Editors' Choice for November 2013

Album cover for Aljawal

Aljawal

Soundway

The French producer and Sudanese singer collaborate on songs that are traditional, futuristic, and continually fascinating.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Eve

Eve

Embassy One

Recorded in Greater Manchester, England after fruitless sessions and a near split, the duo's fifth album is among their best output.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Free Your Mind

Free Your Mind

Loma Vista / Modular Recordings

The band's fourth album finds them working a '90s influence, from acid house to Black Box, into their already expansive electro pop sound.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Baptized

Baptized

RCA

The former American Idol finalist finally lightens up on his fourth album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for No Love Deep Web

No Love Deep Web

Harvest / Universal Music
Rap

The revolutionary hip-hop crew offer an album much more approachable and sane than its controversial cover art would suggest.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Shine Your Light

Shine Your Light

Burger Records

Taking a giant step away from the fuzzy psych of their debut, this gets deep into some woozy synth pop but keeps the hooky tunes.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Shangri La

Shangri La

Island / Virgin EMI

The budding singer/songwriter teams up with roots rock maven Rick Rubin for an electrified second album.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Harlem River

Harlem River

Woodsist

Debut record from Babies singer and Woods bassist echoes the classic Greenwich Village era with a love letter to New York.

— Timothy Monger

Album cover for The Long Way Home

The Long Way Home

Elefant

Invokes the sunshine pop of the Left Banke, the music box melodrama of Edward Scissorhands, and the breezy lunacy of Twiggy.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Antiphon

Antiphon

ATO

Midlake's fourth outing may find the group with a new bandleader, but they still love the '70s.

— James Christopher Monger

Album cover for Midnight Memories

Midnight Memories

Sony Music Entertainment / Syco Music

The group's third album is undeniably catchy and fun, this time with more folk-pop and rock & roll in the mix.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Fevers

Fevers

Plowboy

On their Plowboy debut, the artist, band, and guests rip it up on a batch of killer songs crackling with live energy and studio savvy.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Hinterland

Hinterland

Ghostly International

Pared down and emotionally stirring techno from Ghostly International signing Lorenz Brunner.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Saâda Bonaire

Saâda Bonaire

Captured Tracks

Captured Tracks' terrific reissue makes this mysterious, disco-meets-Middle Eastern act's music widely available for the first time.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Yours to Discover

Yours to Discover

Last Gang Records

After a five-year wait, the Death from Above 1979 drummer's second solo album is a synth-filled, energy-packed burst of power pop excitement.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Touch

Touch

Twenty Seven Records

Icy, Drive soundtrack-inspired synth pop from a San Francisco duo who give the sound a very sad, very human touch.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for I Need You Bad

I Need You Bad

Polyvinyl

Excellent collection of noisy pop and weird psych folk bands from the Bay Area, expertly curated by Sonny Smith.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Surfing Strange

Surfing Strange

Wichita

With their second album, this fuzzy punk-pop act are heavier, moodier, and more mature but no less instantly exciting.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Boot!

Boot!

The Thing Records

Now on its own label, this European punk-jazz power trio delivers a powerful set of originals and revisioned jazz standards.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for I Am

I Am

Epic
Rap

With satisfying street numbers and towering highlights, the Memphis rapper steps his album game up with his strongest release to date.

— David Jeffries