![Album cover for What If [Original Score]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004216094/front/220/F3NKq3zKPuFCXq7_duRQSz6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
Newman's first foray into film composing sounds exactly like one would expect from the head New Pornographer.
The traditional singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist delivers an inspired offering produced by M.C. Taylor
The band's second album isn't a departure from their first, but does feature a moodier garage psych sound and improved songs.
The 2012 Mercury Prize winners' sophomore outing does little to tarnish their reputation as choirboys with dark passengers.
Beyer's violin seems almost to bloom from its surroundings, and the playing of all the musicians has a most attractive combination of crispness and warmth.
Joyous, earthy celebrations of American popular song by one of the greatest voices in modern jazz.
Meticulously edited patchwork of dense and otherworldly synth sounds from former members of Labradford.
Anchored by bass lines that zip and glide, this is one of Richard D. James' most inviting releases, a bright progression from his Analord series.
![Album cover for The Nature of Connections [LP]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004218533/front/220/ErPbMRCG04AS9IgxknGoOA4Q1ghY8VaPylnm7PwcKNY=.jpg)
The Norwegian trumpeter delivers a beautifully wrought collection that walks between folk-inflected chamber jazz and neo-classical music.
Crafty psych-pop gems that blend the shifty art rock of MGMT with the refined pop acumen of Sufjan Stevens.
Pianist Billy Childs celebrates the music of the late folksinger Laura Nyro.
The second offering by the guitarist, singer, and songwriter is unassuming, poetic, and quite sophisticated. Fiona Apple, Jon Brion, and a fine cast assist.
The band's ninth album fashions whispers of Krautrock, chamber folk, and electro-pop into bewitching, quietly audacious songs.
It's certainly not a commercial clampdown, but the avant rapper is more approachable than ever on this excellent effort.
Three of John Harbison's most accessible chamber works are performed with clarity and candor by Camerata Pacifica.
This is an unassailable recording made during the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1990; one of the pair's earliest duet meetings.
A deeply subtle and finely tuned ambient multimedia work by this captivating San Francisco artist.
First album of new original material since 2008 finds these alt-folk champions sounding optimistic and even giddy at times.
Third album (and first in six years) from glam-minded songwriter takes a turn toward beachy vocal harmonies and dusty production.
The duo return with an album that has all the fiery hard rock power of their debut, but also power poppy tautness and hooks galore.
The electro-roots rockers' most cohesive (and television- and film-ready) collection of songs to date.
First album without guest vocalists from this producer known for pioneering the merger of electronica and indie rock.
The band delivers heaviness and melody on this bleak , sublime set with guest vocals form Mark Lanegan and Rabia Shaheen Qazi.
On her return to original material, the Canadian pianist and songwriter delivers a striking new direction. Lionel Loueke guests.
An evocative, brutal, wily, and occasionally wistful set of post-hardcore-, prog-metal-, and ambient pop-fueled confections.
The veteran synth pop duo attack the "return to form" album as if it weren't a cliche on this great, club-worthy comeback.
The trio's Steve Albini-produced third studio album is a muscular and stripped-down affair.
François-Xavier Roth and his extraordinary period instrument ensemble Les Siècles re-create the original 1913 version of Le Sacre du printemps.
The mad, twisted debut by this international project dishes up head-on collisions between garage psych, funk, samba, and tropicalia.
Well-chosen and timely career-spanning collection of tracks from the noisy California indie rockers who became Beachwood Sparks.
All of Harrison's six albums for Apple are remastered and boxed in this handsome set that contains bonus tracks.
The My Chemical Romance leader's solo debut blends futuristic rock of the '70s with the attitude of '80s college rock
The literate, evocative, synth pop-infused full-length debut from the Australian songwriter.
Jad and David Fair celebrate the joys of life in the modern world, with some help from John Dieterich of Deerhoof.
On their Merge Records debut, M.C Taylor and band emerge from the Southern Gothic darkness to deliver a gem.
The skilled rapper combines street knowledge and progressive lyrics on his proud and vibrant sophomore release.
In Flames continue their move from the melodic death metal they helped pioneer to a more sprawling, progressive sound on their 11th studio album.
A marvelous tribute that still retains its own shape and coherency.
Rick Ross, Game, and Jay-Z join the Atlanta rapper on this excellent effort featuring "Me OK" and "Seen It All."
The singer's predominantly uptempo third album features three collaborations with Pharrell Williams and other neo-disco moves.
This quartet of skilled improvisers sparks creative anarchy in the moment -- the results are utterly thrilling.
A storied, long lost live performance recorded eight months before the saxophonist's death is restored here in full.
Spare, mournful set of songs about heartache in various forms; beautifully crafted, but takes its sadness very seriously.
The Texas singer/songwriter's '60s pop-influenced third studio album, with production from Mitchell Froom.
On this big, bright record, the veteran arena-country singer refurbishes his signature sound to suit the modern era.
Softer and smaller than usual, but the Norwegian electronica artist is still alluring on this wonderfully warm effort.
Third album from this glam-garage act offers heavy but catchy fare and boundary-pushing production.
![Album cover for Laura Jean [LP]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004225745/front/220/Ob6PV25DabdlrhXQpCuM-A4Q1ghY8VaPylnm7PwcKNY=.jpg)
The Australian songwriter delivers a strikingly intimate and deeply affecting record of spare beauty.
A warm, intimate, and resonant career reboot from the veteran country singer.
An unapologetically swaggering, intoxicatingly fun collection of disco, glam, and soul that's Kravitz's best record in years.
Two days after his 80th birthday, the iconic songwriter and producer Patrick Leonard deliver a riveting collection of nine new songs.
The four Ds -- decay, death, depression, and drinking -- all make appearances in this wonderfully biting, superbly crafted new collection.
Getting older blows and divorce sucks, but that doesn't mean C.K. can't make them funny, as he does on this excellent effort.
The singer/songwriter's first album for her own label is a grand-scale exploration of heart, soul, mind, and groove.
Fourth album from this blues and jazz revivalist shows he can play with fire and skill while sounding like a true gentleman.
Gorgeous debut from Canadian producer offers avant garde vocal sampling, minimal electronic beats and a coldly beautiful pop core.
Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin's dystopian novel, Turner delivers this deeply thoughtful pianoless quartet recording.
Markus Stenz concludes his exceptional audiophile cycle of Mahler's symphonies with the Ninth and the Adagio from the Tenth.
Between Marshall Allen's brilliant track selection and the remastered sound, this set is essential for fans and a good starting place for a novice.
First album under his own name by ex-Boo Radleys/Brave Captain leader is full of the rousing guitar pop that made those two bands great.
Impressive debut album by a noisy Australian trio that plays it straight and simple, but with plenty of thunderingly good hooks.
On this captivating solo outing, the pianist revisits and re-envisions some of his musical travels and juxtaposes them with bracing new tunes.
The trio's third album retains the art rock direction of their previous release, but adds more energy and sharper hooks.
![Album cover for Tical [Deluxe Edition]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004216858/front/220/cXeJNW92wKl-dTY23iKdUd_M69_UI9rrJSVvWL2-yAg=.jpg)
The Wu-Tang Clan member's debut album is a stunning, violent, and tuneful rap classic, here featuring a bonus disc of remixes and singles.
The L.A. singer travels to Brazil and delivers a heartfelt collection of its songs, aided by a stellar cast of younger musicians.
On his first record in 13 years, the Brazilian songwriter delivers an intimate, spacious, nearly perfect collection of simple yet elegant songs.
The project's first album in three years combines high art and pop into some of her most exciting, fully realized music.
Saint-Saëns' two cello concertos are played vigorously by Natalie Clein, in recordings with Andrew Manze and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
The Nostalgia 77 back catalog gets the dub treatment from the underappreciated and excellent Prince Fatty.
Chilly Gonzales and Boys Noize join forces for a side project that sounds like so much more on this elegant debut.
Oscillator Bug makes its debut with an album of delightfully fractured indie pop straight from the uncanny valley.
More clever and hook-fortified rock & roll from the veteran power pop firebrand.
The second installment of the band's trilogy of albums inspired by classic movies offers a thrilling riff on vintage low-budget horror.
Mike Hadreas' bold, terrifying, and heartbreaking third album features Portishead's Adrian Utley and PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish.
Recording at Justin Vernon's studio, the songwriter-producer delivers her most intimate, understated, and generous recording.
Andrea Mangia returns with a collection of globally minded fantasias full of surreal sonic depth.
Philly noise pop band returns with a more lighthearted version of its '90s-styled melodic fuzz rock.
![Album cover for Live at the Rainbow '74 [Deluxe Edition]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004213386/front/220/Sl2ue4_-ABprRglXrHnxtD6KsMttLlyBmmVTZ6_CLs0=.jpg)
Early live set from Queen showcases the band testing their limits on the verge of becoming great.
Plant returns to the mysticism of England without abandoning the shape-shifting, genre-bending sound of Band of Joy.
Cannily constructed, sometimes emotionally vulnerable re-creation of the golden age of studio rock from the savvy singer/songwriter.
Sakari Oramo presents Elgar's First Symphony in an audiophile recording that compares favorably with two landmark recordings.
Guest guitar work from the always innovative Bill Frisell contributes to what may be this experimental folksinger's best work.
The spirit, charm, and songwriting smarts of these Boston roots rockers captured in 23 tracks (all but one unreleased).
A master class in elegant, slow-building dream pop from this lovely Montreal-based artist.
The former Yura Yura Teikoku founder's post-apocalyptic lounge is thought-provoking, musically dazzling, and sometimes bewildering.
Using his divorce as inspiration and adding some fire to his sophisticated style, this is the songwriter's most impressive album yet.
Career-spanning collection of drama-filled, endlessly melodic indie pop from one of the style's best, and most under-rated, practitioners.
An appealing anthology from the Dayton funk great that combines classics with previously unreleased and recently completed material.
Clever -- and satisfying -- double album containing a solo side from each member of the progressive power pop band.
The trio's third album further refines their sound while doling out a bracing batch of perfectly arranged modern pop.
Debut album by a gang of Pavement-Sonic Youth-Fall worshipers that has enough punch and vinegar to escape their idols' shadows.
Their second album is a nice progression that adds some depth and feel to the band's already impressive shoegaze revivalism.
The band's third album adds some obvious '80s elements, and further synthesizes and improves their unique brand of dance-pop.
Excellent collection that gathers up some very worthwhile stray tracks from the French garage pop band.
Unexpectedly fun SoCal tribute from the Good Charlotte co-leaders that evokes soft pop from all different eras.
Crackling energy and eerie themes come through in high definition from this long-running, spooky, rockabilly act.
The indie rock trio's third long-player is big enough for arenas, but it's made for barns.
The Irish trio's fourth studio album of anthemic, lyrical rock infused with Celtic spirit.
Third album from Texas post-rock band explores wobbly tape delays and drony textures.
Second album from Montreal quartet merges sophisticated '80s pop and blurry home-recorded production.
Torch Runner's devastating third album proves that when it comes to catharsis, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
The trip-hop veteran diversifies without losing the plot on his excellent and inspired album number ten.
Jeff Tweedy teams up with his son Spencer for a set of personal, intimate songs informed by love and family crises.
The producer's blunt, industrial-tinged second album makes for riveting, if uneasy, listening.
These dynamite suites are fantastically performed by the composer, Henry Threadgill, Jack DeJohnette, and John Lindberg.
The French duo's third album was overseen by pop hitmaker Dr. Luke, but remains true to their fun-loving, totally left-field pop ways.
Second album from this Books spinoff improves greatly on the first with more spacious and thoughtful compositions.
Third album from this Canadian indie pop band may not be a classic, but it certainly ranks with their best work.