While there are tracks on No Shape that bow in that direction. But these nips and tucks to the Perfume Genius sound serve a common goal: showcasing Hadreas, who shines bright like a diamond throughout.

In•ter A•li•a feels like a band trying to recapture the sound of their youth.

Each of the five songs are fantastically paced, building up to massive payoff every time; it's something that's never been out of Terror's range of ability, but a collection of songs consistently of this calibre has been a long time coming.

Though it might seem strange that Oldham recorded the first major tribute to Haggard, the careful and well-thought-out working through of the master's themes makes deliberate sense.

The Last Rider is a gorgeous record, hazy and honeyed, which sounds and feels like a remastered '70s folk-pop classic.

Even after seven albums, the fun and excitement is still there, albeit in a new and changing way.

It certainly was a long wait, but finally Slowdive have given us the album that we have been dreaming about for the last 22 years.

The Portland pair embrace vitality and exploration, but their polarized approach to psychedelia overcompensates at times.

With a fresh approach and a renewed outlook on life, DeMarco reaches a whole other level of cool, lush calm as well as an unprecedented degree of maturity and introspection.

A few minor missteps don't derail the album. What's most impressive is that, 20 years deep, New Found Glory are still putting out compelling music and growing tastefully with each release.

The fact that Stetson can draw such varied sonic references together in one cohesive display of virtuosity makes him a national treasure. ... Genius.

A few duds like the repetitive "Glow Up" and the sappy duet with Prince Charlez "Smile" aside, Strength Of A Woman is Blige's finest offering in over a decade.

Wiesenfeld's hazy side project is nice, but it would fare better if he punched it up slightly-- for active listening

Visuals is drenched in grandiosity, but many of its songs are devoid of proper exploration; instead of pushing the limits, they often feel idle.

async is the work of an authentically great artist that may well be entering a rich new phase of his 42-year career.

What Now is accessible in every sense of the word, but after several spins, it'll pull you much deeper than one might initially think.

Pleasure presents a unique, uncompromising vision of intimacy and enjoyment.

Although it lacks the kind of Apple-friendly jingles that have made them such a smash, it makes up for it with palatably overarching political themes and sequencing that gives it the wildly entertaining feel of a circus show.

The band will probably never make a singularly categorizable record, but their unique balance of accessibility and creativity is a definite strength--and it shines here.

Guppy is a hyper, loveable, endearing, gritty, catchy romp through early 20s confusion, love, lust, travel and therapy.

Be Myself is hardly a classic, but it's another solid, light-hearted sounding collection with some clear standouts on it.

After an extended break, Teengirl Fantasy return wiser and sounding somehow more like themselves.

Not only is Gas' Narkopop a top candidate for best microhouse album of 2017, it may also be the best drone album and the best classical album--and possibly just the best album you'll hear this year, period.

Davies somehow hasn't lost a step along the way. Between his inimitable acerbic wit (the withering "Poetry" is peak Davies) and his generous attention to quirky detail (his ode to the road trip "The Great Highway" is a highlight), longtime fans will find much to celebrate here.

On Electric Lines, Joe Goddard shoots for something eclectic and exciting, but settles for something sporadically enjoyable at best.

DAMN. is the first time in Lamar's career that he hasn't broken new ground, explored old themes in new ways or exhibited sonic growth.

Wrangled lacks ambition.

Royal Thunder borrow elements from many different sounds, but they've found a way to emphasize the parts that make them unique. In an industry full of cookie-cutter sentiment, it's refreshing to find a band with the courage to wear their heart on their sleeve as boldly as they do on Wick.