Some songs stick to the usual anarchic ideas, "The Hanging Man" being a tasty cut worthy of inclusion on any forthcoming Best Of, but there are also introspective nightmare-lullabies like "Annaline," "Amnesia" and "Cathedrals of Heaven." ... Easygoing suits Gira.

The biggest strength of Up On High may be its greatest weakness: it's a record that is exactly what it is trying to be, a folk rock album that feels so much like a folk rock album that you forget about it as soon as it ends. Vetiver's latest is an album that you can put on and not think too much about.

It could have been much better. Kanye's foray into gospel should have been a heavenly experience, but it's half-baked, incoherent and ultimately falls short of godly.

The tracks on Spiritual Instinct feel somewhat monotonous, comparatively, since Alcest rarely pull back the reins to accentuate the diversity of their (typically) expansive sound.

[An] energized album, full of unexpected twists and forked, enchanting melodies.

Anicca is an album that stands alone, reaching above and beyond expectation.

Black Marble has seen a massive development with Bigger Than Life. Whether the record has proven itself to acutally be "bigger than life" is up for debate. But for Stewart's third LP, it's a solid effort and pleasant change of pace.

This EP is more sketchbook than fully realized piece of art, a placeholder between full-lengths designed to keep the band in the cultural conversation.

Anthropocosmic Nest is full of loud blasts from the Messthetics, but it's also dynamic, revealing a patient, thoughtful approach to songwriting, which, beyond exhibiting the band's musical proficiency, is a real signifier of genuine friendship and trust.

Kiwanuka is therapeutic for all parties involved. It's honest, psychedelic, enlightening and recalls blackness defined by acoustic folk and the organic soul of past artists like Gil Scott-Heron, Bobby Womack and Otis Redding.

Those who go into this expecting more of the visceral and mind-bending productions that added to the novelty of Varmints might be disappointed, but listeners with no expectations are bound to be pleasantly surprised.

The three distinct movements on display lead into each other, as if in a singular narrative.

Cry will make you cry, because Gonzalez knows what he's doing. It's cathartic, stunning, it'll awaken your senses and it's not to be missed.

Colorado makes good on Young's promise that rust never sleeps — turns out, it gets better with age.

You Deserve Love packs plenty of pop hooks into its short runtime without losing any of its rock swagger. White Reaper are playing like they have nothing to lose on You Deserve Love, and the record is all the better for it.

He's as strong a songwriter as always, but it feels like there's a deeper sense of purpose this time around, and it makes for a beautifully gratifying experience.

If this isn't Jacques Greene's magnum opus, we'll be very curious to hear what is.

With Over It, the Atlanta singer-songwriter is on point with a debut that's ultimately a contemplation on sexual politics and emotional availability.

It is great to see Caroline Polachek giving a go at being an independent pop artist, and this album makes it feasible that she one day becomes a household name in the genre.

Hovvdy's balanced expressions between residual nostalgia and murmuring secrecy are worn in beautifully on Heavy Lifter.

If you're a diehard fan, you could give Surviving a chance, but if you're only a fan of their pop punk and emo efforts, it's best to skip this one.

Though the sonic explorations undermine the album's overall cohesiveness, Crush remains a shining example of Shepherd's growth as an artist, and his willingness to push boundaries well into his career.

By opening up their sonic palette, Third Eye Blind has highlighted their sheer strength as a songwriting unit and demonstrated that any path they take, they'll throw themselves into fully and unreservedly. Sounding both fresh and classic, Screamer is a great place for new fans to jump on, or for previously jaded listeners to give one of rock's most underrated groups a fresh shot.

There's an effortless authenticity in her voice. ... Naggar's rickety orchestration, imagistic lyrics and posture of kindness ensure that it never feels like effort, so much as a joyful, sad, funny, wise conversation with close, thoughtful friend.

Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost — Part 2 is at once a satisfying and boundary-pushing listen from a band that sound hungry over a decade into their career.

It's good both for bobbing heads and bopping feet — both for being alone-alone, and alone-around-others, too.

Juice B Crypts responds with 11 tracks of knotty, electronic rock puzzles.

Sadly, precious little restraint is found on the stuffy, haughty Closer Than Together.