of Renaissance dances by Praetorius and Brade is an example of historical period practice at its finest.

— Blair Sanderson

Christina Aguilera plays it safe and savvy on the satisfyingly streamlined Lotus.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

These darkly psychedelic excursions show just how versatile the band's signature sound actually is.

— Heather Phares

At once sad, pretty, angry, and danceable, this is some of Crystal Castles' finest -- and darkest -- music.

— Heather Phares

Dan Penn recorded these 24 tracks -- only one of which was previously released -- at Muscle Shoals, Alabama's Fame Studios between 1964 and 1966.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Alaska-born, California-based singer/songwriter returns to a more intimate, melodic folk sound on her third studio album.

— Matt Collar

The polychoral works of Giovanni Gabrieli receive stirring performances on this Hyperion CD, one of the finest releases of 2012.

— Blair Sanderson

Graham Parker reunites with his original band the Rumour for the warm, curmudgeonly Three Chords Good.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

A remarkably fluid, decades-spanning house set that incorporates tracks from heroes, collaborators, and Andrew Butler himself.

— Andy Kellman

The viral stars prove that there's more than just gimmickry to their music with their debut's evocative electronic pop.

— Heather Phares

This posthumous release of rarities from the now defunct post-metal icons explores the depths of the band's catalog.

— Gregory Heaney

The third in a series of singles compilations captures one of this immensely talented singer/songwriter's most vibrant creative periods.

— Fred Thomas

A solid set on par with her first two albums, this strictly R&B set features fruitful collaborations with Harmony, Jack Splash, and the-Dream.

— Andy Kellman

A cinematic, Baroque work that mixes '60s pop with soulful, Southern twang and draws upon the sound of Dusty Springfield and Jacques Brel.

— Matt Collar

25 years' worth of pop hits stylishly reimagined for small band and orchestra, and recorded at Abbey Road studios.

— Tim Sendra

An incredible compilation of unearthed acetate recordings from the peak of eccentric reggae producer's prolific Black Ark studio years.

— Fred Thomas

After the wild experimentation of Six Cups of Rebel, this album represents a more dancefloor-friendly return to basics.

— Tim Sendra

This set collects two of Marty Cooper's albums on one disc, 1972's A Minute of Your Time and 1979's If You Were a Singer.

— Steve Leggett

Michael Tilson Thomas' tribute to Cowell, Harrison, and Varèse is a brilliant showcase for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.

— Blair Sanderson

Rapper Murs and producer 9th Wonder end their streak of collaborative albums with one of their best.

— David Jeffries

Tantalizingly indirect and strangely uplifting, the Feeling's deconstructed grunge continues the spirit of the Pacific Northwest underground.

— Heather Phares

This release includes the Drones & Piano, Drones & Viola, and Drones & Violin EPs, as well as an extended new work.

— Thom Jurek

This collection from Oneohtrix Point Never's first three albums defines the act's distinctive approach to drone-based electronic music.

— Heather Phares

A nice set of 14 archival audio performances from TV appearances in 1962 and 1963, most of them drawn from WSM-TV's Pet Milk Grand Ole Opry show.

— Steve Leggett

With a voice like baritone honey, Como was born to sing Christmas songs. Luckily, he did. His entire RCA holiday catalog is here.

— Steve Leggett

Calling their style "daytime disco" makes perfect sense as the duo takes established disco tropes and bathes them in a sunshiney, post-chillwave atmosphere.

— Tim Sendra

A raw document of Sonic Youth in their hungry early days, this live set captures them at a white-hot peak that they'd never fully return to.

— Fred Thomas

Following a long gap between records and the birth of their son, this punk couple returns with songs of emotional complexity and subdued rage.

— Fred Thomas

The band's chiming C-86-inspired indie pop walks the fine line between sunny and melancholy, with all the songs sounding like A-sides.

— Tim Sendra

A crucially important document for fans of New Zealand's fabled indie rock heyday.

— Mark Deming

Detroit's Tyvek return with On Triple Beams, an album of lo-fi punk that feels like a basement show captured on tape.

— Gregory Heaney

Wildly entertaining compilation of songs written by the New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine