Amoeba Music

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

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

Khruangbin gets dreamy and intimate on A LA SALA . The band's effortless international cool takes a more downtempo turn on these tracks; they feel made for a lazy afternoon with friends or a quiet morning gazing at the clouds. "May Ninth" is grooved out, hazy, and rather wistful. "Pon Pón" kicks things up a bit, with funky riffs and irresistibly danceable percussion. "A Love International" is cinematic, languid, and yes, romantic. Khruangbin are one of the most inventive and imaginative bands out there and A LA SALA is a great showcase for their softer side. More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legendary musician and artist Kim Gordon's second solo album continues her collaboration with producer Justin Raisen (Lil Yachty, John Cale, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and advances their joint world building. Raisin's damaged, blown-out dub and trap constructions work as a foil to Gordon's word collages and mantras, conjuring themes of our modern world's dysfunctions with communication, commercial sublimation, and sensory overload. Gordon is here to disrupt and we like it.More

IDKHow's second album (but first album as a solo act) is a window into the mind of lead vocalist and bassist Dallon Weekes, formerly of Panic! At The Disco. Fittingly for a solo act, the sound is an introspective departure from the debut album, Razzmatazz , with themes revolving around mental health and non-normative thinking styles. The sonic influences range from '70s glam to '90s R&B and pretty much everything in-between, showing Weekes as a songwriter with an appreciation of dark lyrics and upbeat melodies. More

Britti's triumphant debut, co-written and produced by Dan Auerbach, is inspired by musical luminaries from Diana Ross to Dolly Parton, and influenced by contemporary legends like Beyoncé and Sade. The album is a personal love letter to her native New Orleans that reflects her diverse musical influences, including R&B, blues, Zydeco, Motown, and even some glittery country. The emotional and stylistic scope of the songs is far-reaching, but her unique voice works as a through line, holding them together.More