DÍA is the work of an artist who isn't looking back. With these cathartic, expansive, resilient songs, Ela Minus is just becoming more expressive -- or as she puts it, "I'll keep writing melodies to sing."

Balloonerism isn’t Miller’s best, most consistent, or even most experimental work, but it offers a previously unseen chapter in his evolution as an artist and shows clear pathways to what followed.

In Love Again is a buzzy indie pop delight, full of surprises that pay off handsomely.

Force Majeure is a small-scale triumph that's built on musicians sweating it out in small rooms, cranking the amps until the begin to crackle, and plugging directly into the still beating heart of rock & roll.

Wide-ranging yet restrained components make for a quietly cinematic experience, as Jamieson goes on to examine other angles of love.

Humanhood finds Lindeman in the middle of the mysterious, sacred process of returning to herself, and while the album may not offer many answers, its rare honesty, eloquence, and compassion make it another triumph for the Weather Station.

Héritage sounds unlike any other Songhoy Blues release, and it's every bit as skillfully crafted and powerful.

It’s an album worthy of its co-signs from the Boygenius camp but one that stands solidly on the merits of its own uncompromising creation.

There's a strong mood setting vibe on Motion I, one that finds Out Of/Into drawing upon Blue Note's past while pushing toward the future.

Pricey but essential, Hear My Song: The Collection 1966-1995 offers not only the best material they could get their hands on, but also the best of what they could get their hands on.

Debí Tirar Más Fotos is a Puerto Rican triumph, as verdant as its foliage and as vital as its cause. Hollering “Yo soy de P fucking R” from the rooftops, Bad Bunny roots himself in his homeland, yet again proving himself one of his generation’s most potent voices.

Think of Mist is another affecting and impressive release from an artist who should have more eyes on her creations.

Although inessential in the context of Olsen's output, Cosmic Waves is a great idea well-executed, with the covers lending a needed gravitas and collectability to what would otherwise be a playlist project.

She's clearly having fun, making the music she wants to make and exploring new facets of her craft. Hopeful, romantic, and energetic, Armatrading offers a strong dose of joy in troubled times.

Franz Ferdinand feel more engaged than they have in some time on The Human Fear. It's some of their most self-assured sounding music, but thanks to its naked emotions and eclectic choices, it's also some of their most human-sounding music. All told, it's a respectable -- but not too respectable -- addition to their body of work.

The result has a warm, organic feel that meshes comfortably with Ringo's country influences without forcing the issue or sounding like the typical Nashville product of the 2020s. This music is mature in feel and outlook, in the best ways.

Lambrini Girls keep the levels of earned outrage cranked up high and apologies at near zero while continuing to take on topics like gender inequity, political and cultural atrocities, and bad behavior in general on their full-length and City Slang debut, Who Let the Dogs Out.

While it can feel a bit dry at times, it shows that Ashworth's songwriting is as strong and affecting as ever.

While in some ways more streamlined than their harsher early singles, British Murder Boys' debut album manages to be heavier and wilder in its own way.

While White Denim's stylistic touchstones are certainly at play on 12, the album feels less like a band working through their influences and more like one coming fully realized into their own.

It’s a beautiful, immersive, and above all, dreamlike set that easily rewards the investment in its length.

"Piece of My Heart," features guest vocals from Brent Faiyaz and an interesting mid-song shift to a lusher sonic palette. The production, while similar to his earlier releases, leans ever more insistently into R&B with subtler Afrobeats touches.

If made by a group other than them, might have topped year end list made by serious music publications. As it is, the record will likely exist as a lost treasure to be excavated years down the road to be loved and emulated. Saint Etienne have more than their share of great albums over the years, chalk this up as one of the best and proof that the band have become more than just a brilliant pop act.

While it doesn’t really come close to capturing the lightning-in-a-bottle power of Doggystyle, there’s enough of that original spirit mixed with a modernized production sound to make Missionary one of Snoop’s more enjoyable full album listening experiences in several years.

Trees Speak's curious world keeps expanding with every successive release, and TimeFold is just as fascinating as the rest of their discography.

Like much of Fennesz's solo work from Endless Summer onward, Mosaic is a vast, immersive effort that bases its abstract soundscapes in raw emotions.

While Why Is the Colour of the Sky? doesn't offer any particularly memorable tunes or sentiments, it's definitely a vibe, and at 35 minutes in length doesn't overstay its welcome despite becoming quite immersive.

In the Real World displays all of Bibb's gifts on a single album as a lyricist, guitarist, blues stylist, music historian, and contemporary singer/songwriter. At once poignant and hopeful, Bibb has upped his own creative ante here.