This Month's Picks

Get Goin' (CD)

Katie Henry
Blues rock dynamo Katie Henry solidifies herself as a standout voice on her third solo album Get Goin '. The New Jersey native showcases her compelling songwriting and versatile vocal performances from start to finish. From the fiery, rebellious, hard hittin' lyrics on opener, "Love Like Kerosene" to the heartfelt, raw, and nuanced songwriting on ballad "A Doll's Heart," Henry effortlessly weaves together a range of emotions throughout the tracklist. Get Goin' is a breath of fresh air for blues rock. More
Genre: Blues

Cloudward (CD)

Mary Halvorson
An album primed for urban wandering, structure and improvisation meld on Mary Halvorison's Cloudward . While her sextet evokes the liveliness and curiosity experienced on a bustling city street, it's her compositional texture that stands out in the crowd. Halvorson's idiosyncratic rhythmic style and compositional skills are on full display on this album. Brimming with breathtaking spontaneity, warm passages, and unique rhythms, this contemporary jazz album constructs a scene in motion. More
Genre: Jazz

Welcome Home [Evergreen Vinyl] (LP)

Gareth Donkin
Twenty-three-year-old Brit Gareth Donkin makes a remarkable debut on Welcome Home . This smooth, soulful album would've absolutely ruled the airwaves in 1982; Donkin's voice and sound feels like he's the spiritual progeny of the inimitable Michael Jackson, with a little bit of Jamiroquai and Bill Evans thrown into the mix. The tracks are romantic, easygoing, and funky, with elements of jazz, hip-hop, and yacht rock thrown into the groove. This is the type of album that sets the tone, and if the one you're looking for is effortlessly cool, Welcome Home deserves a spin. More
Genre: Soul

Finyl Vinyl (CD)

Canned Heat
It's about to get steamy. The legendary Canned Heat deliver a sweaty, sultry blues rocker of an album with Finyl Vinyl . The band sounds tight as hell on these tracks, with the inimitable drummer/band leader Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra at the helm, Dale Spalding on harmonica/guitar/lead vocals, Rick Reed on bass (Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Chicago Blues Reunion), and newest member Jimmy Vivino on lead guitar/vocals ( Late Night with Conan O'Brien , Al Kooper, Charlie Musselwhite, Michael McDonald). When these guys get together, it's musical magic. Finyl Vinyl is a must-hear. More
Genre: Rock

American Primitive [Green Vinyl] (LP)

Old 97's
The Old 97's want you to believe in the power of rock 'n' roll once more. Their latest, American Primitive , is a gloriously rough and rowdy, upbeat and invigorating collection of country-tinged rockers. "I believe you when you say that there's magic in the air," Rhett Miller sings on "Magic," which might as well be the manifesto for the album. The life-changing, mood-altering magic of music is present in every strand of these songs. Listening to American Primitive is no passive experience: your toe-tappin' feet won't let you rest, whether you're compelled to simply bop around the room or to get outside and start a band. More
Genre: Rock

Only God Was Above Us (CD)

Vampire Weekend
Only God Was Above Us is the poignant, urgent new album from Vampire Weekend. With a name taken from a 1988 news article about a terrifying in-air airplane incident, it's perhaps no surprise that the songs seem to share that same sense of faith in the midst of catastrophe. "Capricorn" careens between grinding electronic noise, sweeping strings, and intimate indie guitar. "Gen-X Cops" starts off with the intensity of a high-speed car chase before shimmering, slightly melancholic harmonies kick in. Only God Was Above Us is some of Vampire Weekend's best work; fans will dig this expansion in the band's sound. More
Genre: Rock

Ohio Players (CD)

The Black Keys
The Black Keys continue their sonic evolution with Ohio Players . It's one of the band's lushest, liveliest albums, with soul and gospel-tinged blues rockers in abundance. "Beautiful People (Stay High)" is an ultra-hooky, bigger-than-life anthem with Britpop and bar blues influences. "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" is a Motown-meets-the-blues ballad rich in swelling strings and romantic regret. Guest appearances from Beck, Juicy J, Lil Noid, Dan the Automator, and Noel Gallagher add to the fun. More
Genre: Rock

Sinseerly Yours (LP)

Thee Sinseers
Southern California's own Thee Sinseers bring East LA old school soul into the 21st century on Sinseerly Yours . Bandleader Joey Quinones is up front on keys and vocals, and his heavenly croon will make you sway. There are slow, smoky ballads sung from the heart – on "Can't Call Me Baby" vocalist Adriana Flores shines, and there are songs to make you shake your hips. Throw on "Talking Back" and you'll be on your feet in a beat. More
Genre: Soul

Half Divorced (CD)

Pissed Jeans
Pennsylvania hardcore heroes Pissed Jeans mark their return with their fifth album on Sub Pop, Half Divorced . It's been seven years since 2017's Why Love Now , and the break has done the band good. Woven throughout the album is their raw punkiness mixed with a heavy, sludgy, Melvins-ness that bludgeons you over the head rather than screams it in your face. "Everywhere Is Bad" has the tongue-in-cheek humor and call-and-response stylings of Black Flag's "TV Party" while lamenting that there's nowhere good left to live on this earth. This one doesn't miss – get Pissed! More
Genre: Rock

The Night Shift [Color Vinyl] (LP)

Larry June, Cardo
Just in time for the warm weather days, San Francisco hip-hop star Larry June is back with his fifth album collaborating with Dallas producer extraordinaire Cardo, The Night Shift . Heavy doses of g-funk, yacht rock, and jazzy grooves provide the backdrop for these two to work their magic, and with features from 2 Chainz, ScHoolboy Q, Too $hort and more, The Night Shift will be on repeat in the coming days. More
Genre: Hip Hop

Weird Faith (CD)

Madi Diaz
Themes of life, love, faith are explored on Weird Faith , the latest album from Madi Diaz. Coming off of a stint as a touring guitarist with Harry Styles, Diaz's unique style of introspective indie folk with a pop sheen uses minimal bells and whistles, her voice being the star of the show. The album also features "Don't Do Me Good," a duet with country star Kacey Musgraves. More
Genre: Rock

Fashionably Late [10th Anniversary Pink Vinyl] (LP)

Falling in Reverse
Fashionably Late , the sophomore release from metalcore/pop fusion outfit Falling In Reverse is turning 10 years old, and to commemorate the occasion, Epitaph has released the album on vinyl for the first time ever! Featuring songs like "Alone" and the title track, "Fashionably Late," the album has been pressed on stunning pink vinyl and is a must-have for Falling fans. More
Genre: Rock

Does It Look Like I'm Here? (LP)

Emeralds
Electronic trio Emeralds reintroduces their 2010 electronic masterpiece Does It Look Like I'm Here? to the masses. This can't-miss release has been deftly remastered by engineer Heba Kadry, and the CD includes seven unreleased tracks. Fans of Eno, Tangerine Dream, and psychedelics will revel in this sonic voyage through a lush electro-soundscape. More
Genre: Experimental

Powders (LP)

Eartheater
An alchemic melding of musical styles is Eartheater's comfort zone, and she makes it shine on Powders . Electro hip-hop beats and multi-instrumentation are laid bare under her breathy, dreamlike vocals. Pop banger "Pure Smile Snake Venom" and her hauntingly beautiful take on System of a Down's "Chop Suey" are standouts on this musical mosaic. More

Boundary Road Snacks & Drinks / Sweet Princess EPs (CD)

Dry Cleaning
The two earliest EPs from UK post-punkers Dry Cleaning are getting the proper remaster and rerelease they deserve! On the group's 2018 debut Sweet Princess and the subsequent Boundary Road Snacks and Drinks from 2019, vocalist and artist Florence Shaw interpolates brief moments of singing with her unique spoken-word style over sleek, intricate melodies. More
Genre: Rock

Extra Life ['Poisonbloom' Color Vinyl] (LP)

Crushed
The musical pairing of Bre Morell & Shaun Durkan, aka Crushed, has concocted the dreamiest of pop vibes on Extra Life . With nods to '90s alternative and trip-hop throughout, Extra Life 's upbeat, catchy layers of melody sail this 6-song EP into blissful waters. More
Genre: Rock

Thoughts & Prayers (CD)

CNTS
LA punk rockers CNTS return with Thoughts & Prayers , a fiery follow-up to 2019's self-titled debut. Vocalist Matt Cronk, fully recovered from a brutal auto accident, is back in fine form and unleashes the fury, while the band sears on track after track of noisy, hooky, raucous aggression. More
Genre: Rock

Some Of It Was True (CD)

The Menzingers
Philadelphia punk legends and road warriors The Menzingers' seventh album, Some of it Was True , stands as their most urgent and energetic effort to date. Capturing their distinctive live energy within the confines of the studio, the sound is rich, raw, and complementary to the group's increasingly prismatic songwriting approach. The Menzingers seem to be kickstarting a new era in their already illustrious career by tapping into the energy that brought the band to life in the very beginning. More
Genre: Rock

Polaroid Lovers (CD)

Sarah Jarosz
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
Genre: Folk

Good Life (CD)

Ledisi
Good Life is a celebration of Ledisi's artistic journey. A unique blend of soulful sounds and lyrical depth, her 11th album is a testament to her creative evolution that explores the spectrum of human emotions and experiences. With her signature blend of soul, R&B, and jazz influences, Ledisi continues to innovate and push the boundaries of expectation. Features vocals from Kenny Lattimore and Butcher Brown, as well as writing and production from long-time collaborator Rex Rideout and others. More
Genre: Soul