Editors' Choice for October 2011

Album cover for The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years

IWW Music Group / Koch / Traffic Entertainment Group
Rap

The Wonder Years is the North Carolina producer and former Little Brother member’s first high-profile solo effort.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Call It Blazing

Call It Blazing

Lefse Records

A Classic Education's debut album is instant classic indie rock that conjures up blurry ghosts of Galaxie 500 and early Shins without sacrificing the band's own laid-back identity.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Biophilia

Biophilia

Universal

Biophilia explores humanity’s relationships with sound and the universe in an educational, emotional, and uniquely approachable way.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Black Rainbows

Black Rainbows

Ba Songs / Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson returns to rock on Black Rainbows, and it's his strongest, most confident solo album yet.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Rapprocher

Rapprocher

Carpark Records

On their beguiling debut full-length record, Class Actress split the difference between icy synth pop and fuzzy chillwave with plenty of drama provided by Elizabeth Harper's powerful vocals.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Breaks in the Armor

Breaks in the Armor

Merge

Recorded with Pixies live engineer Matt Yelton, the album finds the singer and guitarist with another album of plaintive, wonderfully understated songs.

— Gregory Heaney

Album cover for Lo & Behold

Lo & Behold

Cantora Records

Emil & Friends' full-length debut takes listeners on a sprawling, otherworldly journey through pop, R&B, electronica, folk and more.

— Chrysta Cherrie

Album cover for Life Teachings

Life Teachings

VP Records

On his third major release, the reggae artist continues to mix the political with the romantic.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Reverie

Reverie

Anti-

Joe Henry's Reverie is among his most ambitious, poetically moveing, and organic recordings.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Fastlife

Fastlife

Hollywood
R&B

Joe Jonas' first post-Jonas Brothers album is a glittering, slinky slice of post-Timberlake dance-pop that is as impressive as it is entertaining.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Twirligig

Twirligig

Stones Throw

This mysterious yet adorable bit of electronica is multi-instrumentalist, producer, and vocalist Jonti’s debut album.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Siberia

Siberia

Last Gang Records

A more mature, sonically sophisticated approach to her synth-driven melodic pop.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for How Do You Do

How Do You Do

Universal Republic
R&B

The neo-soul singer makes his major-label debut with this nostalgic, Motown-loving success.

— David Jeffries

Album cover for Glass Swords

Glass Swords

Warp

Rustie's first album is an overwhelming amalgamation of unhip and hip sources, from late-'80s synth rock to state-of-the-art bass music.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Creatures of An Hour

Creatures of An Hour

Sub Pop

Drenched in reverb and layered with the haunting vocals of singer Tessa Murray, Still Corners' debut album delivers mysterious psychedelic pop with an expansive, cinematic feeling.

— Tim Sendra

Album cover for Complete

Complete

Rhino / Warner Bros.

With its exceptional remastering of the Smiths' four albums, three compilations, and lone live album, this set is essential listening for the band's fans.

— Rovi Staff

Album cover for Live Music

Live Music

Rough Trade

The Strange Boys sound rootsy, fresh, and straight from the heart of Austin, Texas on their third album.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Clancy's Tavern

Clancy's Tavern

Show Dog Nashville / Show Dog Universal Music

Toby Keith hoists a "Red Solo Cup" and parties on Clancy's Tavern.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album cover for Bad as Me

Bad as Me

Anti-

On Bad as Me, Tom Waits delivers a tightly written set of songs based in blues, vintage rhythm & blues, jazz, and rockabilly.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams
Various Artists

The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams

Columbia / Smi Col

For this imperfect yet resonant project, an all-star cast of artists wrote and performed new songs that breath life into lyrics Hank Williams left behind.

— Rovi Staff

Album cover for Guitar Slinger

Guitar Slinger

MCA Nashville / Universal

After being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vince Gill delivers yet another reason why with Guitar Slinger.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for Conatus

Conatus

Sacred Bones

With abstract electronics and searing vocals, Zola Jesus' third album paints a striking portrait of the times when crisis and opportunity meet.

— Heather Phares