Amoeba Music

Robin Carolan's score for Nosferatu is haunting and remarkable. Written to accompany Robert Eggers' moody, monstrous 19th century-set tale, the compositions were inspired by a range of influences, including Bartok, Coil, lesser known Hammer horror films, and a Ukrainian film called The Eve of Ivan Kupalo . These mood-setting songs range from the sweeping and sublime to the doom-laden and dread-inducing. Young British classical artist Daniel Pioro serves as the orchestra leader and first chair of a group of musicians consisting of sixty string players, a full choir, ancient horns and woodwinds, a harp player and two percussionists. The Nosferatu soundtrack is a masterpiece. More

On Beethoven Blues , Juilliard-trained piano sensation Jon Batiste reaches back to his classical roots – and shakes the proverbial snowglobe. Embracing his years of classical training, he interweaves well-known pieces from Beethoven with flourishes of the jazz and blues of his native New Orleans. On Ludwig Van classics like “Für Elise,” “Symphony No. 5,” and “Ode to Joy” (becoming “Ode to Joyful” here), Batiste effortlessly traverses back and forth between the musical worlds. Sure to be embraced and applauded,  Beethoven Blues is another shining example of the singular talent of Jon Batiste. More

On his tongue-twister of a new album (Mahashmashana means "great cremation ground" in ancient Sanskrit), Josh Tillman - more popularly known as Father John Misty – deftly threads his acerbic wit into his trademark radiant vocals. The mood shifts frequently on songs like “Screamland,” which fluctuates from intensely personal and intimate to a soaring, epic chorus, and on “She Cleans Up,” Father John has recruited the raucous, red-hot Swedish punks Viagra Boys. You don’t need to be a Bronze Age scholar to appreciate the beauty of Mahashmashana . More

This one was worth the wait. As the duo Black Star, No Fear of Time was Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli's first release in two and a half decades. Originally released in 2022 as a digital only record, this excellent, Madlib-produced album is now available to hold in your hip-hop-loving hands. As you'd expect, the album is smart and timely, with standout beats that sometimes veer into the experimental. No Fear of Time is a consuming listen that'll keep you hitting rewind; there's something new to discover (or rediscover) on every track of this fantastic album. More

Chappell Roan’s Grammy-nominated debut album chronicles her move from Missouri to Los Angeles and focuses on love and self-discovery. Big pop hooks and strong vocals abound here, often tinged with melancholy. The energy rides high on the ultra-catchy but sweet-natured “Pink Pony Club” and the cathartic, breakup track, “My Kink is Karma.” Elsewhere “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” is edgy and funky with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. More

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

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 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 Linda Lindas prove once again that they are one of the coolest, most rock 'n' roll bands in music today. On No Obligation , the band serves up scathing punk and irresistible power pop, informed by riot grrrl, indie rock, new wave, post-punk, and garage. The Linda Lindas set the tone right out the gate with the title track, a blistering basement punk jam, before somehow seamlessly shifting to a gorgeous yet gritty, droll and catchy mode via "All in My Head." As the album progresses, the energy never stops, with the band joyfully experimenting (and succeeding) with genre after genre. No Obligation is a thoroughly enjoyable, full-speed-ahead odyssey through underground rock 'n' roll. More

The third album from indie folk singer/songwriter Christian Lee Hutson was inspired by his move from L.A. to NYC, and the welcome new perspective he gained. Featuring collaborations with artists like Phoebe Bridgers (“Flamingos”) - who also produced the record - and Maya Hawke (“Carousel Horses”), Paradise Pop. 10 offers gentle introspection and a relatable wistfulness. Highlights include the shimmering ballad “After Hours” and the lively closing track “Beauty School,” featuring Katy Kirby. More

The much-buzzed about MJ Lenderman returns with some of the finest work of his brief yet dazzling career. Manning Fireworks is autumnal and essentially lonesome, a record that feels warm, gracious, and ever-so-slightly optimistic, even as Lenderman chronicles the unrepentant foibles and failures of his songs' characters. The music is twangy, fuzzed out, and gritty: it's the sound of epic yet angsty nights out where the lines blur between melancholic hedonism and letting the good times roll. Going nowhere fast has never sounded so good. More

Sarah Jarosz seventh studio album, Polaroid Lovers , delivers her viscerally potent and resplendent brand of folk-rock, while exploring the ephemeral moments that indelibly shape our lives. The alchemy of Jarosz's finely wrought lyricism, gorgeous vocal work, and virtuosic yet unfettered musicality creates an album-long meditation on love and longing. More

Taking its name from the infamous Georgia recording studio, Capricorn is a big step in the evolution of Atlanta bluesman Eddie 9V. Whether it’s the N’awlins funk of lead single “Yella Alligator” or the simmering ‘70s soul of “Are We Through” or “How Long,” Eddie 9V spreads his wings and flies across the genres and decades on Capricorn . More