This Month's Picks

The Last Voyage Of Demeter (BLU)

Based on a single chilling chapter from Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, The Last Voyage of the Demeter chronicles the doomed journey of a merchant ship ferrying mysterious wooden crates from Carpathia to London. The crew soon discover that they are not alone on board, and are stalked by a stowaway whose thirst for blood turns the trip into a nightmare of terror. More

Fantasy [Blue Marble Vinyl] (LP)

M83
Anthony Gonzalez continues to expand M83’s sound in lush, colorful directions on the act’s first album since 2019, Fantasy . M83’s moody throwback style feels fuller and more cinematic than ever before, despite the fact that it was just Gonzalez, bandmate Joe Berry, and producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen as the album’s core crew. Expect shoegaze guitars, gauzy washes of sound, and soaring choruses working together to create an overwhelmingly enjoyable emotional experience. Fantasy is a fitting name; the album is epic, entrancing, and entirely magical. More

Jazz Codes (CD)

Moor Mother
The multi-talented Camae Ayewa conjures a dense, otherworldly sound combining poetry, free jazz, soul, experimental music and more. Decidedly avant garde but still lush and melodic, Jazz Codes features guests like Fatboi Sharif, Wolf Weston and Mary Lattimore. More
Genre: Rock

Jujutsu Kaisen: Season 1 Part 2 (BLU)

Blu-ray Episodes 13-24 of the anime series directed by Sung Hoo Park. Jujutsu High is about to host its Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event—an annual competition of Tokyo and Kyoto Jujutsu High campuses. Fushiguro, Kugisaki, Maki, Toge, and Panda meet up to greet Todo and the other Kyoto students, but sparks fly when Gojo rushes in late to the meetup and hands out souvenirs he brought from his business trip overseas. More

Meg 2: The Trench (4k Ultra-HD)

This supersized sequel to the 2018 blockbuster features Jason Statham and global action icon Wu Jing, pitted against multiple massive Megs and relentless environmental plunderers. The heroes must outrun, outsmart, and outswim their merciless predators in a pulse-pounding race against time. More

Blue Beetle (4K Ultra-HD)

Searching for his purpose in the world, Jaime Reyes finds ancient biotechnology that changes his destiny forever. Gaining superhuman powers, he becomes the Blue Beetle. Based on the DC comic, Blue Beetle is the 14th installment of the DC Extended Universe. More

If We're Really Being Honest (CD)

The Defiant
The Defiant is a new supergroup featuring members of The Offspring, Smash Mouth, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Street Dogs and The Briggs. On their debut, If We're Really Being Honest , the band delivers the irresistible melodic punk fans crave. "Where Were You?" is a top-notch rock 'n' roller with a surprising (and delightful) appearance from some sweeping strings. "Dead Language" hits the ska spot with an updated, understated sound. "Where Did Lady Liberty Go?" is a working class, Celtic-punk adjacent anthem. If We're Really Being Honest is a fantastic showcase for the talents of each of its members, fusing each act's distinctive style into an album that's a sheer good time. More
Genre: Rock

Evangelion:3.0 & 1.11 Thrice Once Upon A Time (BLU)

Director Hideaki Anno’s fourth and final installment of the Rebuild of Evangelion animated films, EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time brings the series to an epic conclusion with stunning visuals and compelling storytelling. Misato and her Wille group arrive in Paris, a city now red from core-ization. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. More

The Surface (CD)

Beartooth
Beartooth's The Surface finds the band bruised but not broken. In fact, despite all the rough and tumble tales frontman Caleb Shomo sings of on these sometimes autobiographical tracks, there's a real life-affirming quality to the album. The riffs are heavy, the percussion intense, but the mood is purposefully distant from the recent Below. On this new album, Shomo sings of learning how to love yourself, living up to your potential, and getting back up on your feet. The melodies still deliver the elements of melodic hardcore, metalcore, and hard rock fans dig, while expanding their sound to include experimentation with screamo, pop, and even country. And it works. Turn this one up to its max volume and headbang your way into a better day. More
Genre: Rock

Jonny (CD)

The Drums
With Jonny , The Drums have created an exploration into emotional pain that's both comforting and devastatingly lovely. Opener "I Want It All" is a dreamy and bittersweet heartbreaker, made all the more poignant by its soaring melody replete with sweeping strings and punchy rhythms. "Isolette" is a true bop, the music upbeat and slightly frantic while the lyrics are sad and just a bit goofy. "The Flowers" is wistful, gorgeous jangle pop that'll work its way into your heart and stay there. While all the songs draw their power from vulnerability and turmoil, they also refuse to traffic in despair. Jonny is a powerful album because of this paradox: there can be great beauty in sadness, and hope even in the worst moments. More
Genre: Rock

Strays (BLU)

Reggie, a Border Terrier who is voiced by Will Ferrell, thought he and his owner Doug (Will Forte) were playing an innocent game of fetch. It isn't until he meets Bug (Jamie Foxx), a streetwise stray who says only suckers have owners, that Reggie realizes his master intentionally abandoned him in the big city. Reggie, Bug, and other doggie compatriots plot revenge and the adventure begins. Forget everything you know about "dog movies" because this one is off leash and over the top. More

Women (CD)

Orions Belte
On their genre-defying new album, Women , Norwegian trio Orions Belte changes sounds like flipping through an eclectic record catalog. Euphoric, dreamy pop fuses with funk grooves, while lazy lap steels and reverby surf guitar transport you away to another land. More
Genre: Rock

Javelin (CD)

Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens's Javelin is a beautiful heartbreaker. These tracks feel like some of his deepest, most vulnerable, devastating work, yet this album is no downer. Buoyed quite literally by the lovely backing vocals of his five-part vocal choir of friends (adrienne maree brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui, and Nedelle Torrisi), the tracks embody the incredible human ability to reach up from the gutter, towards the stars. Javelin is a soft-voiced companion for tough times, gifted with a sense of the sacred and sublime. More
Genre: Rock

Somewhere Between The Power Lines & Palm Trees (CD)

Dogstar
On their third album, Somewhere Between The Power Lines & Palm Trees , Dogstar delivers ultra catchy alt-rock that feels stadium-ready. Known as the band with universally beloved movie star Keanu Reeves on bass, Dogstar also features the charismatic vocals of Bret Domrose and driving percussion of Robert Mailhouse. "Glimmer" is romantic and bittersweet. "Everything Turns Around" is upbeat and sweeping, with a sing-a-long-ready chorus. If you're a fan of solidly-crafted, '90s style sweeping rock 'n' roll, this one's for you. More
Genre: Rock

Again (CD)

Oneohtrix Point Never
Oneohtrix Point Never's Again is sure to be a landmark album for the producer. Conceived of as "a speculative autobiography" of Daniel Lopatin's musical life from early adulthood to now, these tracks are layered, unexpected, and eclectic — with sonic elements pulled in from a variety of genres, the songs seem to carry an encyclopedia's worth of songcraft and emotion. The mood shifts seamlessly across the course of the album: at times the tracks feel deeply intimate and introspective, at others moody and melancholic, and at still others, triumphant and transcendent. Again is just stellar. It's one of Oneohtrix Point Never's best. More

Calling The Dogs (CD)

Citizen
Citizen creates good, old-fashioned guitar-driven rock 'n' roll on Calling the Dogs . Having experimented with everything from grunge to garage to alt-rock, the band are in fine form here, cranking out punk and power-pop influenced stone cold killer tracks. Always authentic and with a gritty streak beneath their ridiculously catchy choruses, these tracks will lodge their way pleasantly in your heart and in your head. Some music is just meant to be rocked out to: that's Calling the Dogs . Turn this one up loud and get lost in the riffs. More
Genre: Rock

Something To Look Forward To (CD)

John P. Strohm
Something To Look Forward To , the latest album from Blake Babies founding member John P. Strohm, is a beatific tribute to musician, collaborator, and friend Ed Ackerson. Expounding upon the music and ideas they had begun together before Ackerson tragically succumbed to pancreatic cancer, Strohm has forged an uplifting, heartfelt musical memorial to an esteemed friend. More
Genre: Rock

Empire Electric (CD)

No-No Boy
In an exploration of his Vietnamese heritage, No-No Boy – the alias of Julian Saporiti of The Young Republic – paints a musically diverse and vivid portrait of family struggles, identity, and spirituality on Empire Electric . Confronting deeply personal issues like generational trauma in the fallout of the Vietnam war, the gentle, introspective folk is balanced with the interspersing of field recordings, a variety of instrumentation, and exquisite harmonies with Saporiti's wife and co-producer, Emilia. More
Genre: Folk

Switched-On (LP)

Pachyman
Pachyman's Switched-On feels like a lost classic. This is no obscure collectors' delight, however: LA's Pachy Garcia pays homage to reggae, Boricua, and woozy dub on this record, emblazoning the tracks with his own contemporary, urgent feel. "Sale el Sol" is dreamy and languid. "Goldline" has the feel of '70s future-pop. "Trago Conqueto," with its sharp yet shuffling rhythms exerts a strong, beckoning call. Switched-On is atmospheric, exciting, and just straight up awesome. Don't sleep on Pachyman's latest! More
Genre: Reggae

Yard (CD)

Slow Pulp
Slow Pulp's Yard hits hard. Jam-packed with excellent grunge and punk-influenced indie rock tracks, the songs are sweetly melancholic and totally addictive. "Doubt" displays the band's pop sensibilities, with a '90s alterna vibe and an irresistible earworm chorus. "Slugs" is a slow burn, simmering with repressed feelings and scorching riffs. "Broadview" brings in the country twang and the blues guitar to create a yearning melody for vocalist Emily Massey's voice to float wispily and wearily over. Yard is the real deal...and it just might become one of your favorites this year. More
Genre: Rock