We hear some new facets of Marshall’s artistry and have a terrific record demonstrating his versatility and vision. Clearly, it’s worthy of the hype.

The power, pain, and suffering of the original Delta blues from perhaps its singly most important innovator is here to be appreciated in better sound quality than it ever has. ... This is Son House at his peak, this is one to savor and cherish. It will likely become his legacy recording.

This scathingly provocative, intense work is overwhelming to digest in one listen. It well could become a landmark recording.

Weyes Blood’s And In the Darkness, Hearts Aglow is a revelatory baroque pop album forged in these recent chaotic days.

Pure energy, passion, and joy ring throughout, as “Elijah Rock” is one more case in point that shows that James Brandon Lewis can make a tribute album sound as original as possible.

Their ambitious sophomore album establishes them as a timeless act, a group of artists hellbent on saying what they want to say and nothing more. They proved they deserve every bit of praise while glossing over it to create an album so chaotic and stunning, it already feels timeless.

Despite the multitude of contributors, Placenta maintains a natural, cohesive flow. Niño’s role as a facilitator and catalyst is evident throughout, as he channels the creative energy of his collaborators into a unified, organic whole. .... Niño continues to push the boundaries of musical expression, and Placenta is a shining example of his visionary artistry.

The 7th Hand reveals even more of Wilkins’ artistry, deeply embracing Black music, citing his elders, and in so doing, demonstrating a stronger commitment to the spiritual aspects of channeling improvisation through a higher power than heard on his first effort. He further cements his growing reputation as one of the strongest contemporary forces in this music.

LaVette came so close to a Grammy with her interpretations of Dylan’s songs. Blackbirds may just push her to the top. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else delivering an album that oozes such deep emotion with each lyric. Clearly, it cements her status as one of today’s elite interpreters of song.

Compassion reveals one of today’s most fully rounded piano trios on their second foray, transportive music of the highest caliber.

MESTIZX stands out not just as a musical album but as an impactful cultural statement. Ferragutti and Rosaly have crafted a work that is both a tribute to their ancestors and a manifesto for future generations.

The Mael brothers have been waiting patiently for the world to catch up to them, but A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip signifies another bold creative peak moment for Sparks.

With both ears pointing toward the future and his mind on his upbringing, Bridges adds another stunning LP to his colorful discography. LEON is staggering in its honesty and enthralling in its approach to such personal topics.

The duration of the record is ultimately out of proportion to its considerable depth of feeling. These dozen tracks all boast impeccable audio, but the clarity of those sonics, the likes of which earmark all recent Neil Young recordings in recent years, is less significant as a commercial selling point than as a direct correlation to the purity of emotion within the music.

Plum is a great album, one that is professional without losing its beauty, ambitious within their discography and undoubtedly one of the year’s best.

Showcase[s] improvements from the highly publicized 2019 album, Metttavolution while seeming humble and curious. Rodrigo y Gabriela have never cowered away from the challenge of funneling their influence and experiences into one solid format but on this new album, they took their traditional style of doing so and implemented a sense of urgency that gives the album a certain zestfulness that is infectious.

Bleeds is a full cathartic release for both Wednesday and the listener, as the band creates a jam-packed tracklist that sheds raw honesty, imaginative imagery, and artistic maturity over warped distortion. The band is performing as if writing and recording these songs were the only way to differentiate dreams from reality.

For its imperfections, less than optimal sound quality (although particularly good considering the 56-year age of the tapes), a less than engaged at times McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, and what comes across as a feverish blowing session more so than a spiritual reckoning, it’s a jaw-dropping performance. ... Purists may still adhere to the studio version and deservedly so but nonetheless, that cannot diminish the importance of this recording in Coltrane’s legacy. It’s a revelation and it now invites a comparison of the two that none of us ever expected.

Four stands among the tallest in Frisell’s storied catalog and should be destined for classic status.

It’s destined to be one of the year’s best and a monster reminder of how the simplest music, rendered by two masters, is often the best kind.

If an album can make you cry, this one will. It’s a stellar performance for the ages.

The Country Westerns have given us one hell of a debut, bringing to mind the glory days of bar band alt-country while still sounding bitingly fresh and lyrically relevant to ultimately result in an early contender for album of the year.

A stunningly effective experience. ... The album, though emotionally weighty, offers a testament to moving on and surviving and makes for thoroughly unforgettable listen.

Each listen reveals more layers in each song, the first listen might sound like The Beach Boys and the second listen maybe sounds like Donovan, and by the third it just sounds like Max Clarke. Yet it’s entirely original the whole time and perhaps one of the best albums to be released so far this year.

Nile’s string of these three albums from 2018’s Children of Paradise to 2020’s New York at Night to this one is arguably as good as any songwriter be it Dylan, Mitchell, Earle, or whoever you want to name.

Gold Record is simple, but packed with lyrical mastery and it plays through without any hitches. Each song encapsulates a lesson or a character that Callahan wants us to either learn about or learn from, and his voice sinks in comfortable in the life that he has lived.

Masterful. ... The band has created a unique sound that is both modern and retro, and the album features a wide array of styles and sounds. It’s a must-listen for fans of rock, funk and soul music, and for anyone looking for an album that is both musically and emotionally satisfying.

With highlights like the folksy yet violent storytelling single, “This Is The Killer Speaking,” the heartbreaking poetry and emotional outpouring on “Sail Away,” the raw, passionate vocals on “Count The Ways,” and the way all these moods fit under one sonic umbrella, TLDP strikes unabashed gold for the second album in a row on From The Pyre.