Amoeba Music

The rapper’s third mixtape earned her three Grammy nominations for its quirky beats, clever lyrics, and incorporation of genres like jazz rap, EDM, and soul. “Boom Bap” is a highlight with its funny lyrics criticizing the supposed rules of the hip-hop genre. “Denial is a River” has a fun throwback vibe with equally witty rhymes, while “WAIT” is a smoother R&B-inflected number. More

Jennifer Hudson’s first holiday album pairs beloved classics with fresh originals, featuring her gorgeous vocals at the helm. One highlight is a striking version of “Carol of The Bells” with South African group The Joy, whose voices soar dramatically around hers. Common is another guest, lending gentle spoken word verses to “Almost Christmas.” More

On her first new album since 2017's You Make It Feel Like Christmas , Gwen Stefani revels in assessable pop-rock melodies with a few hints of country. Her characteristically personal lyrics contrast the pain of her past with her current happy marriage, delivered in her still lovely vocals. “Somebody Else’s” is an infectious, cathartic number and “Pretty” is a sweet, relatable ballad. Another strong track is the upbeat and romantic “Late To Bloom.” More

Finneas continues to push the sound of pop music forward with the excellent For Cryin' Out Loud . These are songs that, with their infectious hooks, will gleefully bop around your head, while their relatable lyrics will keep you coming back for more hurts-so-good enjoyment. Finneas ably fuses nostalgia for the epic, bouncy pop of the '80s and '90s with indie rock influences to create smart, satisfying songs. For Cryin Out Loud is a wonderful showcase for Finneas' versatile gifts as a producer and performer. More

Michael Kiwanuka makes music that feels timeless. With production assistance from Danger Mouse and Inflo and featuring bass legend Pino Palladino (D’Angelo, Beyoncé) and Jimmy Jam, Small Changes is a future classic. Soulful, grooved out, with searing guitar work, these tracks are effortlessly cool and incredibly affecting. "Floating Parade" is sublimely beautiful, with a cinematic '70s funk and soul vibe. "Lowdown" is brooding and brilliant, a melancholy gem shot through with a glimmer of hope. Small Changes is a must hear. More

UFO’s 1978 classic album Obsession has received a deluxe edition 2CD reissue. The set includes a new remaster of the album from the original tapes, plus a new mix by Brian Kehew of “Live at The Agora Ballroom, Cleveland” from the Strangers In The Night  live album, as well as new liner notes with interviews with Phil Mogg, Andy Parker and Michael Schenker. More

Ultravox’s 1984 masterpiece Lament gets the deluxe anniversary treatment in this 5LP box set. The clear color 140-gram vinyl set includes a new remaster of the original album, extended remixes by Moby, Steve Wilson, Blank & Jones, and Midge Ure, plus a full 1984 concert recording from Hammersmith Odeon. Fans of romantic New Wave singles like “Lament” and “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes” can rejoice in this deluxe reissue. More

All these years later, X still sounds uniquely raucous, cool, and on the razor's edge. The legendary punk band's ninth studio album, Smoke & Fiction , feels like it could've come straight from the band's '80s heyday, while still feeling modern, urgent, and unlike anyone else. The songs are driving, intense, and compelling with that familiar punk meets surf meets country that equates to X's version of LA Noir. Out on Fat Possum, the band says Smoke & Fiction is their final album and as X looks back on the heady days of their youth, it feels like a fitting (and fantastic) final chapter. More

It’s been 4 long years since post-hardcore heroes Touché Amoré have dropped an album, but that comes to an end with Spiral In A Straight Line . With super producer Ross Robinson returning at the helm, both the band and producer deftly channel their personal turmoil and struggles during the creation of Spiral into a sonic therapy session of emotion. Spiral also features appearances by indie luminaries Lou Barlow on “Subversion (Brand New Love)”, and Julien Baker on the closing track, “Goodbye For Now.” More

The Bad Plus have returned with their 16th studio album, featuring new members Ben Monder on guitar and Chris Speed on saxophone. Their avant-garde instrumental compositions continue to thrill, as evidenced by the lovely album opener “Grid/Ocean” and the stirring “French Horns.” The crossover appeal of these dynamic tracks makes it easy to see why the group is acclaimed by rock critics as well as jazz and classical. More

Tears for Fears are back with both new and live music on Songs for a Nervous Planet . The English duo kick off the album with 4 brand new studio tracks. The rest of the double album is a live recording of a career-spanning set recorded in Franklin, TN on their 2023 Tipping Point Tour. Featuring both newer numbers and smash hits like "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Shout," this is a must-have for any Tears For Fears fan. More

Focused, subtle, honest and beautiful. This album is clearly personal and sounds like a mature culmination of all that Sufjan Stevens has been toying with up to this point. It’s consistent with itself and a powerful listen. More

This vinyl reissue of the 1987 debut album by the late Irish singer/songwriter, featuring the original European cover photo, is a welcome treat for fans. The Lion and The Cobra introduced the world to O’Connor’s distinctive, powerful voice and vulnerable lyrics. Punctuated by swelling strings, “Troy” is a stirring, melancholy gem, while “I Want Your (Hands On Me)” is funky ‘80s pop perfection. “Mandinka” is another highlight with its ultra-catchy chorus and infectious vocal wails. More

Rough & Ready hits the spot. South Londoner Ruthven knows his musical history, creating an ultra fresh blend of classic funk, '70s R&B and Prince-inspired rock 'n' roll that's beguiling, vivid, and life-affirming. The songs are seductive and lush, the type of tracks that make every moment spent listening feel more alive. This sparkling, soaring record is a testament to Ruthven's latent star power. A future classic. More

Minnesota alt-rockers Remo Drive downshift and choose a slightly different path on Mercy . Showcasing a more restrained, stripped bare and melancholy sound, the edginess of previous albums is set aside for a Weezer-ey alt-pop sound. The mood on Mercy has plenty of peaks and valleys - the bouncy "No, There's No Hope for You" is a contrast to the slow bluesy waltziness of "All You'll Ever Catch" and "Hold You." More

The legendary Pixies are back with another excellent and intriguing new LP. The Night the Zombies Came is as imaginative and unexpected as its goofy title. The tracks incorporate a number of genre flourishes into the band's edgy, electrifying rock 'n' roll sound. Traces of beguiling British folk, moody murder ballads, gospel-like choruses, relentless punk rock, and twangy Spaghetti Western imbue the album with a scintillating darkness that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. This is an album you won't be able to get enough of. More

Indian rock band Peter Cat Recording Co. deliver the psych rock goods on their new album BETA . Brimming with ‘60s and ‘70s grooves, these melodic tracks are helmed by Suryakant Sawhney’s smooth vocals, and tinged with bossa nova, psychedelia, and Indian folk pop. The opening track, “Flowers R. Blooming,” is a whimsical, experimental mashup of sounds, while “Foolmuse” could be a loungier Arctic Monkeys tune. Elsewhere, “Black and White” incorporates an unexpected disco beat on this eclectic, absorbing album. More

The latest from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds is as ecstatic, strange, and questing as life itself. Wild God runs the gamut from the rollicking and picaresque to the poignant and extraordinary. The album feels radical in its belief in beauty and transcendence after the darkest nights; the power of the band's earlier excursions into the murk and the mire still rumbles beneath these compositions, even as they showcase the surprising twists and turns of our time here on this mortal coil. Cave has said that "joy" was considered as a title for this album and while the phrase "Wild God" packs in more of the mystery and awe of the experience, joy is certainly an appropriate descriptor of the way you'll feel while listening. More

The fifth studio album from the metalcore favorites revels in gut-punching tracks filled with brutal, downtuned guitars and throat-ripping vocals. “Darwinism” is a crunchy headbanger with blunt, angry lyrics while “Supreme Ruler” is a short but sweet, apocalyptic blast with a few brief words about death. “Mud” stands out for its dronier rhythm and dramatic pauses, but otherwise Kublai Khan stick to what they do best, which is going straight for the jugular. More

Kamasi Washington's Fearless Movement is absolutely sensational. Washington continues to cement his status as one of our greatest living jazz artists, despite his breakthrough album, The Epic , coming out under ten years ago. These tracks are fiercely alive, experimental, and full throttle. Guests include George Clinton, Thundercat, Taj Austin, Ras Austin, Patrice Quinn, DJ Battlecat, Brandon Coleman, D-Smoke, Bj the Chicago Kid, and Andre 3000. A triumphant album, sometimes celestial and twinkling, other times raucous and rooted. More