Amoeba Music

Chelsea Wolfe's work dances nimbly between beauty and brutality. The Dark brings tenderness, wonder, and grief to the equation. The songs chronicle the process of becoming "the darkest thing in the woods" and finding a way through the void. Many of these songs are just shockingly lovely, practically touching on the otherworldly in their measure of transformation and grace. Featuring appearances by Nine Inch Nails touring guitarist Robin Finck, Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, and Warpaint drummer Stella Mozgawa. More

For fans of smart, catchy pop, a new Tove Lo album is always an event. Her latest, Estrus , is some of her best work. "I'm your girl right?" is pure dancefloor euphoria, the temperature rising, the chorus adding an insistent, bittersweet edge. "des fleurs" features Belgian star Stromae in an intoxicating, dreamy tale of lust, flirtation, and wanting more. Estrus is exceptional, one of the finest pop records of the year. More

Every so often, you hear an album that stops you in your tracks because it's so beautiful, moving, and just plain cool. That's beabadoobee's Pylon . Created with collaborators Hayley Williams, Brendan Yates (Turnstile), Chino Moreno (Deftones) and Evan Stephens Hall (Pinegrove), the album clearly has a '90s alt influence, moving seamlessly from grunge-oriented numbers to silky-sweet indie pop. "Sun Has Set" is the ideal kiss-off song, the unforgettable lyrics bolstered by a snappy chorus and angry guitars. "Memories" calls to mind dreamy alt-girl indie pop like The Sundays or The Cardigans. Pylon is another success for the much buzzed about beabadoobee. More

On OurHome , guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela returns to the textural fluidity of acoustic instrumentation. Self-produced in Tokyo, the album unfolds with an otherworldly beauty achieved with diverse guests including former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman and Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi. OurHome reflects the transcendence and serenity that Rodrigo y Gabriela have always experienced on their journeys to Japan. More

The Bites further evolve their '80s hair metal-inspired sound with their self-titled sophomore release. This is a bold, brash party album full of guitar hooks and infectious energy, but there's a level of substance in the Sunset Strip swagger that was not heard on their debut. The Bites sees the band incorporating blues, pop, and acoustic sounds into the mix for a more mature, but still rockin', sound. More

One of the defining voices in soul, funk, and R&B, Chaka Khan returns with her first new album in over seven years. Produced by Greg Kurstin and co-written by Sia, Chakzilla is an impactful statement from an artist celebrating a landmark year, fresh off a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Chakzilla includes collaborations with Sia, Snoop Dogg, and Lenny Kravitz More

Out Into is propulsive, urgent, raw, and yet still vulnerable. Known for their raw emotional intimacy and meticulous electronic constructions, Son Lux continues to question assumptions about how music is made. They construct their own sound from a molecular level, cultivating a musical language rooted in curiosity and the balancing of opposites. More

Nigel Goodrich and Dhani Harrison have formed a new duo and Dragonflies is the result, an album of lush orchestration and cryptic lyrics, drawing you into its hallucinatory Renaissance-like imagery, painting emotions like isolation with a vividness you can touch. More

With her slackened body suspended by body hooks on her latest album cover, Julia Wolf isn’t messing around. She’s got the barrel of her shotgun pointed directly at the insurmountable demands and constraints that the music industry imposes. Pressure  isn’t shy. More

On their fifth studio album, Ox , Palace navigate through the wide open spaces of the future, like a road with a bright blue sky dressing the horizon -- a little older, a little melancholic, but nevertheless joyful for the possibilities that change has and will continue to bring. More

Emma Ruth Rundle, equipped with a raw, minimalistic soundscape, wields her wide-ranging vocals as her weapon of choice in These Killing Times , delivering lines so stark and sobering, they’re bone-chilling. More

With a heavier, rousing uptempo drumming like a heartbeat, the Mary Wallopers proudly wave their Dundalk flag on their latest, chanting rebel cries about plights and crusades on their battlemarch forward, the fiery history of Ireland and its people at their side. More

The Bobby Lees are back with an impassioned, uncompromising, and straight-up fun new album. New Self finds the band incorporating hip-hop and nu metal into their punk rock meets rock 'n' roll sound...and truly, it works. The songs are droll and entertaining, snarling and raw. This is an intelligent, audacious record with moments of humor and moments that dial into the current of rage, frustration, and defiance we're all feeling. Crank it up loud! More

Sweeping Promises make good old-fashioned punk rock. You Say I Romanticize feels like a late '70s/early '80s release in the tradition of The Slits or The Raincoats. It's melodic yet hard-hitting, fierce yet gut-wrenchingly pretty. It's also smart as hell, with songs inspired by literary figures like Julian of Norwich and Mary Shelley. This one's for anyone who digs fast, ferocious punk with driving riffs and superb melodies. More

On Fantasia , French trio Slift deliver a shattering, relentless and ultimately uplifting record that's tailor-made for our times. With songs written to address the turmoil of our era yet affirm the band's belief that a reckoning is coming – one led by the people – this is a powerful album. The sound is equally intense, bringing elements of prog and John Carpenter-esque synths to sweeping, aggressive metal. The label refers to it as "Pink Floyd wandering into the 'Master of Reality' sessions"...and yeah, that's pretty on target. More

Lucki's Dr*gs R Bad is a woozy, wild ride. The alt-trap artist raps in his signature experimental style; the beats are hazy and hypnotic. Lil Yachty, Lil Baby, Rylo Rodriguez, Veeze, and Chynna add to the starpower. Expect the unexpected. More

Julia Cumming is the bassist for Sunflower Bean, a multi-instrumentalist, and now, an absolutely stunning solo artist. Her self-titled debut, Julia , is packed with lush, vivid piano and voice tracks that bring a contemporary spin to classic crooners and '70s era vocalists. Cumming has mentioned that her influences for this record include Burt Bacharach, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, and Brian Wilson and yes, you can hear all this in these songs, and yes, the excellent Julia fits in nicely alongside these legends. More

On Something Worth Waiting For , Friko merges raw, heartfelt lyrics with big, theatrical emotions. It's one of the most true-to-life records in recent memory. The album blends indie rock, chamber pop, and an early '00s-style Saddle Creek sound as singer Niko Kapetan recounts the quotidian moments that translate into longing, relief, and flashes of magic. The storytelling is fantastic, the melodies will pull at your heartstrings. More

Allison Russell's newest record was made to heal. In the tradition of ancient hymns and chants comes the very timely In The Hour Of Chaos , a prescription for joy, wonder, and fulfillment in the face of cruelty and turmoil. Russell moves effortlessly from R&B to folk/country to blues over the course of this good-hearted, triumphant, beautiful album. Simply gorgeous. More

Aja Monet is a poet with a pen as sharp as a knife. The Color of Rain is incisive and urgent, but it's also steeped in beauty and awe. The Grammy nominee focuses her eye on the rise of fascism with precision and walks through the shadows with hard-won grace. The Color of Rain is a thoughtful, dauntless companion for our times. Featuring contributions from Meshell Ndegeocello, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Mereba, Ganavya, Brandee Younger, Mick Jenkins, and Vic Mensa. More