At 12 tracks, Radyo Siwèl doesn't overstay its welcome and is speckled with enough gems to leave a lasting impression. It's a bit cliche to say Mélissa Laveaux is "one to watch" yet, here we are.

With a staggering 18 songs, Vessel may appear daunting at first, but quickly proves itself to be a sharp and smooth listen.

The resemblance between J.D. Wilkes and the Legendary Shack Shakers is presumed, but Wilkes fixes his mistakes in After You've Gone with Fire Dream.

Heynderickx's music sounds fresh and improvised, as much about process as it is about poetry and craft.

While not a classic, Sex & Cigarettes is a solid effort from R&B's true queen of heartbreak.

The band maintain a proficiency at writing catchy riffs and intoxicating grooves, merging the likes of Sabbath with ZZ-Top, but the feeling of repetition, combined with a lack of impact like they used to have, may leave fans wanting.

Longwave channels the low-key indie pop sound of (Sandy) Alex G and Frankie Cosmos. Bonny Doon have proven their ability to transform their complex songwriting and vivid melodies into experiences that resemble those long hours of elusive conversations we crave.

On Hormone Lemonade, Cavern of Anti-Matter have created an inventive piece of art that could have benefited from a bit of self-editing and a some of that old style vision.

[Space Gun] is a little more what you would expect from a GBV album. You have some sing-along mainstays, including the title track and "Blink Blank"; it's slightly different, while comfortingly the same. It already fills you with nostalgia, with the album not yet attached to any specific memories.

While his intentions may have been pure, Snoop's attention to the assembling of this album needed a little more love.

Even when an experiment fails, it does so in intriguing and unpredictable ways.

While not a particularly daring record, old school Fratellis fans will unquestionably be satisfied with their most consistent release in well over a decade.

With tiny flourishes, Ndegeocello injects new meaning into each song she covers.

The tuneless guitar twang that's used throughout the movie [A Scanner Darkly] and the little scraps of Radiohead tracks on offer have nothing on New Path though. All we need now is some devoted fan with editing skills to paste in the soundtrack that the movie deserves

Jericho Sirens is truly spirited rock'n'roll that hits you directly, but it's also enigmatic and increasingly rewarding the deeper you dive. The arrangements are mighty and confident, while the cast of characters and scenarios are compelling and provocative, anchored by Froberg's impassioned screaming and cool articulation. Comebacks are complicated, for bands and fans too, but this is one for the ages.

It's a tasteful and mature evolution for one of the genre's key names, and long-time fans will have no problem assimilating this well-crafted, down-tempo album into Moby's already eclectic body of work.

Optimistic but never mawkish, August Greene distinguishes itself from other socially conscious albums with its practical approach. It's motivational music that, for once, makes change feel less elusive.

Many of us are still absorbing last year's mighty Providence LP, along with the accompanying remix EPs, but Sunder adds even more water to the sponge, serving as yet another reminder that Fake never fails to amaze--even when he's recording on the fly.

Although there's some room for improvement, Victory Lap is still a solid effort with the promise of better to come.

There's a Riot Going On is an exceptional addition to Yo La Tengo's legacy, a timeless classic.

This release has the same charge as the early entries of Ali Hassan Kuban or Konono No. 1, both who set the bar for raw energy. The colonial demarcations of Africa have a lot to answer for, but this fusing of Songhai, Fulani, Hausa and Tuareg peoples has created gifts worth having. This is amazing music.

The album is so riven by corporate overtures that it bears no resemblance to its prequel.

Automata I cherry-picks from some of the best elements of previous Between the Buried and Me records, while injecting their masterful sense of musicianship and structure.

This is Of Montreal's 15th LP (to say nothing of their many EPs and compilations), and it's neither their most sonically confrontational work, nor their most viscerally emotional. It's pleasant and poppy, but if you don't get around to listening, no sweat.

Al Jourgensen's signature vocal bark remains unchanged, but things have slowed down musically. Fans of Ministry's lightning-fast thrash moments will be disappointed by the record's grinding pace.

Tory Lanez manages to inject Memories Don't Die with a few quality tracks, but overall it misses the mark on classic appeal.

Ultimately, All That Must Be is a glowing album that plots the psychological journey of its creator through the often un-navigable waters of change. Yet somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle of real life, Fitzgerald found his strongest compass.

This is a fluid expression of both jarring and accessible concepts that hit you square in the jaw. And like the two previous albums, these Scots still sound like nothing else out there.