Produced by Samuel Bing and Julian Wass, the third release for the Los Angeles pop collective features Sinosa Loa on lead vocals.

Fol Chen continues to embrace mystery and avoid the obvious on Part II: The New December. As on Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made, the enigmatic band makes a virtue out of indirectness, sending songs through secret passages and tunnels that end in hooks some distance from where they were expected. There’s a strong experimental streak in the brainy way Fol Chen takes what seems like a straightforward idea and twists it into something completely different; like the Dirty Projectors, the group flirts with and subverts mainstream pop ideas, and like labelmates Cryptacize, they’ve got a flair for the deceptively simple. The band goes even further down the rabbit hole than on Part I, beginning The New December with some of its strangest music. “In Ruins” contrasts deep, whispered vocals with lively girlish ones atop busy keyboards playing busy, vaguely Eastern-tinged melodies; “Your Curtain Call” begins with breathy beats and woozy flutes, expanding into bells and a drunken sax solo before pulling back again; and “Men, Houses or Beasts” tiptoes so slowly that it almost sounds like it was recorded at the wrong speed. Fittingly for a band so committed to disguising its identity, some of The New December’s best songs deal with miscommunication and missed connections. On “The Holograms,” a tale of forgotten names and words doubling into optical illusions, bounces along on one of the album’s catchiest melodies, while the excellent “C/U” keeps its lovers apart despite its almost perversely straightforward beat. Likewise, the band buries some of its best songs on the album’s second half: “Adeline (You Always Look so Bored)”’s sharp-tongued chamber pop recalls St. Vincent’s abundant musical and lyrical wit, and “They Came to Me” boasts rubbery beats that are just as danceable as they are strange, and could be heard at a club with a trampoline for a dancefloor. How exactly these songs fit together with “Holes”’ delicate plucking and the title track’s pixelated folk might be locked in Fol Chen’s brains, but even if there are more pieces of their puzzle-pop missing here than there were on John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made, The New December is never boring. ~ Heather Phares

The debut full-length release from Melbourne, Australia indie folk band Folk Bitch Trio was recorded in New Zealand by producer Tom Healy.

The debut full-length release Austin-based rock quintet was produced by the band's own Anthony Laurence and Thom Waddill.

The fourth full-length studio release from Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. was produced and mixed by James ford.

The second full-length release for the Dublin post-punk band was recorded in Los Angeles by producer Dan Carey.

The third full-length studio release for Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. was produced by Dan Carey and features an accordion on one track.

The debut full-length release for the Irish indie rock band was produced and mixed by Dan Carey.

The seventh studio album from the alternative rock band has Dave Grohl bringing in producer Butch Vig (of Nirvana's Nevermind fame) for its latest release.

The latest full-length release from the Foo Fighters is the first without Taylor Hawkins (who passed away in March 2022) and was produced with Greg Kurstin.

The five-track free EP from the rock band was recorded during the Austin City Limits Festival at Hotel Saint Cecilia was originally made as a thank you for fans but on release also dedicated to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015.

The ninth full-length studio release for the rock band led by Dave Grohl was produced with Greg Kurstin.

The latest full-length release from the Foo Fighters is its first with drummer Ilan Rubin, who previously played for Nine Inch Nails.

Producer Gil Norton returns for the Foo Fighters' sixth album.

Former Nirvana drummer (and sometime Queens of the Stone Age drummer) Dave Grohl returns to the front of the stage for his role as vocalist, guitarist, and bandleader of the Foo Fighters on this, their fourth studio recording.

Each song on the eighth full-length release for the rock band led by Dave Grohl was recorded in a different city: Chicago, Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York, which is documented in the HBO TV series of the same name.

The 2009 Greatest Hits collection includes two new tracks, "Wheels" and "Word Forward," both recorded with producer Butch Vig (who also produced Grohl's former band, Nirvana). It also includes such Foo classics from the past 15 years as "The Pretender," "All My Life," "Learn to Fly," "Best of You," "Times Like These," "My Hero," "Everlong," and more.

The 10th full-length studio release for the alternative rock band led by Dave Grohl was produced with Greg Kurstin.

This double-disc set from Dave Grohl & co. includes one full CD of acoustic tracks. Guests include John Paul Jones, Norah Jones, Josh Homme and Petra Haden.

The sophomore album from the Los Angeles quintet fuses Afropop with '80s new wave.

The Los Angeles-based group led by Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov (and featuring 10 other musicians from such bands as We Are Scientists, the Fall, and Foreign Born) blend African music with indie rock on its debut album.

The fourth album from the Bay Area indie rockers (led by singer-guitarist Carlos Forster) is their first in three years.

The second full-length release from David Balfe's music project For Those I Love was self-produced.

This is the debut full-length release for the solo project of Dublin-based producer David Balfe.

Previously known as Games, Joel Ford and Daniel Lopatin release their debut full-length album under their new name.

This is the debut album on Secretly Canadian for indie rock quartet from Los Angeles.

This is the second full-length album from the New York experimental rock band.

This is the debut full-length release for the British electronic producer Matthew Barnes.

This is the second full-length release for the electronic project of Matthew Barnes.

This is the first full-length studio release from British electronic producer Forest Swords since 2017's Compassion.

The second part to the Texas-based band's three-part mini-LP collection is self-titled and sticks by their formulaic sound -- catchy pop-punk with plenty of hooks.

The fourth full-length release for the Brooklyn electronica trio was inspired by "polyrhythmic composition, the human voice and conceptual improvisation strategies."

This is the second full-length release from the Brooklyn electronic trio.

The third full-length release for the Brooklyn synth trio is its first with John Also Bennett and features acoustic instruments.

The debut full-length release for the indie-dance band formed by brothers Will and Matt Ritson was co-produced by Ben Baptie and Leon Vynehall.

The quartet led by Freddy Ruppert that includes Zola Jesus/Nika Roza Danilova, Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart, and Yasmine Kittles releases its second album together.

The New York-based group of Brazilians release its second full-length album of music based on the native forro style.

This is the second full-length release for British electronic artist Michael Greene.

The second full-length release for the indie rock band that includes members based in Ohio and New York was recorded in five days by Cameron Konner.

The fourth full-length release from Los Angeles indie pop band Foster The People is the final album with guitarist Sean Cimino.

The Los Angeles indie rock band release their debut album.

The third full-length studio release for the indie pop band is said to be influence by psychedelic and 1960s sounds.

The second full-length release for the indie pop band led by Mark Foster was produced by Paul Epworth.

The Scottish trio that won a Scottish BAFTA for its cybraphon (an interactive "mechanical band in a box") releases its third album.

This 28-track, two-disc compilation culls radio performances, demos, and other previously unreleased tracks from throughout the band's history.

Band member Adam Schlesinger produced FOW's long-awaited fourth studio album, which follows four years after their breakthrough hit 'Welcome Interstate Managers.'

The ‘90s power-pop band releases a new album.

The New York-based indie-pop band, led by Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, returns with a long-awaited third LP.

The two-track, 40-minutes album for Kieran Hebden as Four Tet was created using Ableton Live software.

The ninth full-length release for British electronic artist Kieran Hebden features contributions from Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Field Day co-founder Tom Baker.

The second Four Tet album from producer Kieran Hebden (who is also in the band Fridge), 'Pause' is a dense, eclectic collection of a variety of electronic and live instrumentation and found sounds.

Kieran Hebden's set includes field recordings from the infamous London club.

Kieran Hebden releases a 30-minute, four-track minialbum.

The second release for British producer Kieran Hebden in 2013 as Four Tet is his first full-length since 2010's There Is Love in You.

The sample-based indietronica LP 'Rounds' is the third solo effort for Fridge's Kieran Hebden.

The 10th full-length release for Kieran Hebden as Four Tet features vocals from Ellie Goulding on "Baby."

This is the latest full-length release from British indie electronic artist Four Tet.

The fifth album from Kieran Hebden is his first full-length release in five years.

Kieran Hebden's fourth Four Tet album dispenses somewhat with the "folk" portion of his folktronica sound, resulting in a more beat-driven effort.

Kieran Hebden's latest release as Four Tet collects several EPs and two unreleased tracks together as one album.

The five-track EP for the Massachusetts pop-punk band was produced by Machine.

The fourth album for the rock band from Massachusetts is its first without keyboardist Josh Lyford.

The sixth full-length release for the Massachusetts pop-punk band was produced by Kurt Ballou.

The debut full-length studio release for New Jersey artist Fousheé features a guest appearance from Lil Uzi Vert.

The debut release for Liturgy's Greg Fox and Oneida's Kid Millions was recorded in two separate sessions.

The third full-length for Foxes was written and recorded over zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The debut full-length release for British pop singer-songwriter Louisa Rose Allen, who won a Grammy for her work on Zedd's Clarity.

The second full-length release for the British pop singer-songwriter features songs co-written by Babyface, Kid Harpoon, and Bastille's Dan Smith.

The second full-length release for the Brooklyn-based Canadian singer-songwriter Warren Hildebrand includes contributions from Owen Pallett.

The latest full-length release from St. Louis-based indie band Foxing was self-recorded, produced and mixed by its guitarist Eric Hudson.

The second full-length release for the post-rock band was produced by Matt Baylees.

The third full-length release for the St. Louis indie rock band was produced by Matt Bayles.

The fourth full-length release for the Connor Murphy-led trio was produced by Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra.

This is the debut full-length release for the Andy Shauf band that includes Dallas Bryson, Darryl and Avery Kissick.

This is the first full-length release in nearly seven years from Andy Shauf's indie collective Foxwarren.

The rapper from Brooklyn releases her much-delayed follow-up to 2001's "Broken Silence."

The fourth album for the Cleveland rock band was produced by The Darkness' Justin Hawkins

The third full-length studio release for the California psych rock band formed by Sam France and Jonathan Rado features contributions from such artist as Wayne Coyne, Of Montreal’s Kevin Barnes, Tim Presley of White Fence, and Bleached.

The fifth full-length release for the indie rock duo of Sam France and Jonathan Rado features a full symphony orchestra conducted by Trey Pollard and contributions from Matthew E. White, The Flaming Lips' Steve Drozd and The Lemon Twigs.

The fifth full-length release for Jonathan Rado and Sam France was self-produced and mixed by Shawn Everett.

This is the first release on Jagjaguwar for the indie rock duo of Jonathan Rado and Sam France.

The second full-length release for the psychedelic rock duo was produced by Richard Swift.

This is the fifth full-length release for the Texas duo of David Dewese and Jerry James.

Executive produced by Elton John, the third full-length release for the Northern Ireland singer-songwriter was recorded in Nashville with Jacquire King.

The third full-length release from the Chilean trio was self-recorded with additional synth sounds from Atom TM.