Editors' Choice for September 2021

Album cover for In the Meantime

In the Meantime

Def Jam

On what could be titled The Even Greater Pains of Being Grown, the singer/songwriter balances personal turmoil with heightened melodicism.

— Andy Kellman

Album cover for Only the End

Only the End

Felte

Highlighted by a duet with Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a second album of touching, reverb-washed reflections from Vancouver's Ashley Webber.

— Marcy Donelson

Album cover for War Garden

War Garden

Like

Hannah Lew and company muse on humankind's ability to both grieve and thrive during difficult times with vaporous yet resilient synth pop.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Away

Away

Morr Music

Two decades after Dntel's breakthrough, Jimmy Tamborello proves he's still on the vanguard of combining uncannily pristine synth pop with real, imperfect emotions.

— Heather Phares

Album cover for Dear America

Dear America

Provogue

The artist offers a tender, poignant manifesto of love and empathy to a land, history, and people that haven't always loved him back.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for JOSE

JOSE

Universal

In contrast to 2020's concise and isolated Colores, the Colombian superstar's sixth LP embraces a bright smattering of styles across a lengthy, collaborative track list.

— David Crone

Album cover for Dear Love

Dear Love

Empress Legacy Records

A transcendent big band album from the Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, songwriter, and arranger.

— Matt Collar

Album cover for Going Going Gone

Going Going Gone

Stones Throw

The third album from this warped soft rock project dissects straightforward soul, lounge, and tropical jazz styles with confusing, wonderful results.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Surrounded

Surrounded

Bobo Integral

The debut full-length from this Canadian trio finds a sweet spot between jangly college rock and energetic post-punk.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)

Side-Eye NYC (V1.IV)

Modern Recordings

This live trio outing with Marcus Gilmore and James Francies offers older material and new work played with elasticity, adventure, and warmth.

— Thom Jurek

Album cover for The Witness

The Witness

Joyful Noise

The fifth album from Montreal experimental rock trio is an immersive, metered listening experience made up of constant understated movement.

— Fred Thomas

Album cover for Disco 75
Various Artists

Disco 75

Robinsongs
R&B

Three diverse discs of 1974 and 1975 body-movers sourced from contemporaneous disco charts published by Billboard, Record World, and Blues & Soul.

— Andy Kellman