Pythagorean Dream is a qualified success because it shows Chatham moving forward with his craft, if only by simply reaching back.

On TYRON, slowthai sounds more together and present than ever.

On their 10th album, The Former Site Of, bandleader A.C. Newman has honed his playful gibberish to the point that it's become his signature style, delightful rather than simply a way to fill the syllables of his towering power pop melodies.

Atmospheric grooves is the order of the day with Khruangbin's latest; by way of psychedelic rock, Con Todo El Mundo's got the groove and grips it tight.

It's all delivered with such fresh energy and so many original production ideas that it's honestly hard to gripe too much. If you've been vibing on Hannah Diamond's Cook-produced debut Reflections recently and were somewhat baffled by 7G, look no further than Apple, a bold and exciting album that boasts focus as well.

It's amiable, deceptively dense and, ultimately, rewarding.

On The Air Between Words, Martyn comes off tranquil, playful and completely in control of his own kaleidoscopic world.

Occasionally, Willner's penchant for repetition is taken a little far here, but in most cases, it serves to heighten the drama of changes when they do come.

Waiting Game is a smooth and smart shift for an outfit that was doing just fine prior but could stand to switch it up. Whether soft reset or brief respite, it's definitely Junior Boys' most tasteful and interesting album.

Though less adventurous than on earlier work, Parquet Courts still manage to deliver a unique record that builds on the foundations of the past.

As a mystical and cosmic album, No York! sheds light on Blu's inspiring sonic dexterity.

At its worst, the effect is soporific, but if you're looking for a comforting, cushiony soundscape, Cala is good company. It's when Regan opts for crisper, more invigorated sounds, though, that the album really shines.

While I Was Born Swimming never goes into the unfamiliar, Williams' gushing charm is more than comforting enough to feel what it's like to exist somewhere in between destinations.

Deradoorian's songwriting pulls together colliding ideas and sounds, and it works on the eccentric and restless The Exploding Flower Planet.

Cape God does such justice to the patented Allie X sound, refining and mastering it to the extent that it makes all that came before it feel like a proof-of-concept for this project. Pulsing keyboards clashing against string instruments and met with intoxicating vocals, Cape God sees Allie X reach her final form.

Each song stands out as its own unique piece of the puzzle, a quality that is easy to lose on electro-pop albums. The standout tracks will continue to impress while the rest will add to an increasingly impressive body of work.

This is new, fresh, young rap with an edge.

Overall, the album's production is too polished, which somewhat contradicts the band's filth-caked persona. Instead of their lovable, sloppy sludge with festering warts and all, Nomadic Behavior is squeaky clean and coherent, with a surgical gravity to each and every downtuned chord.

Coming Home is a star-making vehicle that is solidly crafted, robustly traditionalist and palpably soulful. This is not just a nostalgia act; this is music from the heart, and the soul.

While the rest of the album blows past you at breakneck pace, there are enough moments where the band let their deeper side show. It keeps Toy interesting.

At the core of Bottle It In, the 38-year-old husband and father of two offers his family the comforting illusion of his presence, a chance to hear his voice, and a reminder that they're with him, wherever he may be.

If all of the National's albums were placed in a Venn diagram, Laugh Track would sit at the direct centre — neither expanding the sound à la the sweeping expanse of 2019's I Am Easy to Find, nor fully retreating to the straight-up indie rock of 2007's The Boxer. Crucially, it re-establishes them as a group of long-time collaborators in line with one another, none of them standing out from the others.

Ghost isn't for everyone; they are deliberately, deliciously over the top and unapologetically dramatic, but if you dig their smoke and mirrors, then Meliora is just the indulgence you've been craving.

The showmanship and pomp of The Silver Gymnasium render youthful curiosity and naivety with dazzling honesty.

What makes Sun so exquisite is that Marshall finally sounds in control of her chaos.

This might not be their best work--that's still the cohesive, mind-altering Nootropics--but Escape From Evil finds Lower Dens continuing to push themselves into new sonic territory, the hallmark of any great band.

Whether Miller is singing on those funk-inflected highlights, or rapping on them with a flow that's airtight to their irresistible rhythms, he sounds like a would-be chart-topper, not to mention one of the most versatile and accomplished hip-hop artists working today. He also clearly has pop chops to rival those of his former flame.

Hackney Diamonds may not go down as an iconic Stones LP, but this late in the game it's basically a triumph by nearly every measure.