Amoeba Music

Temporary , the new record from producer Richard Russell's Everything is Recorded project, is a jewel of an album. XL Recordings says it "might be one of the gentlest records ever made about death"...it's also probably one of the most vibrant. Grief and loss are underlying themes; there are jarring moments as well as tender, sweet moments and fantastically experimental ones. Russell's eclectic cast of collaborators is filled with heavy hitters, each of whom leaves their own signature on the album's sound. Kamasi Washington, Sampha, Bill Callahan, Noah Cyrus, Maddy Prior, Berwyn, Alabaster Deplume, Jah Wobble, Yazz Ahmed, Laura Groves, Rickey Washington, Roses Gabor, Jack Pe?ate, Samantha Morton, Clari Freeman-Taylor, Nourished By Time, and Florence Welch all make appearances on this astonishing album. More

Architects return with a blistering, disturbingly beautiful album. On The Sky, The Earth and All Between , the band's fierce, pummeling sound is punctuated by anguished, sweeping choruses and quieter moments of introspection. Architects skillfully juxtapose the album's most intense, growling, threatening heights with addictive, anthemic melodies that give the record its emotional center. A punishing, powerful collection of tracks that will keep fans returning. More

Sharon Van Etten returns with a new band and a new sound. Her new self-titled album with The Attachment Theory is grandiose, exhilarating, and no holds barred. Rooted in post-punk, the album is cinematic and moody, with moments bridging shoegaze, Krautrock, goth rock, and bristling electronica. Rich in atmosphere, with sweeping soundscapes and bigger than life choruses, these songs will make you swoon. More

Maribou State return with Hallucinating Love , an album celebrating kindness, companionship, and care — just when it seems like the world is in short supply. The album was written after a particularly challenging period for Chris Davids and Liam Ivory, both on a personal and a global level. Their solution? Write an album “about being in a dark place, a place of struggle, and then looking forward to bright futures,” as Davids put it. That's the vibe of this gentle, gorgeous electronic album. With guest appearances from Holly Walker, Andreya Triana, North Downs, and Gaidaa, Hallucinating Love feels as warm and welcoming as the ecstatic and enveloping love it describes. More

Seeing The National live is a magnificent, revelatory experience. The vocals are urgent and insistent, the melodies driving and powerful, the mood elevated and transformative. The band's new live concert album, Rome , will transport listeners to a very special night under the stars of the Italian city, circa summer 2024. Listening to these twenty-one relentless tracks, it's easy to get caught up in the compelling, intense atmosphere of the band's performances. Rome is The National at their addictive, epic best. 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

His fifth studio album finds the Canadian singer/songwriter doing some soul searching after taking a break from touring to focus on his mental health. This is evidenced by the gently upbeat “Why Why Why” with its introspective lyrics and a renewed joy in life. The ballad “Isn’t That Enough” offers a similar sense of cautious euphoria while “Heart of Gold” is a heartfelt tribute to an old friend who died from an overdose. 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

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have created an absolute stunner of an album with Woodland . This is some of the most gripping, evocative, and moving Americana in years. Of course, Welch and Rawlings are eminently gifted artists, but perhaps some of the album's power is due to its source of inspiration. Named after the duo's Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, TN where it was recorded, the album is imbued with the deep love, devastation, hope, and renewal that mirrors their experience of rebuilding the studio after it was destroyed in a tornado four years ago. Woodland the album holds the beauty and terror of existence in its tender hands, a record of resilience, belief, and emotional connection in the midst of trying times. More

Fresh, smart, and invigorating, Oddisee's People Hear What They See sounds as vital today as it did when it was first released all the way back in 2012. Oddisee's production is next-level: lush and evocative, sparkling and sensual. His delivery as an MC is irresistible and energetic. This gorgeous album deserves another spin and thankfully, with this top-notch reissue, fans will get another chance. A splendid, sensational record. More

BoyWithUke's latest album is also planned as his last under the moniker. Burnout finds strength in vulnerability, as Charley Yang gets introspective and open on these genre-hopping, enjoyable songs. "Can You Feel It?" opens with plaintive keys, building a poignant, delicate mood before the percussion kicks in and the anxiety ramps up. "Ghost" is wistful and bittersweet, a love letter to a relationship gone by. Burnout is a beautiful, dynamic album with arrangements that surprise and delight and lyrics that feel oh-so-relatable. 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 latest from Jonah Yano is a thing of rare beauty. Deeply romantic and incredibly creative, Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop is a lush, dreamy, intoxicating mix of jazz, soul, rock, ambient, and folk music. Yano's voice is silky sweet and nostalgia-inducing, the sonic equivalent of a rainstreaked autumn day spent gazing wistfully out the window. Regular collaborators Clairo, Helena Deland, and Ouri make guest appearances that add to the dreamy, devastatingly lovely atmosphere. Jonah Yano is a singular talent and this album is exquisite. More

The mad masterpiece that is The Blood Brothers' Crimes album is getting a 20th-anniversary reissue. The band's intense blend of post-hardcore, post-punk, a bit of funk, and a lot of frenzied weirdness still sounds utterly arresting, unlike anything else out there. Out on bubblegum pink and baby blue vinyl, it's a limited release that captures the full-throttle pleasures of the band's live shows. An exhilarating, raucous, and unpredictable thrill ride of an album. More

The latest from Being Dead is just ridiculously good. On Eels , the Austin rockers deliver a delightfully unpredictable, totally intoxicating collection of songs that effortlessly segues from downcast post-punk to near-dreampop. Dark and light frolic hand-in-hand through these arresting, devastatingly lovely tracks. Gleefully experimental and unafraid to swim through the shadows, Eels is a must-hear. More

Kate Bollinger's full-length debut is assured, distinctive, and enchanting. Songs From a Thousand Frames of Mind will remind listeners of the sophisticated, suave classic pop of yesteryear. Opener "What's This About (La La La La)" calls to mind the effortlessly cool milieu of '60s Brit girl pop and French yé-yé. Simmering intensity underlies the honeyed lounge atmospherics of "Sweet Devil." Songs is a total dream of an album and unlike anything else you'll hear this year. Get ready for your new sonic addiction. 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

Suki Waterhouse's Memoir of a Sparklemuffin is a dream of an album. The multi-talented Waterhouse (as referenced in the song title "Model, Actress, Whatever") proves once again that she is a musical force to be reckoned with on this pastel-hued garage rock collection informed by elements of post-punk, '60s rock 'n' roll, and moody indie pop. Recorded in the last two months of her pregnancy, Waterhouse named the album after a particularly colorful spider (with a particularly ridiculous moniker) that she saw as a gritty, fabulous, and amusing metaphor for metamorphosis. It'll all make sense once you take a listen — these songs are sparkling and vivacious, with a relatable, droll world view. More

The soulful British band Tindersticks follows up its soundtrack for Stars at Noon with a new album, Soft Tissue . Gentle and melancholy, the album offers introspective lyrics and plenty of atmosphere. "New World" kicks off with a blast of horns before sinking into a hypnotic downtempo groove. "Always a Stranger" is a real highlight, contrasting a captivating rhythm with singer Stuart Staples' floating vocals, augmented by horns and strings. More