The second segment begins with a solo lullaby “To The End of the Earth” followed by the warm trumpet tones of Keyon Harrold in the smooth, string-imbued R&B ballad, “Alone Together” with Clark Jr. singing falsetto. The empathetic mid-tempo funky shout-out for the homeless “What About the Children” features Stevie Wonder, sharing co-writing credits, singing with the leader, as well as playing his signature clavinet and harp. This is the album’s most cohesive segment. .... Take the album at its intentions. Clark Jr. is blurring the genres, as he strives to be an important voice of hope and positivity.

This album is still very much a Lenker solo project with minimal arrangements and honest songwriting but thanks to some fearlessness and a bit of patience, she can make Bright Future stand out from the rest of her solo work.

On Happiness Bastards the brothers Crowe retreat to their safer classic rock roots with efforts that gun for mid-70’s arena swagger, falling short of the band’s prime, a touch uninspired and derivative of their best work.

However much Julian stretches himself, however, he never abandons the warmth and fluidity that distinguishes his playing.

This is a vital and worthy addition to Jones’ diverse catalog, surely with the potential for her tenth Grammy win.

HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, while not up to the band’s overall best (Psalm 69, Rio Grande Blood), is a very solid Ministry album during these insane times.

1 2 3 4 is the perfect companion to 2017’s underrated Take Me to the Trees and a record that continues to solidify the band’s relevance four decades into their career.

Their ambitious sophomore album establishes them as a timeless act, a group of artists hellbent on saying what they want to say and nothing more. They proved they deserve every bit of praise while glossing over it to create an album so chaotic and stunning, it already feels timeless.

El Viejo is a stunning character study of gamblers and loners moving from card game to card game, perfectly bridging modern Americana with the likes of Jerry Reed, Del McCoury and Marty Robbins with a Springsteen-like sense of storytelling in three-minute bursts.

The ever-evolving Joel Ross has taken a step back and forward at the same time. If this is your introduction to his gorgeous music, it’s an auspicious place to start that will likely lead to seeking out his previous work too.

Real Estate seamlessly ties in the esoteric with the relatable, landing on a short but powerful LP that simply asks you to question everything without demanding an immediate answer.

Throughout the nuanced Untame The Tiger, Mary Timony pushes and pulls with experimental wanderings and pop leanings, successfully delivering an engaging album that deals with grief, forlornness, and starting over with a blank slate.

Clearly, this is the crowning jewel of Hurray for the Riff Raff’s catalog, and surely their most honest, cathartic songwriting.

Compassion reveals one of today’s most fully rounded piano trios on their second foray, transportive music of the highest caliber.

Overall, it’s a great listen in the car or for a gathering of friends, but the lyrics and diversity of sound surpass previous efforts, offering a rewarding, focused listen.

Lytle has been here before, ending his main act, but if Blu Wav is indeed the final bow from Grandaddy, it is a solid, restrained offering and a fitting coda to their catalog.

Appropriately enough, fun and adventurous are two pretty apt descriptions of Hole In My Head, a stylistically elastic record that covers folk, pop and rock all filtered through the experiences of a lifelong punk rocker.

Sonic Youth is criminally underrated and fans of adventurous, guitar-driven rock will find tons to like from their wide-ranging, rich career. Walls Have Ears is just an early drop in the sonic bucket.

TANGK is an artsy outing that is polished and honed while refusing to stay complacent and neat, their range as a band now seems limitless as IDLES release the riskiest and most rewarding music of their career.

Weird Faith is a stunning amalgamation of experiences and how a new relationship can contain just as much confusion as it does happiness. For 12 powerful tracks, Diaz navigates beautifully structured arrangements while keeping her head on a swivel, making sure everything isn’t falling apart. Weird Faith needed to be good and Diaz did more than make a good album, she penned an opus.

Attempting to unpack She Reaches Out in one listen is a futile task. This sounds like the album Wolfe was always meant to make. Nothing feels forced, a natural chaos erupts around every corner as Wolfe tip-toes around dense drums and distorted tones. Underneath the dark production are some of the best songwriting moments of Wolfe’s career.

The album’s blend of thoughtful lyricism, nostalgic influences, and contemporary relevance makes it a compelling addition to the indie pop landscape in 2024. Whether you’re seeking introspective reflections or simply looking for tunes to enjoy, Harm’s Way offers a nuanced and immersive listening experience.

This release has cemented Howard as a must-hear artist as the wonderful sonic collage, soaring vocals, and insightful lyrics all come together winningly.

The Last Dinner Party was able to craft an LP that combines their wide range of influences and filters them through their own artistic lens. This birthed an album that both rocks hard and emphasizes what pop song structures can become when placed in the right hands. We will all remember where we were when we first heard Prelude to Ecstasy, an album that is seemingly just the start for an innovative and daring young act.

Ultimately much of the charm of Peculiar, Missouri was in its stripped-down, consistent sound. In contrast, Critterland is certainly not consistent. Rather, it’s a disparate collection of ambitious, oddball tracks that sometimes grab you instantly and sometimes take a while to sink in, but ultimately make for a compelling listen.

Despite being recorded in such a short burst of time – or maybe because of it – Spiel manages to be as musically diverse as it is moody, offering up a stellar intro to the band.

You don’t need to be a Ty Segall fan to appreciate the magic of Three Bells, the artist has transcended any persona attached to him to pen some of his best music to date.

Sadness Sets Me Free is a bold direction for Gruff Rhys to take 25 albums in, and for the most part, these risks paid off tremendously. Rhys finds solace in the exploration of himself rather than crafting the perfect LP, giving the album a unique personality that opts for honesty over anything else.