Music Tracking 2014

These are 2014 releases that I've taken note of, listed alphabetically by artist, with VA comps at the bottom. My grades, where available, are in brackets at the end of the line (stars in B+ range). Lines in blue indicate that I have a physical copy (albeit sometimes just a promo CDR); in green are records that I graded based on a Rhapsody stream or other such source. Most records have release dates and a brief generic note (usually taken from AMG). When I first put this file together, I dropped records once I had rated them. On Aug. 25, I folded the year-end list back in, both to give a sense of context (what I've heard vs. what I haven't) and to weed out some errors.

Unheard records are prioritized 0-3 (graded records are 4-5). The priotization is based subjectively on personal interests, reviews I've noticed, reviewers I particularly respect, what I know about the artists, etc. Roughly speaking: 0 is something I have no reason to consider (default page omits 0); 1 has been noted as having some cred somewhere; 2 is something I have some specific reason to search out; 3 is something I'll listen to ASAP.

Option selectors:

New Releases

  • The 2 Bears: The Night Is Young (Southern Fried) [10-14] - club/dance
  • #1 Dads: About Face ()
  • 3D [Dabrowski Davis Drury]: Vermilion Tree (ForTune) - jazz
  • 5 Seconds of Summer: 5 Seconds of Summer (Capitol) [07-22] - pop/rock [B]
  • 5 Seconds of Summer: Livesos (Capitol) [12-16] - pop
  • 36: Dream Tempest (3six) [07-16] - ambient
  • 50 Cent: Animal Ambition: An Untamed Desire to Win (G-Unit) [06-03] - east coast rap
  • 75 Dollar Bill: Olives in the Ears (self-released) [***]
  • 100s: Ivry (Fool's Gold) - rap
  • 3108: 3108 (Trouble in Mind) [04-29] - indie pop
  • Juhani Aaltonen: To Future Memories (TUM) [***]
  • Mindi Abair: Wild Heart (Concord/Heads Up) [05-27] - contemporary jazz
  • Greg Abate Quartet: Motif (Whaling City Sound) - jazz [A-]
  • ABBA: Live at Wembley Arena (Polydor) [09-30] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Luke Abbott: Wysing Forest (Border Community) [06-23] - electronic
  • Absolutely Free: Absolutely Free (Lefse) [10-14] - indie rock
  • Ab-Soul: These Days . . . (Top Dawg) [06-24] - alt rap [**]
  • The Acacia Strain: Coma Witch (Rise) [10-14] - heavy metal
  • Accept: Blind Rage (Nuclear Blast) [08-19] - hard rock
  • AC/DC: Rock or Bust (Columbia) [12-02] - hard rock
  • The Acid: Liminal (Mute) [07-15] - indie electronic
  • Actress: Ghettoville (Ninja Tune) [01-28] - electronic [*]
  • Kris Adams: Longing (Jazzbird) [B]
  • Ryan Adams: Ryan Adams (Blue Note) [09-08] - singer-songwriter [B]
  • Jason Adasiewicz's Sun Rooms: From the Region (Delmark) [08-26] - jazz [***]
  • Adorn: You'll Never Get to Heaven ()
  • Adult Jazz: Gist Is (Spare Thought) [08-05] - indie pop
  • AEvangelist: Writhes in the Murk () - metal
  • Jaime Affoumado/Alex Blake/Arturo O'Farrill/Bill Ware: The Puppeteers (Puppet's) [**]
  • The Afghan Whigs: Do to the Beast (Sub Pop) [04-15] - indie rock [**]
  • Africa Express: Presents . . . Terry Riley's In C (Transgressive)
  • Afrikan Boy: The ABCD (Yam) [08-18] - African
  • Afro Bop Alliance: Angel Eyes (Zoho) - Latin jazz
  • Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra: Pulsion (Ubiquity) [08-26] - jazz [***]
  • Afrojack: Forget the World (Def Jam/Island/Wall) [05-20] - EDM
  • Against Me!: Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Total Treble) [01-21] - punk rock [**]
  • Ages and Ages: Divisionary (Partisan) [03-25] - alt-country
  • Agalloch: The Serpent & the Sphere (Profound Lore) [05-13] - black metal
  • Ages & Ages: Divisionary ()
  • Anders Ahlen Unit: Lines and Dots (Signal and Sound) - jazz
  • Kiran Ahluwalia: Sanata: Stillness (Magenta) [10-14] - world
  • Jhené Aiko: Souled Out (Def Jam) [09-09] - contemporary r&b [*]
  • Lydia Ainsworth: Right From Real (Arbutus) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Air Dubai: Be Calm (Hopeless) [07-01] - alt rap
  • Jason Ajemian: Folklords (Delmark) - jazz [A-]
  • Jason Ajemian/Tony Malaby/Rob Mazurek/Chad Taylor: A Way a Land of Life (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • Ambrose Akinmusire: The Imagined Savior Is Far Easier to Paint (Blue Note) [B-]
  • Akrobatik: Built to Last (self-released)
  • Fatima Al Qadiri: Asiatisch (Hyperdub) [05-06] - electronic [**]
  • Yemi Alade: King of Queens (Effyzzie Music Group) [10-02] - afropop [**]
  • Damon Albarn: Everyday Robots (Parlophone) [04-29] - adult alt pop/rock [*]
  • Alcest: Shelter (Prophecy) [01-21] - alt/indie rock
  • Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio: Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord) [06-24] - jazz [*]
  • Jason Aldean: Old Boots, New Dirt (Broken Bow) [10-07] - contemporary country
  • Hannah Aldridge: Razor Wire (Trodden Black Entertainment)
  • Alesana: The Decade (Artery, EP) [04-01] - post-hardcore
  • Ralph Alessi/Kris Davis/Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey: Lark (Skirl) - jazz
  • Ariel Alexander & Jon Bremen: Street Cries (self-released, EP) [*]
  • Dee Alexander: Songs My Mother Loves (Blujazz) [**]
  • Eric Alexander: Chicago Fire (High Note) [03-25] - post-bop
  • Alias: Pitch Black Prism (Anticon) [06-24] - left-field hip-hop
  • Allah-Las: Worship the Sun (Innovative Leisure) [09-16] - garage rock revival
  • Damian Allegretti/Erik Friedlander/Tony Malaby: Stoddard Place () [J|jazz]
  • Eddie Allen: Push (Edjallen Music) [**]
  • Hoodie Allen: People Keep Talking (self-released) [10-14] - pop-rap
  • JD Allen: Bloom (Savant) [04-22] - jazz
  • Lily Allen: Sheezus (Warner Brothers/Regal) [05-05] [A]
  • Tony Allen: Film of Life (Jazz Village) [10-14] - afro-beat [**]
  • Devon Allman: Ragged & Dirty (Ruf) [10-14] - blues/rock
  • Allman Brothers Band: Lockn' Festival, Arlington, VA -- September 7, 2014 (Munckmusic) - jam band
  • Allo Darlin': We Came From the Same Place (Slumberland) [10-06] - alt/indie rock [A-]
  • Fabian Almazan: Rhizome (ArtistShare) - piano jazz
  • August Alsina: Testimony (Def Jam) [04-15] - rap
  • Alt-J: This Is All Yours (Canvasback/Atlantic) [09-23] - alt/indie rock [B]
  • Dave Alvin/Phil Alvin: Common Ground: Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy (Yep Roc) [06-03] - country/blues [A-]
  • Alvvays: Alvvays (Polyvinyl) [07-22] - indie pop [*]
  • Rodrigo Amado: Wire Quartet (Clean Feed) - jazz [A-]
  • Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio & Peter Evans: Live in Lisbon (NoBusiness) - jazz [**]
  • Rodrigo Amado Motion Trio & Peter Evans: The Freedom Principle (NoBusiness) - jazz [**]
  • The Amazing Snakeheads: Amphetamine Ballads (Domino) [04-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Oren Ambarchi: Quixotism (Editions Mego) [10-28] - experimental ambient
  • Oren Ambarchi/Eli Keszler: Alps (Dancing Wayang) - jazz
  • Oren Ambarchi/Stephen O'Malley/Randall Dunn: Shade Themes From Kairos (Drag City) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Elisa Ambrogio: The Immoralist (Drag City) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • Marsha Ambrosius: Fvck & Love (2014, self-released, EP) [*]
  • Amen Dunes: Love (Sacred Bones) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Scott Amendola/Charlie Hunter: Pucker (Sazi) - jazz
  • The Ames Room: Struggling in Public (Norwegianism) - jazz
  • Sam Amidon: Lily-O (Nonesuch) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • AMM: Place Sub V (Matchless) - jazz
  • Tori Amos: Unrepentant Geraldines (Mercury Classics) [05-12] - singer-songwriter
  • Amps for Christ: Canyons Cars and Crows (Shrimper) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Anathema: Distant Satellites (Kscope) [06-10] - neo-prog
  • Anberlin: Lowborn (Tooth & Nail) [07-22] - pop/rock
  • . . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: IX (Superball Music) [11-11] - pop/rock
  • Arild Andersen/Tommy Smith/Paolo Vinaccia: Mira (ECM) [***]
  • Angles 9: Injuries (Clean Feed) - jazz [***]
  • Jason Anick: Tipping Point (Magic Fiddle Music) [*]
  • Anjou: Anjou (Kranky) [09-16] - indie rock
  • Lotte Anker/Jakob Riis: Squid Police (Konvoy) [11-11] - jazz [*]
  • Antemasque: Antemasque (Universal) [11-10] - pop/rock
  • Anthroprophh: Outside the Circle (Rocket)
  • The Antlers: Familiars (Anti-) [06-17] - dream pop
  • Laurie Antonioli: Songs of Shadow, Songs of Light: The Music of Joni Mitchell (Origin) [B]
  • Antony and the Johnsons/Charles Atlas: Turning (Secretly Canadian) [11-11] - soundtracks
  • The Apache Relay: The Apache Relay (Nomadic) [04-22] - indie rock
  • Aphex Twin: Syro (Warp) [09-23] - experimental techno [A-]
  • Apuh!: Ett (Pälsrobot) - jazz
  • The Aquadolls: Stoked on You (Burger) [12-02] - indie pop
  • Arabrot: I Modi (Fysisk Format)
  • Arc Iris: Arc Iris (Anti-Epitaph) [04-01] - singer-songwriter
  • Arca: Xen (Mute) [11-04] - electronic [B]
  • Archipelago: Archipelago Matters ()
  • Architects: Lost Forever/Lost Together (Epitaph) [03-10]
  • Johnny Aries: Unbloomed (Frenchkiss) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Arkells: High Noon (Dine Alone) [08-05] - alt pop-rock
  • Arp: Pulsars e Quasars (Mexican Summer, EP) [09-23] - electronic
  • Art Department: Natural Selection (No 19 Music) [11-18] - club/dance
  • Joseph Arthur: Lou (Vanguard)
  • Syd Arthur: Sound Mirror (Harvest/Virgin) [05-20] - neo-psychedelia
  • Ásgeir: In the Silence (One Little Indian) [02-04] - Icelandic folk
  • Ashanti: Braveheart (E1) [03-04] - contemporary r&b
  • The Askew Sisters: In the Air or the Earth (Rootbeat)
  • Ashrae Fax: Never Really Been Into It (Mexican Summer) [08-26] - dream pop
  • Clarice Assad: Imaginarium (Adventure Music) [B-]
  • The Asteroids Galaxy Tour: Bring Us Together (Hot Bus/Rough Trade) [09-16] - alt dance
  • Astr: Varsity (Theory Entertainment, EP) [01-21]
  • At the Gates: At War With Reality ()
  • The Atlas Moth: The Old Believer (Profound Lore) [06-10] - doom metal
  • Atmosphere: Southsiders (Rhymesayers Entertainment) [05-06] [***]
  • Shinichi Atobe: Butterfly Effect (DDS)
  • Atriarch: An Unending Pathway () - metal
  • Allison Au Quartet: The Sky Was Pale Blue, Then Grey (self-released) [10-28] - jazz [**]
  • Auction Project: Slink (self-released) [*]
  • Audio One: An International Report (Audiographic) [05-15] - free jazz [***]
  • Audio One: The Midwest School (Audiographic) [05-15] - free jazz
  • Augustines: Augustines (Caroline) [01-31] - indie pop
  • Aurelio: Lándini (Real World) - world [***]
  • Autopsy: Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves ()
  • Bobby Avey: Authority Melts From Me (Whirlwind) [A-]
  • Avi Buffalo: At Best Cuckold (Sub Pop) [09-09] - alt pop/rock [*]
  • Omer Avital: New Song (Motema) [03-04] - jazz [*]
  • Awakening Orchestra: Vol 1: This Is Not the Answer (Innova) - jazz
  • Marvin Ayres: Ultraradian Rhythms (Wall of Waves/Market Square) [07-15]
  • Iggy Azalea: The New Classic (Def Jam) [04-22] - alt rap [A-]
  • Iggy Azalea: Reclassified (Def Jam) [11-24] - alt rap [**]
  • Azure: Hiptronics (Azuremusic) - jazz
  • Katy B: Little Red (Columbia) [***]
  • The Bad Plus: The Rite of Spring (Masterworks) [03-25] - avant-garde
  • The Bad Plus: Inevitable Western (Masterworks) [08-26] - modern creative [***]
  • BadBadNotGood: III (Innovative Leisure) [05-06] [**]
  • Joachim Badenhorst: Forest Mori (Klein) - jazz
  • Jonathan Badger: Verse (Cuneiform) [09-30] - experimental rock
  • Mike Baggetta Quartet: Thieves and Secrets (Fresh Sound New Talent) [*]
  • Bahamas: Bahamas Is Afie (Brushfire/Island/Republic) [08-19] - alt singer/songwriter [**]
  • Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires: Dereconstructed (Sub Pop) [05-27] - American trad rock
  • Aram Bajakian: There Were Flowers Also in Hell (self-released)
  • Aram Bajakian & Julia Úlehla: Dálava (self-released) [10-14]
  • Ginger Baker: Why? (Motéma Music) [05-27] - continental jazz
  • Nat Baldwin: In the Hollows (Western Vinyl) [04-29] - indie rock
  • Marcia Ball: The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator Man (Alligator) [09-23] - blues [*]
  • Ball Park Music: Puddinghead ()
  • Jeff Ballard Trio: Time's Tales (Okeh) [***]
  • Ballet School: The Dew Lasts an Hour (Bella Union) [09-09] - alt pop/rock
  • Ballister: Both Ends (Bocian) [03-00] - free jazz
  • Baloni: Belleke (Clean Feed) [**]
  • The Bamboos: Fever in the Road (Nettwerk) [04-01] - retro soul
  • Band of Skulls: Himalayan (Electric Blues) [04-01] - punk blues
  • Banda Magda: Yerakina (Ground Up) - world
  • Billy Bang/William Parker: Medicine Buddha (2009, NoBusiness) - jazz [A-]
  • Alex Banks: Illuminate (Monkeytown) [06-10] - electronic
  • Azealia Banks: Broke With Expensive Taste (Prospect Park) [11-06] - rap [***]
  • Banks: Goddess (Harvest) [09-09] - alt pop/rock
  • Lee Bannon: Alternate Endings (Ninja Tune) [01-13]
  • Lee Bannon: Main/Flex (Babygrande/Chillectro) [11-04] - experimental electronic
  • Baptet: Trash Nova (Brakophonic) - jazz-rock
  • Diego Barber + Craig Taborn: Tales (Sunnyside) - jazz
  • Mike Bardash Quintet: Polygon (Rhombus) [*]
  • Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals' Starvation League: Undefeated (Bloodshot) [B]
  • Tomas Barfod: Love Me (Secretly Canadian) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Baring Teeth: Ghost Chorus Among Old Ruins () - metal
  • The Barr Brothers: Sleeping Operator (Secret City) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Courtney Barnett: The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas (Mom & Pop Music) [11-11] [*]
  • Darren Barrett dB Quintet: Live and Direct 2014 (dB Studios) [B]
  • Darren Barrett: Energy in Motion: The Music of the Bee Gees (dB Studios) [B-]
  • Serious Sam Barrett: Any Road (Yadig?)
  • Barrier of Broken Leaves: Spite (Turmeric Magnitudes)
  • Kenny Barron/Dave Holland: The Art of Conversation (Blue Note) - jazz [***]
  • Mark Barrott: Sketches From an Island (International Feel) [06-10] - ambient techno
  • Bruce Barth: Daybreak (Savant) [**]
  • Bas: Last Winter (Dreamville/Interscope) [04-29] - rap
  • The Baseball Project: 3rd (Yep Roc) [***]
  • Basement Jaxx: Junto (PIAS) [08-25] - electronic [**]
  • Al Basile: Swing n' Strings (Sweetspot) [**]
  • Bastille: VS (Other People's Heartache, Pt III (Virgin) [12-09] - alt dance
  • Batida: Dois (Soundway) [10-20] - world [**]
  • Battle Trance: Palace of Wind (New Amsterdam) [08-26] - jazz [**]
  • Matt Bauder and Day in Pictures: Nightshades (Clean Feed) [***]
  • Peter Matthew Bauer: Liberation! (Mexican Summer) [06-24] - alt/indie rock
  • Jam Baxter: . . . So We Ate Them Whole (High Focus) [12-01]
  • Bayside: Cult (Hopeless) [02-18] - punk-pop
  • Be (Garth Be): The Seven Movements (SweetSticky) [12-01]
  • Willis Earl Beal: Experiments in Time (CD Baby) [08-12] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Bear's Den: Island ()
  • Beat Funktion: Voodooland (DO Music) [B-]
  • Fini Bearman: Porgy and Bess (F-ire) - vocal jazz
  • Beck: Morning Phase (Capitol/Virgin) [02-25] - alt/indie rock [B-]
  • Joe Beck: Get Me Joe Beck (2006, Whaling City Sound) [***]
  • Gerald Beckett: The Messenger (Summit) [B]
  • Albert Beger Trio: The Way to Go (Jazzis) - jazz
  • Behemoth: The Satanist (Metal Blade) [02-04] - metal
  • Maya Beiser: Uncovered (Innova) [08-26]
  • Drake Bell: Ready Steady Go! (Surfdog) [B-]
  • Olga Bell: Krai (New Amsterdan/One Little Indian) [04-29] - Russian traditions
  • The Belle Brigade: Just Because (ATO) [03-25] - singer-songwriter
  • Bob Bellerue: Cure the Antidote (Los Discos Enfantasmes)
  • Bellowhead: Revival (Island) [07-01] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Anat Ben David: Melech (self-released)
  • Marco Benevento: Swift (The Royal Potato Family) [09-16] - indie rock
  • Tigger Benford & Party: Vessel of Gratitude (self-released) [*]
  • Ben Bennett/Jack Wright: Tangle (Public Eyesore) - jazz
  • Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga: Cheek to Cheek (Interscope) [09-23] - vocal pop [*]
  • Dierks Bentley: Riser (Capitol Nashville) [B-]
  • Benyoro: Benyoro (self-released) [***]
  • Kris Berg & the Metroplexity Big Band: Time Management (Summit) [*]
  • Ginger Berglung & Scott Whitfield: Solitary Moon (Bi-Coastal Music) - jazz
  • Jerry Bergonzi: Intersecting Lines (Savant) [04-12] - jazz
  • David Berkeley: The Fire in My Head (Straw Man Music)
  • Peter Bernstein: Solo Guitar: Live at Smalls (Smalls Live) - jazz
  • Beverly: Careers (Kanine) [07-01] - indie pop [*]
  • Andy Bey: Pages From an Imaginary Life (HighNote) - vocal jazz
  • Beyond Creation: Earthborn Evolution ()
  • Eric Bibb: Blues People (Stony Plain) [11-04] - contemporary blues [*]
  • Bibio: The Green (Warp, EP) [01-28] - electronica
  • Big Freedia: Just Be Free (Queen Diva) [06-17] - r&b [*]
  • Big KRIT: Cadillactica (Def Jam) [11-11] - southern rap [A-]
  • Big Ups: Eighteen Hours of Static (Tough Love/Dead Labour) [A-]
  • Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Singer's Grave/A Sea of Tongues (Drag City/Palace) [09-30] - indie rock
  • Bing & Ruth: Tomorrow Was the Golden Age (RVNG Intl) [10-14] - post-rock
  • David Binney: Anacapa (Criss Cross) - jazz [*]
  • Scott H. Biram: Nothin' but Blood (Bloodshot) [***]
  • Andrew Bird: Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of . . . (Wegawam) [06-10] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Birds of Chicago: Live From Space ()
  • Tyrone Birkett/Emancipation: Postmodern Spirituals: The Promised Land (Araminta Music) [**]
  • Nate Birkey: Just a Closer Walk (Household Ink) - jazz
  • Elvis Bishop: Can't Even Do Wrong Right (Alligator) [08-19] - blues
  • Todd Bishop Group: Travelogue (Origin) [B]
  • Andy Biskin Ibid: Act Necessary (Strudelmedia) [A-]
  • Bison: Travellers (Claremont 56)
  • Bitchin Bajas: Bitchin Bajas (Drag City) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Raoul Björkenheim: Ecstasy (Cuneiform) [01-21] - guitar jazz [***]
  • Maggie Björklund: Shaken (Bloodshot) [10-14] - alt singer/songwriter [B]
  • Aloe Blacc: Lift Your Spirit (XIX/Interscope) [*]
  • Amy Black: This Is Home (Reuben)
  • Black Bananas: Electric Brick Wall (Drag City) [06-24] - alt/indie rock
  • Black Dirt Oak: Wawayanda Patient (MIE Music)
  • The Black Keys: Turn Blue (Nonesuch) [05-13]
  • Black Label Society: Catacombs of the Black Vatican (E1) [04-08] - hard rock
  • Black Lips: Underneath the Rainbow (Vice) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Black Milk: If There's a Hell Below (Computer Ugly) [10-28] - underground rap
  • Black Milk Impulses: Manifesto (Meta) - jazz
  • Black Prairie: Fortune (Sugar Hill) [04-22] - alt folk
  • Black Pus/Oozing Wound: Split (Thrill Jockey, EP)
  • Black Rain: Dark Pool (Blackest Ever Black)
  • Black Top: No 1 (Babel) - jazz
  • Black Veil Brides: Black Veil Brides (Island/Republic) [10-28] - alt-metal
  • Black Wine: Yell Boss (Don Giovanni) [08-12] - alt/indie rock
  • Blackbird Blackbird: Tangerine Sky ()
  • Blacknecks: 006 (self-released)
  • Daniel Blacksberg Trio: Perilous Architecture (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • James Blackshaw: Fantomas (Tompkins Square)
  • Brian Blade & the Fellowship Band: Landmarks (Blue Note) [04-29] - modern jazz [*]
  • Rubén Blades: Tangos (Sunnyside) [06-24] - tango [B]
  • Jonathan Blake: Gone but Not Forgotten (Criss Cross) [06-13] - jazz
  • Michael Blake: Tiddy Boom (Sunnyside) [10-28] - jazz [A-]
  • Tom Blancarte: The Shortening of the Way (Tubapede) - jazz
  • Blank Realm: Grassed Inn ()
  • Bleachers: Strange Desire (RCA) [07-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Paul Bley: Play Blue: Oslo Concert (ECM) [05-06] - piano jazz
  • Mary J Blige: The London Sessions (Capitol) [12-02] - r&b
  • The Blind Shake: Breakfast of Failures (Goner) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Lena Bloch: Feathery (Thirteenth Note) - jazz [***]
  • Rory Block: Hard Luck Child: A Tribute to Skip James (Stony Plain) [10-21] - modern acoustic blues
  • Blonde Redhead: Barragán (Asawa Kuru) [09-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Blood Red Shoes: Blood Red Shoes (Jazz Life) [03-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Blood, Sweat, Drum + Bass: In the Spirit Of . . . (Blood Sweat Media) - jazz
  • Bloodeath: Bloodeath (Totally Gross National Product)
  • Jane Ira Bloom: Sixteen Sunsets (Outline) [-2013] [**]
  • T.K. Blue: A Warm Embrace (Blujazz) [B-]
  • Dean Blunt: Black Metal (Rough Trade) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Blue-Eyed Hawk: Under the Moon (Edition) - jazz
  • Fiorenzo Bodrato: Travelling Without Moving (CMC) - jazz [***]
  • The Body: I Shall Die Here (RVNG) [04-01] - sludge metal
  • Body Count: Manslaughter (Sumerian) [06-10] - metal
  • Bogan Ghost: Zerfall () - jazz
  • Suzy Bogguss: Lucky (Loyal Dutchess) [02-04] - country
  • Bohren & Der Club of Gore: Piano Nights (Ipecac)
  • Stefano Bollani: Joy in Spite of Everything (ECM) [08-25] - piano jazz
  • Paul Bollenback: Portraits in Space and Time (Mayimba) - guitar jazz
  • Bolt: Shuffle (Driff) [***]
  • Alice Boman: Skisser & EP II ()
  • Bombay Bicycle Club: So Long, See You Tomorrow (Island) [02-04] - indie rock
  • Joe Bonamassa: Different Shades of Blue (J&R Adventures) [09-23] - blues-rock
  • Haley Bonar: Last War (Graveface) [05-20] - singer-songwriter
  • Bong: Stoner Rock (Ritual Productions) [03-03]
  • Ray Bonneville: Easy Gone (Red House) [04-15] - singer/songwriter
  • Benjamin Booker: Benjamin Booker (ATO) [08-19] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • Boozoo Bajou: 4 (Apollo) [04-01] - downbeat [A-]
  • Gui Boratto: Abaporu (Kompakt) [09-30] - club/dance
  • Bored Nothing: Some Songs (Spunk) [10-28] - indie rock
  • Boris: Noise (Sargent House) [06-17] - post-rock
  • Janice Borla: Promises to Burn (Tall Grass) [*]
  • Itamar Borochov Quartet: Outset (Realbird) [**]
  • Bossacucanova: Nossa Onda é Essa (Six Degrees) [02-18] - Brazilian pop
  • The Both: The Both (Superego) [04-15] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Ralph Bowen: Standard Deviation (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Kris Bowers: Heroes + Misfits (Concord Jazz) - jazz [B-]
  • Nathan Bowles: Nansemond (Paradise of Bachelors)
  • Jesse Boykins III: Love Apparatus (Nomadic Music) [04-22] - alt r&b
  • Carla Bozulich: Boy (Constellation) [03-03] - slowcore [***]
  • Bracken: Exist/Resist (Baro)
  • Bobby Bradford/Frode Gjerstad: Silver Cornet (Nessa) - jazz
  • Aziza Brahim: Soutak (Glitterbeat) - world
  • Braid: No Coast (Top Shelf) [07-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Cory Branan: The No-Hit Wonder (Bloodshot) [08-18] - alt country-rock [*]
  • The Brand New Heavies: Sweet Freaks (Eagle) [11-25] - acid jazz
  • Anthony Branker & Word Play: The Forward (Towards Equality) Suite (Origin) [***]
  • Anthony Braxton/Tomas Fujiwara/Tom Rainey: Trio New Haven 2013 (New Braxton House) - jazz
  • Anthony Braxton: Duo (Amherst) 2010 (New Braxton House) - jazz
  • Toni Braxton & Babyface: Love Marriage & Divorce (Motown) [***]
  • Joshua Breakstone: With the Wind and the Rain (Capri) [*]
  • Patrick Breiner's Double Double: Mileage (Sulde) [04-01] - jazz [*]
  • Lee Brice: I Don't Dance (Curb) [09-09] - Americana
  • Archie Bronson Outfit: Wild Crush (Domino) [05-20] - indie rock
  • Bremen: Second Launch ()
  • Brenmar: High End Times Vol 1 (self-released)
  • Peter Brendler: Outside the Line (Posi-Tone) - jazz [***]
  • Matt Brewer: Mythology (Criss Cross) [09-16] - jazz
  • Sheela Bringi: Incantations (Black Swan Sounds) [**]
  • Alan Broadbent: Heart to Heart (Chilly Bin) - piano jazz
  • Broken Bells: After the Disco (Columbia) [02-04] - indie pop
  • Broken Twin: May (Anti) [04-29] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Till Brönner: The Movie Album () [10-14] - contemporary jazz
  • Bronto Skylift: Date With a Ghoul ()
  • Elliott Brood: Work and Love (Paper Bag) [10-21] - alt-country
  • Broods: Evergreen (Capitol) [10-07] - pop
  • Brooklyn Rider: The Brooklyn Rider Almanac (Decca) [10-06]
  • Garth Brooks: Man Against Machine (RCA) [11-10] - country
  • Bobby Broom: My Shining Hour (Origin) [**]
  • Tom Brosseau: Grass Punks (Crossbill) [01-21] - folk
  • Peter Brötzmann/Peeter Uuskyla: Dead and Useless (Omlott) - free jazz
  • Peter Brötzmann/Jason Adasiewicz/John Edwards/Steve Noble: Mental Shake (Otoroku) - jazz
  • Peter Brötzmann/John Edwards/Steve Noble: Soul Food Available (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [***]
  • Marc Broussard: A Life Worth Living (Vanguard) [07-29] - contemporary singer/songwriter
  • Apollo Brown: Blasphemy (Mello Music Group)
  • Chris Brown: X (RCA) [09-16] - contemporary r&b
  • John Brown: Quiet Time (Brown Boulevard) [**]
  • Otis Brown III: The Thought of You (Blue Note) [09-23] - modern jazz [B]
  • Pieta Brown: Paradise Outlaw (Red House) [09-30] - contemporary folk
  • Jackson Browne: Standing in the Breach (Inside) [10-07] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Bruce Brubaker/Ursula Oppens: Meredith Monk: Piano Songs (ECM New Series) [07-01] - keyboard
  • Kyle Bruckmann's Wrack: . . . Awaits Silent Tristero's Empire (Singlespeed) [**]
  • Albin Bruns NAH Quartett: Wegmarken (Double Moon) [09-05] - jazz
  • Danny Bryant: Temperature Rising (Jazzhaus) [02-10]
  • Buck 65: Neverlove (WEA Canada) [09-30] - rap [**]
  • The Budos Band: Burnt Offering (Daptone) [10-21] - instrumental rock
  • The Bug: Angels & Devils (Ninja Tune) [08-26] - electronic [*]
  • Jane Bunnett and Maqueque: Jane Bunnett and Maqueque (Justin Time) - jazz
  • Vashti Bunyan: Heartleap (Fat Cat) [10-07] - British folk
  • The Bureau of Atomic Tourism: Spinning Jenny (Rat) - jazz
  • Burnt Ones: Gift (Castle Face) [03-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Ellen Burr/Michael Unruh: Where Am I From, Where Am I Going (Pfmentum) - jazz
  • Dave Burrell/Steve Swell: Turning Point (NoBusiness) - jazz [A-]
  • Busdriver: Perfect Hair (Big Dada) [09-09] - rap [C]
  • Mark Buselli: Untold Stories (OA2) [**]
  • Bushwick Gospel Singers: Songs of Worship Vol 2 (The Church of Universal Knowing) [04-20] - gospel [***]
  • Chris Butler: Easy Life (self-released) [03-29] - pop/rock
  • Henry Butler/Steven Bernstein: Viper's Drag (Decca) [07-15] - jazz blues [***]
  • Buzzcocks: The Way (1234) [11-18] - punk/new wave [B]
  • Jaki Byard: The Late Show: An Evening With Jaki Byard: Live at the Keystone Korner, Vol. 3 (1979, High Note) [**]
  • Julie Byrne: Rooms With Walls and Windows (Ordinal) [01-21] - indie folk
  • George Cables: Icons & Influences (HighNote) [***]
  • Daniel Caesar: Praise Break (self-released)
  • Colbie Caillat: Gypsy Heart (Island/Republic) [09-30] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Call Super: Suzi Ecto (Houndstooth) [09-15] - electronic [A-]
  • Bill Callahan: Have Fun With God (Drag City)
  • Ann Hampton Callaway: From Sassy to Divine: Sarah Vaughan Project (Shanachie) [09-16] - vocal jazz
  • Calle 13: MultiViral (El Abismo/Sony Music Latin) [***]
  • Anna Calvi: Strange Weather (Domino, EP) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Camera: Remember I Was Carbon Dioxide (Bureau B)
  • Ali Campbell: Silhouette: The Legendary Voice of UB40 (Cooking Vinyl) [10-07] - reggae-pop
  • Camper Van Beethoven: El Camino Real (429) [06-03] - pop/rock [**]
  • Candy Hearts: All the Ways You Let Me Down (Bridge Nine) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Cannibal Corpse: A Skeletal Domain (Metal Blade) [09-16] - death metal
  • Laura Cantrell: No Way There From Here (Thrift Shop) [A-]
  • Cantus: A Harvest Home (self-released) - jazz
  • Ana Caprix: For Seven Nights This Island Is Ours (self-released, EP) [09-19]
  • Steve Cardenas: Melody in a Dream (Sunnyside) - jazz [*]
  • Mariah Carey: Me, I Am Mariah . . . the Elusive Chanteuse (Def Jam) [05-27] - contemporary r&b
  • S Carey: Range of Light (Jagjaguwar) [04-01] - indie pop
  • Caribou: Our Love (Merge) [10-07] - indie electronic [**]
  • Jungman Carlo: Jungman Carlo (Distrosong) [05-16] - jazz
  • Carolina Story: Chapter Two (True Bearing) [06-24] - country
  • Martin Carr: The Breaks (Tapete) [09-30] - indie pop
  • Malonie Carre: Forever (self-released) - vocal jazz [B]
  • François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Alexey Lapin: The Russian Concerts (FMR) [A-]
  • François Carrier/Michel Lambert/Alexey Lapin: The Russian Concerts Volume 2 (FMR) [10-14] - jazz [***]
  • Juan Pablo Carletti/Tony Malaby/Christopher Hoffman: Niño/Brujo (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • Carlene Carter: Carter Girl (Rounder) [**]
  • Regina Carter: Southern Comfort (Sony Masterworks) [A-]
  • Martin & Eliza Carthy: The Moral of the Elephant (Topic) - world
  • Michael Carvin Experience: Flash Forward (Motema) [08-19] - jazz
  • Eliza Carthy: The Moral of the Elephant (Topic) [06-17] - British folk
  • Julian Casablancas & the Voidz: Tyranny (Cult) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Rosanne Cash: The River & the Thread (Blue Note) [01-14] - Americana [**]
  • Castanets: Decimation Blues (Asthmatic Kitty) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Jennifer Castle: Pink City (No Quarter)
  • Mario Castro Quintet/Strings: Estrella de Mar/Promotional Edition (Interrobang) [B-]
  • Frank Catalano/Jimmy Chamberlin/Percy Jones/Chris Poland/Adam Benjamin: Love Supreme Collective (Ropeadope) [09-30] - jazz [*]
  • Catfish and the Bottlemen: Balcony (Communion Music) [09-16] - indie rock
  • Susan Cattaneo: Haunted Heart (self-released)
  • Causa Sui: Live at Freak Valley (El Paraiso, 2CD) [04-00]
  • Causa Sui: Pewt'r Sessions 3 (El Paraiso) [08-00] - fusion [**]
  • Cavalera Conspiracy: Pandemonium () - metal
  • Drew Ceccato/Adam Tinkle: Eidolon (Edgetone) [*]
  • The Cellar and Point: Ambit (Cuneiform) [10-14] - chamber jazz [B]
  • Ceo: Wonderland (Modular) [02-04] - alt dance
  • Joan Chamorro & Andrea Motis: Feeling Good (Temps Spain) - jazz
  • Alan Chan Jazz Orchestra: Shrimp Tale (Crown Heights Audio Network) - jazz [*]
  • Tom Chang: Tongue & Groove (Raw Toast) - jazz [**]
  • Brian Charette: Square One (Posi-Tone) [**]
  • Brian Charette: The Question That Drives Us (Steeplechase) [10-02] - jazz
  • Brian Charette: Good Tipper (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Mark Charig/Georg Wolf/Jörg Fischer: Free Music on a Summer Evening (Spore Print) [*]
  • Charli XCX: Sucker (Atlantic) [12-16] - left-field pop [A-]
  • Chatham County Line: Tightrope (Yep Roc) [05-20] - bluegrass
  • Sebastien Chaumont Quartet: Still Walkin' (ITI) [**]
  • Cheatahs: Cheatahs (Wichita) [02-11] - noise pop
  • Neneh Cherry: Blank Project (Smalltown Supersound) [02-25] - art pop [***]
  • Cherry Poppin' Daddies: White Teeth Black Thoughts (Universal) [05-06] - alt/indie rock
  • Cyrus Chestnut: Midnight Melodies (Smoke Sessions) [07-08] - jazz
  • Cheveu: Bum ()
  • Hans Chew: Life and Love (At the Helm)
  • Chicago Underground Duo: Locus (Northern Spy) - jazz [***]
  • Childhood: Lacuna (House Anxiety) [08-12] - pop/rock
  • Childish Gambino: STN MTN/Kauai (self-released) - rap
  • Childish Gambino: Because the Internet (12-06) [Glassnote] - rap
  • Billy Childs: Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro (Sony Masterworks) [09-09] - jazz [B-]
  • Chingari: Bombay Makossa (Abstract Logix) [09-16] - jazz [*]
  • Vicky Chow: Tristan Perich: Surface Image (New Amsterdam) [10-28]
  • Chrome: Feel Like a Scientist (King of Spades) [08-05] - pop/rock
  • Chromeo: White Women (Big Beat) [***]
  • Chrononautz: Public Domain Fuckover Series #1-6 (self-released)
  • Chumped: Teenage Retirement (Anchorless) - punk revival [A-]
  • Eric Church: The Outsiders (Captiol Nashville) [02-11] - country; JG near pick [*]
  • The Church: Further/Deeper (Unorthodox) [10-17]
  • Marko Churnchetz: Devotion (Whirlwind) - jazz
  • Cibo Matto: Hotel Valentine (Chimera Music) [02-11] - indie rock
  • Circle of Sound: Anti Hero (Baitak)
  • Circulatory System: Mosaics Within Mosaics (Cloud) [06-24] - neo-psychedelia
  • Circum Grand Orchestra: 12 (Circum Disc) - jazz
  • Gesloten Cirkel: Submit X (Murder Capital)
  • Anansy Cissé: Mali Overdrive (Riverboat) - world
  • Ty Citerman: Bop Kabbalah (Tzadik) - klezmer-jazz [***]
  • Cities Aviv: Come to Life (Young One) [*]
  • Clap! Clap!: Tayi Bebba (Black Acre)
  • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Only Run (Xtra Mile) [06-03] - indie rock
  • Eric Clapton: The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale (ADA/EPC) [07-29] - album rock
  • Clark: Clark (Warp) [11-03] - electronic
  • Gary Clark Jr: Live (Warner Bros) [09-23] - modern electric Texas blues [*]
  • Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker: Nothing Can Bring Back the Hour (Folk Room) - world
  • The Stanley Clarke Band: Up (Mack Avenue) [09-30] - jazz
  • Les Claypool's Duo De Twang: Four Foot Shack (ATO) [02-04] - bluegrass
  • John Clayton: The Parlor Series Vol 1 - Gerald Clayton LTD (ArtistShare) - jazz
  • Jack Clement: For Once and For All (IRS Nashville) [07-15] - country [***]
  • Nels Cline & Julian Lage: Room (Mack Avenue) [11-25] - jazz [*]
  • The Nels Cline Singers: Macroscope (Mack Avenue) [***]
  • Clipping: CLPPNG (Sub Pop) [06-10] - underground rap [**]
  • Cloud Boat: Model of You (Apollo) [07-15] - pop/rock
  • Cloud Nothings: Here and Nowhere Else (Carpark) [04-01] - indie rock [A-]
  • Diane Cluck: Boneset (Important) [03-04] - indie folk
  • C'mon Tigre: C'mon Tigre ()
  • The Coathangers: Suck My Shirt (Suicide Squeeze) [A-]
  • Jimmy Cobb: The Original Mob (Smoke Sessions) [06-10] - jazz [***]
  • Jeff Coffin & the Mu'tet: Side Up (Ear Up) [11-04] - jazz
  • Avishai Cohen's Triveni: Dark Nights (Anzic) [10-27] - jazz
  • Greg Cohen: Golden State (Relative Pitch) - jazz
  • Leonard Cohen: Popular Programs (Columbia) [09-23] - singer/songwriter [A-]
  • Leonard Cohen: Live in Dublin (Columbia) [12-02] - contemporary folk
  • Haggai Cohen-Milo: Penguin (Tzadik) [05-00] - jazz
  • Collabro: Stars (Syco Music) [12-02] - pop
  • Cold Specks: Neuroplasticity (Broken Hertz/Mute) [08-26] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Cold War Kids: Hold My Home (Downtown) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • Coldplay: Ghost Stories (Atlantic/Parlophone) [05-20] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Freddy Cole: Singing the Blues (High Note) - vocal jazz [**]
  • J Cole: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (RCA) [12-09] - rap [***]
  • Linda Cole & Joshua Bowlus: What a Wonderful World (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Lloyd Cole: Standards (Omnivore) - jazz
  • Jeff Colella/Putter Smith: Lotus Blossom (The American Jazz Institute/Capri) - jazz [**]
  • Collier & Dean: Sleek Buick (Origin) [B]
  • Graham Collier: Luminosity: The Last Suites (Jazz Continuum) - jazz
  • Alessandro Collina/Rodolfo Cervetto/Marc Peillon/Fabrizio Bosso: Michel on Air (ITI) [07-24] - jazz [***]
  • Comeback Kid: Die Knowing (Victory) [03-04] - pop/rock
  • Comet Control: Comet Control (Teepee) [05-20] - alt/indie rock
  • Comet Gain: Paperback Ghosts (Fortuna Pop) [07-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Common: Nobody's Smiling (Def Jam) [07-22] - midwest rap [***]
  • Company Freak: Le Disco Social (Opus Label) [A-]
  • Wayne Coniglio/Scott Whitfield: Fast Friends (Summit) [**]
  • Conan: Blood Eagle ()
  • Kevin Conlon/The Groove Rebellion: In Transit (Blujazz) - jazz [*]
  • Cat Conner: Cat House (Cat Tales) - vocal jazz
  • Ags Connolly: How About Now (Drumfire) [02-24]
  • Consumer Electronics: Estuary English (Dirter)
  • Container: Adhesive (Liberation Technologies) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Nicola Conte: Free Souls (Schema) [07-29] - Brazilian traditions
  • Alessandro Contini: Sonno (Hospital Productions)
  • Hollie Cook: Twice (Mr Bongo) [06-10] - reggae
  • The Cookers: Time and Time Again (Motema Music) [09-16] - jazz [***]
  • Cool Ghouls: A Swirling Fire Burning Through the Rye (Empty Cellar) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Kevin Connor: Swingtet () - trad jazz/cuban son
  • Jack Cooper: Mists: Charles Ives for Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts) [08-22] - jazz [*]
  • The Coral: The Curse of Love (Skeleton Key) [10-21] - neo-psychedelia
  • The Core Trio: The Core Trio With Matthew Shipp (self-released) - jazz [A-]
  • Chick Corea Trio: Trilogy (Concord, 3CD) [09-09] - piano jazz [***]
  • Cortex: Live! (Clean Feed) [A-]
  • Alessandro Cortini: Sonno (Hospital Productions)
  • Jeff Cosgrove/Matthew Shipp/William Parker: Alternating Current () - jazz
  • Frankie Cosmos: Zentropy (Midheaven) [03-04] [*]
  • Counting Crows: Somewhere Under Wonderland (Virgin) [09-02] - alt country-rock
  • Count's 77: Count's 77 (Shrapnel) [04-29]
  • The Courteeners: Concrete Love (Cooperative) [08-19] - new wave/post-punk revival
  • Sylvie Courvoisier: Double Windsor (Tzadik) [06-00] - jazz
  • Sylvie Courvoisier/Mark Feldman Quartet: Birdies for Lulu (Intakt) [**]
  • Sylvie Courvoisier: Double Windsor () - jazz
  • Eric-Maria Couturier/Henri Roger/Emmanuelle Somer/Bruno Tocanne: Parce Que (Instant Musics) - jazz
  • Coves: Soft Friday (Nettwerk) [04-01] - alt/indie rock
  • John Cowan: Sixty (Compass) [08-26] - bluegrass
  • Neil Cowley Trio: Touch and Flee (Naim Jazz) [09-09] - piano jazz [*]
  • Cracker: Berkeley to Bakersfield (429) [12-09] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Craft Spells: Nausea (Captured Tracks) [06-10] - indie pop
  • Ian William Craig: A Turn of Breath (Recital) [08-05] [*]
  • Samantha Crain: Kid Face (Full Time Hobby)
  • The Robert Cray Band: In My Soul (Provogue) [04-01] - blues
  • Cretin: Stranger () - metal
  • Matt Criscuolo: Blippity Blat (self-released) [B]
  • Theo Crocker: AfroPhysicist (Okeh) [05-19] - jazz [*]
  • Dan Croll: Sweet Disarray (Capitol) [04-01] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Cross Harbour: Cross Harbour (Higlet)
  • Connie Crothers: Concert in Paris (New Artists) - jazz
  • Crowbar: Symmetry in Black (E1) [05-27] - heavy metal
  • Rodney Crowell: Tarpaper Sky (New West) [04-14] - country [A-]
  • Crown the Empire: The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways (Rise) [07-22] - metalcore
  • Maxwell August Croy and Sean McCann: I (Students of Decay)
  • Crying Lion: The Golden Boat (Honest Jon's)
  • Eliana Cuevas: Espejo (ALMA) [08-05] - Latin [B]
  • Jamie Cullum: Interlude (Island) - vocal jazz
  • Cult of Fire: [ . . . ] (Iron Bonehead) - metal
  • Cult of Youth: Final Days (Sacred Bones) [11-11] - indie folk
  • Ty Curtis: Water Under the Bridge (self-released) [08-01]
  • Joseph Curwen: Shunned House (City)
  • Cut Hands: Festival of the Dead (Blackest Ever Black)
  • The Jim Cutler Jazz Orchestra: Gimme Some Sugar Baby! (Jamco) - big band jazz
  • Cymbals Eat Guitars: Lose (Barsuk) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Jeremiah Cymerman/Nate Wooley/Evan Parker: World of Objects (5049) - jazz
  • Jeremiah Cymerman: Pale Horse (5049) - jazz
  • Cyne: All My Angles Are Right (Hometapes) [04-30]
  • Cypress Groove/Lydia Lunch: A Fistful of Desert Blues (Rustblade) [06-03] - punk blues
  • Da Cruz: Disco e Progresso (Boom Jah) - world
  • Dads: I'll Be the Tornado (Universal) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Dagens Ungdom: Dagens Ungdom (Metronomicon Audio) [***]
  • Carsten Dahl Trio: A Good Time (Storyville) - piano jazz
  • Tim Daisy & Mikolaj Trzaska: In This Moment (Relay) [**]
  • Dalglish: Dorcha Aigeann (Ge-stell)
  • Dalhous: Will to Be Well (Blackest Ever Black) [07-22] - pop/rock
  • Brody Dalle: Diploid Love (Caroline) [04-29] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Damaged Bug: Hubba Bubba (Castle Face) [02-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Piotr Damasiewicz Project: Imprographic 1 (ForTune) - jazz
  • Piotr Damasiewicz Project: Mnemotaksja (ForTune) - jazz
  • Franco D'Andrea: Monk and the Time Machine (Parco Della Musical) - jazz
  • D'Angelo and the Vanguard: Black Messiah (RCA) [12-16] [A-]
  • Barbara Levy Daniels: Love Lost and Found (Bidproductions) [***]
  • Dee Daniels: Intimate Conversations (Origin) [09-16] - vocal jazz [B-]
  • The Charlie Daniels Band: Off the Grid: Doin' It Dylan (Blue Hat) [04-01] - country-rock
  • Lars Danielsson: Libreto II (ACT) - jazz
  • Douglas Dare: Whelm (Erased Tapes) [05-12] - chamber pop
  • The Datsuns: Deep Sleep (Hellsquad/Love Da/V2 Benelux) [10-07] - garage punk
  • Bart Davenport: Physical World (Burger/Lovemonk) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Nils Davidsen: Noget At Glaede Sig Til (ILK Music) - jazz
  • Tara Davidson: Duets (Addo) [10-07] - jazz [**]
  • Davila 666: Pocos Afros, Muchos Daños (Burger) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Davina & the Vagabonds: Sunshine (Roustabout) [**]
  • Charles Davis: For the Love of Lori (CD Baby) [06-02] - jazz
  • Jeff Davis: Dragon Father (Fresh Sound New Talent) - jazz [***]
  • Keith Davis Trio: Still (LoNote) [**]
  • Kris Davis Trio: Waiting for You to Grow (Clean Feed) [A-]
  • Steve Davis: For Real (Posi-Tone) [**]
  • Richard Dawson: Nothing Important (Weird World) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Dday One: Dialogue With Life (The Content (L)Abel)
  • De Beren Gieren + Susana Santos Silva: The Detour Fish: Live in Ljubljana (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [**]
  • Dead Congregation: Promulgation of the Fall ()
  • Dead Neanderthals & Colin Webster: Prime (Gaffer) - jazz
  • Dead Rider: Chills on Glass (Drag City) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Deadmau5: While (1<2) (Virgin) [06-24] - electronic
  • Death Blues: Ensemble (Rhythmplex)
  • Death From Above 1979: The Physical World (Warner Bros) [09-09] - alt/indie rock
  • Death Grips: Niggas on the Moon (Third Worlds) [06-08] - rap
  • Death Vessel: Island Intervals (Sub Pop) [02-25] - indie folk
  • Decapitated: Blood Mantra () - metal
  • Melanie De Biasio: No Deal (PIAS)
  • The Decemberists: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (Capitol) [-2015] - alt/indie rock
  • Deena: Rock River (Verbena Music) [A-]
  • Deerhoof: La Isla Bonita (Polyvinyl) [11-04] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Mike Dehnert: Lichtbedingt (Delsin) [04-15]
  • Deleted Scenes: Lithium Burn (Park the Van) [04-15] - indie rock
  • The Delines: Colfax (El Cortez) [06-17] - alt-country [A-]
  • Lana Del Rey: Ultraviolence (Interscope) [06-17] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • DELS: Petals Have Fallen (Big Dada)
  • Morgan Delt: Morgan Delt (Trouble in Mind) [01-28] - alt singer-songwriter
  • Delta Spirit: Into the Wide (Dualtone) [09-09] - alt country-rock
  • Rocco DeLuca: Rocco DeLuca (429)
  • Mac DeMarco: Salad Days (Captured Tracks) [04-01] - singer-songwriter [B]
  • Massimo de Mattia 4tet: Hypermodern (Rudi) - jazz
  • Brigitte DeMeyer: Savannah Road (BDM Music) [**]
  • Christopher Denny: If the Roses Don't Kill Us (Partisan) [08-05] - alt folk
  • Jeff Denson & Claudio Puntin: Two (Pfmentum) [**]
  • Jeff Denson & Joshua White: I'll Fly Away (Pfmentum) [***]
  • Deptford Goth: Songs (37 Adventures) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Rob Derke & the NY Jazz Quartet: Blue Divide (Zoho) - jazz [***]
  • Jason Derulo: Talk Dirty (Warner Brothers) [A-]
  • Michael Dessen Trio: Resonating Abstractions (Clean Feed) [**]
  • Kassé Mady Diabaté: Kiriké (No Format) - world
  • Toumani & Sidiki Diabate: Toumani & Sidiki (World Circuit) [05-05] - world [**]
  • Neil Diamond: Melody Road (Capitol) [10-21] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Diaphragmatic: Fear Biters (Alien Passengers)
  • Deke Dickerson/Los Straitjackets: Sing the Great Instrumental Hits (Yep Roc) [10-07] - garage rock revival
  • Laura Dickinson: One for My Baby: To Frank Sinatra With Love (Blujazz) [12-14] - vocal jazz [**]
  • Luther Dickinson: Rock 'N Roll Blues (New West) [*]
  • Tina Dico: Whispers (Finest Gramophone) [08-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Die Antwoord: Donker Mag (Zef Recordz) [06-03] - club/dance
  • Die Heiterkeit: Monterey ()
  • Die Liga Der Gewöhnlichen Gentlemen: Alle Ampeln auf Geib! ()
  • Die Nerven: Fun ()
  • Paul Dietrich Quintet: We Always Get There (Blujazz) - jazz [*]
  • Jon Di Fiore: Yellow Petals (Third Freedom Music) [***]
  • Ani DiFranco: Allergic to Water (Righteous Babe) [11-04] - alt folk [*]
  • Digital Primitives: Lipsomuch/Soul Searchin' (Hopscotch, 2CD) [A]
  • Jorrit Dijkstra: Music for Reeds and Electronics: Oakland (Driff) [*]
  • Dilated Peoples: Directors of Photography (Rhymesayers Entertainment) [08-12] - alt rap
  • Cara Dillon: A Thousand Hearts (Charcoal) - folk
  • Mike Dillon: Band of Outsiders (Royal Potato Family) [04-01] - experimental rock
  • Dinosaur Feathers: Control (Ernest Jenning) [10-07] - indie pop
  • Diplo: Random White Dudes Be Everywhere (Mad Decent) [07-29] - club/dance
  • Dirty Loops: Loopified (Verve) [08-19] - clubjazz [C+]
  • Mike DiRubbo: Threshold (Ksanti) [A-]
  • Ron Di Salvio: Songs for Jazz Legends (Blujazz) - jazz [B]
  • Diva: A Swingin' Life (MCG Jazz) - jazz [**]
  • DJ Dodger Stadium: Friend of Mine (Body High) [07-00]
  • DJ Q: Ineffable (Local Action)
  • Ramin Djawadi: Game of Thrones: Season 4 [Original TV Soundtrack] (Sony Classical) [07-01] - original score
  • The Dø: Shake Shook Shaken (Wagram) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Bonnie Dobson: Take Me for a Walk in the Morning Dew (Hornbeam) [06-09] - folk
  • The Dogs: The Tears Are Voodoo ()
  • Matthieu Donarier & Albert van Veenendaal's Planetarium: The Visible Ones (Clean Feed) [**]
  • DonChristian: Renzo Piano (Camp & Street)
  • Armen Donelian: Sayat-Nova: Songs of My Ancestors (Sunnyside) - jazz
  • Henrik Otto Donner & TUMO: And It Happened . . . (TUM) - jazz [**]
  • Donovan Blanc: Donovan Blanc (Captured Tracks) [06-24] - indie pop
  • Dope Body: Lifer (Drag City) [10-21] - noise-rock
  • Piere Dorge and the New Jungle Orchestra: Tjak Tjaka Tchicai (SteepleChase) - jazz
  • Dorian Concept: Joined Ends (Ninja Tune) [10-21] - experimental electronic
  • Tashi Dorji: Tashi Dorji (Hermit Hut)
  • Doss: Doss + Remixes ()
  • Dave Douglas/Chet Doxas/Steve Swallow/Jim Doxas: Riverside (Greenleaf Music) - jazz [A-]
  • Dave Douglas & Uri Caine: Present Joys (Greenleaf Music) [**]
  • Mike Doughty: Stellar Motel (Megaforce/Snack Bar) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • Thom Douvan: Brother Brother (self-released) [B]
  • Gordon Downie/The Sadies: Gord Downie, the Sadies, and the Conquering Sun (Arts & Crafts) [04-15] - alt country-rock
  • Andrew Downing/Jim Lewis/David Occhipinti: Bristles (Occdav Music) [*]
  • Dr John: Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch (Concord) [08-19] - Louis Armstrong tribute [C]
  • Molly Drake: Molly Drake (Captured Tracks/Squirrel Thing) [12-09] - British folk
  • Dream Police: Hypnotized (Sacred Bones) [11-11] - noise-rock
  • Kevin Drew: Darlings (Arts & Crafts) [03-18] - indie rock
  • Jorge Drexler: Bailar en la Cueva (Warner Music Latina) [**]
  • DRGN King: Baltimore Crush (Bar/None) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Dnitel: Human Voice (Leaving/Stones Throw) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Drive-By Truckers: English Oceans (ATO) [03-04] - southern rock [**]
  • Minnie Driver: Ask Me to Dance (Rounder/Zoë) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Paquito D'Rivera: Jazz Meets the Classics (Paquito) - jazz
  • Drumheller: Sometimes Machine (Barnyard) [*]
  • Dry the River: Alarms in the Heart (PIAS/Transgressive) [08-26] - indie folk
  • Chris Duarte Group: Lucky 13 (Blues Bureau International) [10-14] - blues-rock
  • Dub Club/The Lions: This Generation in Dub (Stones Throw) [06-10] - dub
  • Dub Thompson: 9 Songs (Dead Oceans, EP) [06-10] - alt/indie rock [A-]
  • Jamie Dubberly & Orquesta Dharma: La Clave del Gumbo (Dubberly) - world
  • Benjamin Duboc: St. James Infirmary (Improvising Beings) [*]
  • Duck Sauce: Quack (Fool's Gold) [*]
  • Marc Ducret: Tower-Bridge (Ayler) - jazz
  • Martin Duffy: Assorted Promenades (O Genius)
  • Dum Dum Girls: Too True (Sub Pop) [01-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Jozef Dumoulin: A Fender Rhodes Solo (Bee Jazz) - jazz
  • Chris Dundas: Oslo Odyssey (BLM, 2CD) [09-16] - jazz [***]
  • Paul Dunmall/Philip Gibbs/Neil Metcalfe: The Ravens Look (FMR) - jazz
  • Baxter Dury: It's a Pleasure (Le Label/PIAS) [10-21] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Thomas Dybdahl: What's Left Is Forever (Blue Note) [05-06] - alt singer/songwriter
  • DZ Deathrays: Black Rat (Infectious) [08-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Mark E: Product of Industry (Spectral Sound)
  • E-40: Sharp on All 4 Corners: Corner 1 (Heavy on the Grind) [12-09] - west coast rap
  • E-40: Sharp on All 4 Corners: Corner 2 (Heavy on the Grind) [12-09] - west coast rap
  • Open Mike Eagle: Dark Comedy (Mello Music Group) [06-10] - rap [**]
  • Eagulls: Eagulls (Partisan) [03-03] [*]
  • Ronnie Earl and he Broadcasters: Good News: Blues 'n Soul (Stony Plain) [06-17] - blues
  • Justin Townes Earle: Single Mothers (Vagrant) [09-09] - alt-country [**]
  • The Earls of Leicester: The Earls of Leicester (Rounder) [09-16] - bluegrass
  • Earth: Primitive and Deadly (Southern Lord) [09-02] - post-metal
  • East India Youth: Total Strife Forever (Stolen) [01-13] - art pop [B]
  • Eat Lights Become Lights: Into Forever (Rocket Girl) [05-05] - krautrock
  • Echo & the Bunnymen: Meteorites (429) [06-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Echoes of Yul: Tether (Zoharum)
  • Rachel Eckroth: Let Go (Virgo Sun) [B]
  • EDH: Lava Club ()
  • EDJ: EDJ (Easy Sound) [08-05] - indie pop
  • Kat Edmonson: The Big Picture (Masterworks) [09-30] - contemporary singer/songwriter
  • Donald Edwards: Evolution of an Influenced Mind (Criss Cross) [02-18] - jazz [**]
  • Colin Edwin/Lorenzo Feliciati: Twinscapes (RareNoise) [***]
  • EEK ft Islam Chipsy: Live at the Cairo High Cinema Institute (Nashazphone)
  • Eels: The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett (E Works) [04-22] - adult alt pop/rock
  • EFT: Spatial Awareness (Out Now) - jazz
  • Mark Egan: About Now (Wavetone) - jazz [B-]
  • EIAFUAWN: Birds in the Ground (Pillowcars)
  • Shauli Einav: A Truth About Me (Cristal) - jazz
  • Einsturzende Neubauten: Lament (BMG)
  • Ekoplekz: Unfidelity (Planet Mu) [03-11]
  • Driss El Maloumi: Makan (Contre Jour) - world
  • Elbow: The Take Off and Landing of Everything (Fiction) [03-10]
  • Electric Six: Human Zoo (Metropolis) [10-14] - indie rock
  • Electric Wizard: Time to Die (Spinefarm/Witchfinder) [09-30] - heavy metal
  • Elephant: Sky Swimming (Memphis Industries) [04-29] - dream pop
  • Beatrice Eli: Die Another Day ()
  • Mark Elf: Returns 2014 (Jen Bay Jazz) - jazz [**]
  • John Ellis & Andy Bragen: Mobro (Parade Light) [B-]
  • Robert Ellis: The Lights From the Chemical Plant (New West) [02-11] [B]
  • Tinsley Ellis: Midnight Blue (Heartfixer) [01-14] - blues
  • Dennis Ellsworth: Hazy Sunshine (Busted Flat)
  • El-P/Killer Mike: Run the Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal) [10-28] - rap [**]
  • EMA: The Future's Void (Matador) [04-08] - art pop [***]
  • Eminem: Shady XV (Shady) [11-24] - rap
  • Emmure: Eternal Enemies () - metal
  • The Emperor Machine: Like a Machine (Southern Fried)
  • Emperor X: The Orlando Sentinel (self-released) [06-27] [***]
  • The Empty Hearts: The Empty Hearts (429) [08-05] - rock & roll
  • Ena: Binaural (Samurai Horo)
  • Engineers: Always Returning (Kscope) [09-16] - dream pop
  • Lawrence English: Wilderness of Mirrors (Room40) [07-22] - pop/rock
  • English Heretic: The Underworld Service (self-released)
  • Brian Eno/Karl Hyde: Someday World (Warp) [05-05] [*]
  • Brian Eno/Karl Hyde: High Life (Warp) [07-01] - synth pop [A-]
  • Ensemble Progresivo: Hesitancy (Creative Sources) - jazz
  • Enten Eller: Pietas (Splasc(H)) - jazz
  • Eple Trio: Universal Cycle (Shipwreckords/Phonofile) - jazz
  • The Equity & Social Justice Quartet: The Whisper of Flowers (Edgetone) [**]
  • Erasure: The Violet Flame (Mute) [09-23] - dance-pop
  • Mark Erelli: Milltowns (self-released) - country
  • Esben and the Witch: A New Nature (Nostromo) [09-09] - alt/indie rock
  • The Wayne Escoffery Quintet: Live at Firehouse 12 (Sunnyside) [*]
  • John Escreet: Sound, Space and Structures (Sunnyside) [05-13] - jazz
  • Espectrostatic: Escape From Witchtropolis (Trouble in Mind) [10-28] - indie rock
  • Gabriel Espinosa/Hendrik Meurkens: Samba Little Samba (Zoho) - Brazilian jazz
  • Cameron Esposito: Same Sex Symbol (self-released) [10-07]
  • Eternal Summers: The Drop Beneath (Kanine) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Ethnic Heritage Ensemble: Black Is Back (Catalyst) [08-19] - jazz [***]
  • Oran Etkin: Gatherng Light (Motema Music) - jazz
  • Charles Evans: Subliminal Leaps (More Is More) - jazz
  • Orrin Evans' Captain Black Big Band: Mother's Touch (Posi-Tone) [**]
  • Orrin Evans: Liberation Blues (Smoke Sessions) [08-12] - jazz [**]
  • Peter Evans/Raleigh Dailey: Measure From Zero (Llama) - jazz
  • Annie Eve: Sunday '91 (RED Music Solutions) [08-26] - indie pop
  • Every Time I Die: From Parts Unknown (Epitaph) [07-01] - alt metal
  • Ex Hex: Rips (Merge) [10-07] - indie rock [***]
  • Ex Cops: Daggers (Downtown) [11-11] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Ex-Cult: Midnight Passenger (Goner) [04-29] - alt/indie rock
  • Ex-Easter Island Head: Large Electric Ensemble (Low Point)
  • Execration: Morbid Dimensions () - metal
  • Exit Verse: Exit Verse (Ernest Jenning) [11-18] - indie rock
  • Exmortus: Slave to the Sword () - metal
  • Expansions: The Dave Liebman Group: Samsara (Whaling City Sound) - jazz [*]
  • Extreme Precautions: Precaution One (In Paradisum)
  • Eyehategod: Eyehategod () - metal
  • George Ezra: Wanted on Voyage (Columbia) [06-27] - singer/songwriter
  • Dave "Knife" Fabris: Lettuce Prey (Musea) [B-]
  • Piers Faccini & Vincent Segal: Songs of Time Lost (No Format) - world
  • Fail Better!: Zero Sum (JACC) - jazz
  • The Faint: Doom Abuse (SQE) [04-08] - new wave/post-punk revival
  • Marianne Faithfull: Give My Love to London (Dramatico) [09-29] - pop/rock [*]
  • Fake the Facts: Soundtrack (Trost) - jazz
  • Chet Faker: Built on Glass (Downtown) [04-15] - indietronica [**]
  • FaltyDL: In the Wild (Ninja Tune) [08-12] - electronic
  • Far East Movement: KTown Riot (Interscope, EP) [10-28] - club/dance [*]
  • The Far West: Any Day Now (Medina River) - country
  • Farmers by Nature: Love and Ghosts (AUM Fidelity) [08-12] - jazz [A-]
  • Mike Farris: Shine for All the People (Compass)
  • Kali Z. Fasteau: Piano Rapture (Flying Note) [A-]
  • Fatboy Slim: Bem Brasil (Astralwerks) [06-10] - big beat
  • Fatima: Yellow Memories (Eglo)
  • Adam Faucett: Blind Water Finds Blind Water (Last Chance) [03-11]
  • Fear of Men: Loom (Kanine) [***]
  • Scott Feiner & Pandeiro Jazz: A View From Below (self-released) - jazz [B]
  • Nir Felder: Golden Age (Okeh) [***]
  • Simone Felice: Strangers (Dualtone) [03-25] [*]
  • The Felice Brothers: Favorite Waitress (Dualtone) [06-17] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • Cynthia Felton: Cynthia Felton Sings the Nancy Wilson Classics: Save Your Love for Me (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Fennesz: Bécs (Editions Mego) [04-28] - ambient [*]
  • Agustí Fernandéz/Mats Gustafsson: Constellation (Clamshell) - jazz
  • Lisa Ferraro: Serenading the Moon (Pranavasonic Universal) [***]
  • Violeta Ferrer/Raymond Boni: Federico García Lorca (Fou) [*]
  • Bryan Ferry: Avonmore (BMG) [11-18] - album rock [*]
  • Fhloston Paradigm: The Phoenix (Hyperdub) [07-07] - electronic
  • Steve Fidyk: Heads Up! (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Field Report: Marigolden (Partisan) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Lee Fields: Emma Jean (Truth & Soul) [06-03] - r&b [**]
  • Jean Luc Fillon: Oboman Plays Cole Porter: Begin the Night . . . (Soupir Editions) - jazz [B]
  • Finch: Back to Oblivion (Razor & Tie) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Fink: Hard Believer (Ninja Tune) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Liam Finn: The Nihilist (Yep Roc) [05-06] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Fire! Orchestra: Second Exit (Rune Grammofon) - jazz
  • Fire! Orchestra: Enter (Rune Grammofon) [05-14] - jazz [**]
  • First Aid Kit: Stay Gold (Columbia) [06-10] - alt singer/songwriter [B]
  • Fishboy: An Elephant () [11-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Fishing: Shy Glow ()
  • FKA Twigs: LP1 (Young Turks) [08-12] - alt r&b [B]
  • Paul Flaherty/Randall Colbourne: Ironic Havoc (Relative Pitch) - jazz
  • Paul Flaherty/Chris Corsano: Low Cost Space Flights (Feedtube) - jazz
  • Flake Music: When You Land Here It's Time to Return (Aural Apothecary/Sub Pop) [11-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Flametet: A General History of Flame (self-released) - jazz
  • The Flaming Lips: With a Little Help From My Fwends (Warner Bros) [10-28] - neo-psychedelia [**]
  • Béla Fleck/Abigail Washburn: Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn (Rounder) [10-07] - Americana
  • Dom Flemons: Moonshine in the Trunk (Arista Nashville)
  • Flight Facilities: Down to Earth (Caroline) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Floating Action: Body Questions (New West) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Ben Flocks: Battle Mountain (self-released) [A-]
  • Floor: Oblation (Season of Mist) [04-29] - doom metal
  • Florida Georgia Line: Anything Goes (Republic Nashville) [10-14] - contemporary country
  • Fluxion: Boardwalk Tales (Echocord)
  • Flying Lotus: You're Dead (Warp) [10-07] - experimental electronic [**]
  • Fo' Reel: Heavy Water (self-released) - blues
  • Foils Quartet: The Jersey Lily (Creative Sources) - jazz
  • Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways (Columbia) [11-10] - post-grunge
  • Colt Ford: Thanks for Listening (Average Joe's) [07-01] - contemporary country
  • Frazey Ford: Indian Ocean (Nettwerk) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Sallie Ford: Slap Back (Vanguard) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band: Intensity Ghost (No Quarter) [10-28]
  • Ruthie Foster: Promise of a Brand New Day (Blue Corn Music) [08-19] - modern electric blues
  • Foster the People: Supermodel (Columbia) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Four Year Strong: Go Down in History (Pure Noise, EP) [07-22] - pop/rock [B-]
  • Jean-Marc Foussat & Ramón Lopez: Ça Barbare, Là! (Fou) [**]
  • Jean-Marc Foussat/Simon Hénocq: Nopal (Fou) [**]
  • Jean-Marc Foussat, Sylvain Guérineau & Joe McPhee: Quod (Fou) [*]
  • Kevin Fowler: How Country Are Ya? (Kevin Fowler/Thirty Tigers) [03-04] - country
  • Danny Fox Trio: Wide Eyed (Hot Cup) - piano jazz [***]
  • Foxes: Glorious () [05-12]
  • Foxes in Fiction: Ontario Gothic (Banter Media) [09-23] - pop/rock
  • Foxygen: . . . And Star Power (Jagjaguwar) [10-14] - neo-psychedelia
  • Lyla Foy: Mirrors the Sky (Sub Pop) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • François and the Atlas Mountains: Piano Ombre (Domino) [03-17] - alt/indie rock
  • Roddy Frame: Seven Dials (AED) [05-05] - alt/indie rock [*]
  • Dylan Francis: Money Sucks, Friends Rule (Columbia/Mad Decent) [10-28]
  • Sage Francis: Copper Gone (Strange Famous) [06-03] - rap
  • Francisco the Man: Loose Ends (Fat Possum) [10-28] - indie rock
  • Franketienne & Mark Mulholland: Chaophonies de Port-au-Prince (Cannery Row)
  • Aretha Franklin: Sings the Great Diva Classics (RCA) [10-21] - adult contemporary r&b [***]
  • Carol Fredette: No Sad Songs for Me (Soundbrush) [**]
  • Free Nelson Mandoomjazz: The Shape of Doomjazz to Come/Saxophone Giganticus (RareNoise) [A-]
  • Freeman: Freeman (Partisan) [07-22] - alt/indie rock
  • Micah Freeman: Heartspace Vol 1 (self-released)
  • Tori Freestone Trio: In the Chop House (Whirlwind) - jazz
  • The Fresh & Onlys: House of Spirits (Mexican Summer) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Steve Freund/Gloria Hardiman: Set Me Free (Delmark) - blues
  • Danny Freyer: Must Be Love (Blue Bend) [B-]
  • Jens Friebe: Nackte Angst zieh dich an wir gehen aus ()
  • Erik Friedlander: Nighthawks (Skipstone) [***]
  • Friends and Neighbors: Hymn for a Hungry Nation (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [**]
  • David Friesen Circle 3 Trio: Where the Light Fails (Origin, 2CD) [11-17] - piano jazz [**]
  • Bill Frisell: Guitar in the Space Age (Okeh) [10-07] - jazz [***]
  • Frontier Ruckus: Sitcom Afterlife (Quite Scientific) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Ben Frost: Aurora (Bedroom Community) [05-27] - experimental electronic [**]
  • Ben Frost: Variant (Mute) [12-09] - experimental ambient
  • Fryars: Power (Fiction) [11-18] - indie electronic
  • Fucked Up: Glass Boys (Matador) [06-03] - indie rock [**]
  • Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York: Shiki (Libra) [**]
  • Tomas Fujiwara Trio: Variable Bets (Relative Pitch) [12-02] - jazz
  • Fujiya & Miyagi: Artificial Sweeteners (Yep Roc) [*]
  • John Fullbright: Songs (Blue Dirt) [05-27] - Americana [*]
  • Larry Fuller: Larry Fuller (Capri) [09-16] - piano jazz [***]
  • Fumaça Preta: Fumaça Preta (Soundway) [09-30] - Afro-Brazilian [A-]
  • Function/Vatican Shadow: Games Have Rules (Hospital Productions) [09-24] - techno
  • The Furrow Collective: At Our Next Meeting (Furrow) - world
  • Future: Honest (Epic) [04-22] - rap [**]
  • Future 3: With and Without (Morr Music) [10-14] - indie electronic
  • Future Islands: Singles (4AD) [03-25] - indie rock [*]
  • Alex G: DSU (Orchid Tapes, EP) [06-17] [*]
  • Cooly G: Wait 'Til Night (Hyperdub) [10-21] - downtempo
  • Garbacho Maroconnection: Bissara (Label Oued) [05-15] - jazz
  • Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed (Comedy Central) [04-29] - standup comedy
  • Richard Galliano: Sentimentale (Resonance) [09-30] - jazz [A-]
  • Hal Galper Trio: O's Time (Origin) [09-16] - piano jazz [**]
  • Lee Gamble: Koch (Pan) [09-30] - electronic
  • Game: Blood Moon: Year of the Wolf (E1) [10-14] - gangsta rap
  • Mike & Cara Gangloff: Black Ribbon of Death, Silver Thread of Life (MIE Music)
  • Margarida Garcia: The Leaden Echo (Headlights) - jazz
  • Paulinho Garcia: Beautiful Love (Shrinktunes) [**]
  • Renaud Garcia-Fons: Beyond the Double Bass (Enja) - jazz
  • Hilary Gardner: The Great City (Anzic) - vocal jazz
  • Ananda Gari: T-Duality (Auand) - jazz [**]
  • Bunji Garlin: Differentology (RCA/VP) [08-12] - soca [**]
  • The Gaslight Anthem: Get Hurt (Universal) [08-12] - pop/rock
  • Katie Gately: Pipes (Blue Tapes)
  • Eric Gates: Good for Sumthin (Cleopatra) [10-27] - blues
  • Kevin Gates: By Any Means (Bread Winners Association) [03-18] - rap
  • Gato Libre: DuDu (Libra) - jazz [B]
  • Stephen Gauci/Kirk Knuffke/Ken Filiano: Chasing Tales (Relative Pitch) - jazz
  • Mary Gauthier: Trouble & Love (In the Black) [06-10] - Americana [A-]
  • Gazelle Twin: Unflesh (Last Gang) [09-23] - electronic [**]
  • Generationals: Alix (Polyvinyl) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • M Geddes Gengras: Ishi (Stones Throw) [06-24] - expermental rock
  • M Geddes Gengras: Collected Works Vol 2: New Process Music (Umor Rex) [11-18]
  • Alice Gerrard: Follow the Music (Tompkins Square) [09-30] - old timey [***]
  • Nora Germain: Little Dipper (self-released) - jazz
  • Get the Blessing: Lope and Antilope (Naim Jazz) - jazz [*]
  • The Ghost Inside: Dear Youth (Epitaph) [11-18] - post-hardcore
  • The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger: Midnight Sun (Chimera Music) [04-29] - neo-psychedelia
  • Ghostface Killah: 38 Seasons (Tommy Boy) [12-09] - rap [***]
  • Paul Giallorenzo's GitGo: Force Majeure (Delmark) [***]
  • Freddie Gibbs & Madlib: Piñata (Madlib Invazion) [03-18] - hip-hop [***]
  • Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio: We're Back (Whaling City Sound) [09-09] - jazz [**]
  • Gidge: Autumn Bells ()
  • Brantley Gilbert: Just as I Am (Valory) [05-20] - contemporary country [B]
  • Bebel Gilberto: Tudo (Masterworks/Portrait) [08-19] - Brazilian traditions
  • Maeve Gilchrist: 20 Chandler Street (Adventure Music America)
  • Doug Gillard: Parade On (Nine Mile Records) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Girlpool: Girlpool (Wichita, EP) [11-28] - indie rock
  • Glass Animals: Zaba (Harvest) [06-09] - dubstep
  • Glitterbug: Dust ()
  • The Gloaming: The Gloaming (Real World) - world
  • Roby Glod/Roberta Piket/Mark Tokar/Klaus Kugel: Op Der Schmelz Live (NEMU) - jazz
  • Ben Glover: Atlantic (Proper)
  • The Go Find: Brand New Love (Morr Music) [02-11] - indie electronic
  • GOAT: Commune (Sub Pop) [09-23] - alt/indie rock [A-]
  • Goatwhore: Constricting Rage of the Merciless (Metal Blade) [07-08] - heavy metal
  • Godflesh: A World Lit Only by Fire (Avalanche) [10-07] - industrial metal
  • Louise Goffin: Songs From the Mine (Majority of One)
  • GoGo Penguin: V2.0 (Gondwana) [03-17] - fusion jazz
  • Jared Gold: JG3+3 (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Gold-Bears: Dalliance (Slumberland) [06-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Ben Goldberg: Worry Later (BAG Production) [05-20] - jazz [**]
  • Larry Goldings: Ramshackle Serenade (Pirouet) [05-27] - jazz
  • Golem: Tanz (Discos Corason) [A-]
  • Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs: All Her Fault (Transdreamer) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Good Area: Pronunciation (Hanson)
  • Good Throb: Fuck Off (self-released)
  • Brad Goode Quartet: Montezuma (Origin) [10-21] - jazz [**]
  • Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band: Life in the Bubble (Concord) [05-13] - jazz
  • Jimi Goodwin: Odludek (Heavenly) [03-25] - indie rock
  • Sax Gordon: In the Wee Small Hours (Delmark) - jazz [**]
  • Got a Girl: I Love You but I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now (Bulk) [07-22] - indie pop
  • The Gotobeds: Poor People Are Revolting (12XU)
  • Grand Fatilla: Global Shuffle (self-released) [*]
  • Grand Union Orchestra: The Song of Many Tongues (Redgold) - jazz
  • Ariana Grande: My Everything (Island/Republic) [08-26] - pop [**]
  • Grandma Sparrow: Grandma Sparrow & His Piddletractor Orchestra (Spacebomb)
  • David Gray: Mutineers (Iht) [06-17] - alt/indie rock
  • Luther Gray/Jim Hobbs/Kaethe Hostetter/Winston Braman: Lawnmower II (Clean Feed) [***]
  • Macy Gray: The Way (Happy Mel Boopy Touring Co) [10-07] - retro-soul
  • Danny Green Trio: After the Calm (OA2) [11-17] - jazz [**]
  • Martin Green: Crow's Bones (Proper Music)
  • Green Day: Demolicious (Reprise) [04-22] - alt pop/rock
  • The Green Seed: Drapetomania (Communicating Vessels) [07-15] - rap [A]
  • Jimmy Greene: Beautiful Life (Mack Avenue) - jazz [*]
  • Grenier/Archie Pelago: Grenier Meets Archie Pelago (Melodic) [***]
  • Lars Greve: Breidablik (Hiatus) - jazz
  • Greylag: Greylag (Dead Oceans) [10-14] - indie rock
  • Greys: If Anything (Carpark) [06-17] - noise rock
  • GridLink: Longhenna ()
  • Michael Griener/Rudi Mahall/Jan Roder/Christof Thewes: Squakk: Willisau & Berlin (Intakt) [A-]
  • Tom Griesgraber/Bert Lams: Unnamed Lands (self-released) [*]
  • Grieves: Winter & the Wolves (Rhymesayers Entertainment) [A-]
  • Johnny Griffith: Dance With the Lady (GB) - jazz [*]
  • The Grip: Celebrate (Slowfoot) - jazz
  • GRMLN: Soon Away (Carpark) [09-16] - noise pop
  • Brian Groder Trio: Reflexology (Latham) - jazz [***]
  • Groove Armada: Late Night Tales Presents Automatic Soul (Late Night Tales/Night Time Stories) [11-04] - post-disco
  • Grouper: Ruins (Kranky) [11-04] - alt singer/songwriter [**]
  • The Growlers: Chinese Fountain (Everloving) [09-23] - alt-country
  • Grumbling Fur: Preternaturals (Quietus) [08-19] - pop/rock
  • Grünen [Achim Kaufmann/Robert Landfermann/Christian Lillinger]: Pith & Twig (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [***]
  • Juan Luis Guerra y 440: Todo Tiene Su Hora (Universal) [11-11] - latin pop
  • David Guetta: Listen (Atlantic) [11-24] - club/dance [B]
  • Guided by Voices: Cool Planet (self-released) [05-13] - indie rock
  • Guided by Voices: Motivational Jumpsuit (Fire) [02-18] - indie rock
  • Gulp: Season Sun (Everloving) [07-08] - indie pop
  • Steve Gunn: Way Out Weather (Paradise of Bachelors) [10-07] - neo-psychedelia [*]
  • Steve Gunn & Mike Cooper: FRKWYS Vol 11: Cantos de Lisboa (RVNG Intl)
  • Steve Gunn & Mike Gangloff: Melodies for a Savage Fix ()
  • Kaja Gunnufsen: Faen Kaja ()
  • Gus Gus: Mexico (Kompakt) [06-24] - club/dance
  • Mats Gustafsson: Torturing the Saxophone (Corbett vs Dempsey) - jazz
  • Tord Gustavsen Quartet: Extended Circle (ECM) [***]
  • Gut und Immler: 500m (Bureau B) [09-16] - experimental rock
  • Barry Guy: Five Fizzles for Samuel Beckett (NoBusiness, EP) [11-00] - jazz [**]
  • Barry Guy: Amphi/Radio Rondo (Intakt) - jazz
  • The Haden Triplets: The Haden Triplets (Third Man) [02-04] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Haddo: Borderlands (Lulubug)
  • Andrew Hadro: For Us, the Living (Tone Rogue) [***]
  • Haerts: Haerts (Columbia) [10-28] - indie pop
  • Hail Mary Mallon: Bestiary (Rhymesayers Entertainment) [11-11] - hardcore rap [***]
  • Luke Haines: New York in the '70s (Cherry Red) [B]
  • Haitian Rail: Solarists (New Atlantis) [**]
  • Half Japanese: Overjoyed (Joyful Noise) [09-02] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • Hassan Hakmoun: Unity (Healing) [04-12] - Moroccan
  • Rich Halley 4: The Wisdom of Rocks (Pine Eagle) - free jazz [A-]
  • Halls: Love to Give ()
  • Mary Halvorson/Michael Formanek/Tomas Fujiwara: Thumbscrew (Cuneiform) [01-21] - jazz [A-]
  • Mary Halvorson: Reverse Blue (Relative Pitch) - jazz [***]
  • Hamell on Trial: The Happiest Man in the World (New West) [**]
  • Scott Hamilton Quartet: Dean Street Nights (Woodville) [**]
  • Scott Hamilton: Live at Smalls (Smalls Live) [09-09] - jazz
  • Ross Hammond: Humanity Suite (Prescott) - jazz [***]
  • Handsome Jack: Do What Comes Naturally (Alive Naturalsound) [10-07] - blues-rock
  • Craig Handy: Craig Handy & the 2nd Line Smith (Okeh) [A-]
  • Happy Family: Minimal Gods (Cuneiform) [09-30] - avant-prog
  • Happyness: Weird Little Birthday (Weird Smiling) [06-16] - pop/rock
  • Hard Working Americans: Hard Working Americans (Melvin/Thirty Tigers) [01-21] - Americana [***]
  • Hard Working Americans: The First Waltz (Melvin) [10-27] - Americana [*]
  • Curtis Harding: Soul Power (Burger) [05-06] - soul
  • Ange Hardy: The Lament of the Black Sheep (Story)
  • Eric Harland's Voyager: Vipassana (GSI Studios) [B-]
  • Darryl Harper: The Need's Got to Be So Deep (Hipnotic) - jazz
  • The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer: A Real Fine Mess ()
  • Tom Harrell: Trip (High Note) [08-12] - jazz
  • Tom Harrell: The Auditorium Session (Parco Della Musica) - jazz
  • Joel Harrison: Mother Stump (Cuneiform) [05-13] - jazz
  • Billy Hart Quartet: One Is the Other (ECM) [B]
  • Taylor Haskins: Fuzzy Logic (Sunnyside) [B-]
  • Elias Haslanger: Live at the Gallery (Cherrywood) - jazz [*]
  • Russell Haswell: 37 Minute Workout (Diagonal)
  • Hat: Twins (Hot Blues) [***]
  • Hauschka: Abandoned City (Temporary Residence) [03-18] - experimental
  • Tom Hawk: Let's Cry and Do Pushups at the Same Time (Mexican Summer) [11-11] - chillwave
  • Alexander Hawkins: Song Singular (Babel) - piano jazz
  • Hunter Hayes: Storyline (Atlantic Nashville) [05-06] - country-pop
  • Liam Hayes & Plush: Korp Sole Roller (self-released)
  • Louis Hayes: Return of the Jazz Communicators (Smoke Sessions) [05-13] - jazz
  • Phil Haynes: No Fast Food: In Concert (Corner Store Jazz, 2CD) - jazz [***]
  • Charles Hayward: Smell of Metal (Kemaa)
  • Robin Hayward: Nouveau Saxhorn Nouveau Basse (Pogus) - jazz
  • David Hazeltine: For All We Know (Smoke Sessions) - jazz [***]
  • Headland: Sound/Track (Headland)
  • Imogen Heap: Sparks (RCA) [08-19] - adult alt pop/rock
  • The Reverend Horton Heat: REV (Victory) [01-21] - rockabilly
  • Jimmy Heath Big Band: Togetherness: Live at the Blue Note (Jazz Legacy) - jazz
  • Heathers: Kingdom (Big3) [04-08] - pop
  • Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott: What Have We Become (Virgin) [A-]
  • Robby Hecht: Robby Hecht (Old Man Henry) - country
  • Tim Hegarty: Tribute (Miles High) [***]
  • David Helbock's Random/Control: Think of Two (Traumton) - jazz [**]
  • Jerry Heldman: Revelation(s) (Origin, 2CD) [09-16] - jazz [B]
  • The Heliocentrics & Melvin Van Peebles: The Last Transmission (Now-Again) [10-07] - jazz/spoken word [***]
  • Damian Helliwell: Metta (Metta-music)
  • The Levon Helm Band: The Midnight Ramble Sessions, Vol 3 (Vanguard) [07-01] - rock & roll
  • Ryan Hemsworth: Alone for the First Time ()
  • Ella Henderson: Chapter One () [10-13]
  • Arve Henriksen: Chron + Cosmic Creation (Rune Grammofon) - experimental electronic [B]
  • Arve Henriksen: Places of Worship (Rune Grammofon) - jazz
  • Arve Henriksen: The Nature of Connections (Rune Grammofon) - jazz
  • Joe Henry: Invisible Hour (Work Song) [06-03] - adult alt pop/rock [*]
  • Keaton Henson: Romantic Works () [06-16]
  • Hercules & Love Affair: The Feast of the Broken Heart (Moshi Moshi) [B]
  • Benjamin Herman: Trouble (Dox) [07-15] - jazz [*]
  • Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas: Secret Evil (Instant) [08-19] - indie rock [***]
  • Vincent Herring: Uptown Shuffle (Smoke Sessions) - jazz [**]
  • Maggie Herron: Good Thing (self-released) [10-21] - vocal jazz [**]
  • Fred Hersch: Floating (MRI) [07-09] - piano jazz
  • Conrad Herwig: The Latin Side of Joe Henderson (High Note) [09-16] - jazz
  • Katie Herzig: Walk Through Walls (Marion-Lorraine) [04-08] - singer-songwriter
  • Heterotic: Weird Drift (Planet Mu) [04-22] - electronic
  • John Hiatt: Terms of My Surrender (New West) [07-15] - roots rock [A-]
  • Hiatus Kaiyote: By Fire ()
  • Tom Hickox: War, Peace and Diplomacy (Fierce Panda) [03-10]
  • Hieroglyphic Being and the Configurative Or Modular Me Trio: The Seer of Cosmic Visions ()
  • Highasakite: Silent Treatment () [03-04] - indie rock
  • Kevin Hildebrandt: Tolerance (Summit) - jazz [**]
  • Lisa Hilton: Kaleidoscope (Ruby Slippers) [**]
  • Peter Himmelman: The Boat That Carries Us (Himmasongs)
  • Pamela Hines Trio: Thrive! (Spice Rack) - piano jazz
  • Hiromi: Alive (Telarc) - piano jazz
  • Hiss Golden Messenger: Lateness of Dancers (Merge) [09-09] - alt pop/rock [*]
  • Hiss Tracts: Shortwave Nights (Constellation) [05-13]
  • The History of Apple Pie: Feel Something (Marshall Teller) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Robyn Hitchcock: The Man Upstairs (Yep Roc) [08-26] - pop/rock
  • Thea Hjelmeland: Solar Plexus ()
  • Eric Hofbauer: Prehistoric Jazz Volume 1: The Rite of Spring (Creative Nation Music) - jazz [***]
  • Eric Hofbauer: Prehistoric Jazz Volume 2: Quintet for the End of Time (Creative Nation Music) - jazz [**]
  • Holly Hofmann: Low Life: The Alto Flute Project (Capri) [*]
  • The Hold Steady: Teeth Dreams (Razor & Tie/Washington Square) [A-]
  • Jolie Holland: Wine Dark Sea (Anti) [05-20] - alt/indie rock
  • John Hollenbeck/Alban Darche/Sébastien Boisseau/Samuel Blaser: JASS (Yolk) [A-]
  • Dave Hollister: Chicago Winds . . . The Saga Continues (E1) [10-21] - adult contemporary r&b
  • Eric Holm: Andøya (Subtext)
  • Holögrama: Waves (Trouble in Mind) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Will Holshouser/Matt Munisteri/Marcus Rojas: Introducing Musette Explosion (Aviary) [11-01] - jazz [**]
  • Holy Mountain: Ancient Astronauts (Chemikal Underground) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Homeboy Sandman: White Sands (Stones Throw, EP) [03-04] - underground rap [***]
  • Homeboy Sandman: Hallways (Stones Throw) [09-02] - underground rap [A-]
  • Honeyblood: Honeyblood (Fat Cat) [07-15] - alt/indie rock [B]
  • Erik Honore: Heliographs (Hubro) - jazz
  • William Hooker & Liudas Mockunas: Live at the Vilnius Jazz Festival (NoBusiness) - jazz [A-]
  • Hookworms: The Hum (Weird World) [11-11] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • Horrendous: Ecdysis (Dark Descent) - metal
  • The Horrors: Luminous (XL/XLP) [05-06] - indie rock
  • Horse Feathers: So It Is With Us (Kill Rock Stars) [10-21] - indie folk
  • Horse Meat Disco: Horse Meat Disco IV (Strut) [06-24] - post-disco [**]
  • Horse Thief: Fear in Bliss (Bella Union) [04-15] - indie rock
  • Horsebeach: Horsebeach (Alone Together)
  • Wayne Horvitz: 55: Music and Dance in Concrete (Cuneiform) - jazz [B]
  • Wayne Horvitz/The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble: At the Reception (Songlines) - jazz
  • Hospitality: Trouble (Merge) [01-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Hostage Calm: Die on Stage (Run for Cover) [09-16] - alt pop/rock
  • The Hotelier: Home, Like No Place Is There (Tiny Engines) [02-25] [*]
  • How to Dress Well: What Is This Heart? (Weird World) [06-24] - alternative r&b [B]
  • Ben Howard: I Forget Where We Were (Island/Republic) [10-21] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Dylan Howe: Subterranean: New Designs on Bowie's Berlin (Motorik)
  • The Howlin' Brothers: Trouble (Readymade) [04-29]
  • Howlin Rain: Live Rain (Agitated/Silver Current) [04-29] - hard rock
  • Howling Bells: Heartstrings (self-released) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Hozier: Hozier (Island) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • HTRK: Psychic 9-5 Club (Ghostly International) [04-01] - indie electronic
  • Jennifer Hudson: JHUD (RCA) [09-23] - contemporary r&b [*]
  • Carl Hultgren: Tomorrow (Blue Flea)
  • Hundred Waters: The Moon Rang Like a Bell (Owsla) [05-27] - indie pop
  • Hungry Cloud Darkening: Glossy Recall (Off Tempo) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Sam Hunt: Montevallo (MCA Nashville) [10-28] - contemporary country [B]
  • Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola: The Cars (Charlie Hunter Music) - jazz
  • Hurray for the Riff Raff: Small Town Heroes (ATO) [02-11] - alt singer-songwriter [**]
  • Hurula: Vi Ar Manniskorna Vara Foraldrar Varnade Oss F ()
  • Hush Point: Blues and Reds (Sunnyside) - jazz
  • Bobby Hutcherson/David Sanborn/Joey DeFrancesco: Enjoy the View (Blue Note) - jazz [*]
  • Hutchinson Andrew Trio: Prairie Modern (Chronograph) [***]
  • Huxley: Blurred (!K7) [10-21] - progressive house
  • Jenny Hval & Susanna: Meshes of Voice (Susannasonata) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Chrissie Hynde: Stockholm (Caroline) [06-10] - pop/rock [*]
  • I Break Horses: Chiaroscuro (Bella Union) [01-21] - alt/indie rock
  • I Compani: Verdi 2.00 (Icdisc) - jazz
  • I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness: Dust (Secretly Canadian) [10-28] - indie rock
  • Iamamiwhoami: Blue (To Whom It May Concern) [11-11] - indie electronic
  • Iamsu!: Sincerely Yours (HBK Gang) [05-13] - rap
  • Ibibio Sound Machine: Ibibio Sound Machine (Soundway) [*]
  • Iceage: Plowing Into the Field of Love (Matador) [10-07] - alt/indie rock [B]
  • Lia Ices: Ices (Jagjaguwar) [09-16] - indie electronic
  • ICP Orchestra: East of the Sun (ICP) [08-22] - jazz [**]
  • Ideal Bread: Beating the Teens: Songs of Steve Lacy (Cuneiform, 2CD) [05-13] - jazz [***]
  • Billy Idol: Kings & Queens of the Underground (BFI) [10-21] - hard rock
  • Tommy Igoe: The Tommy Igoe Rhythm Conspiracy (Deep Rhythm) [09-23] - jazz [B-]
  • Ikebe Shakedown: Stone by Stone (Ubiquity) [04-15] - deep funk revival [B]
  • Silvana Imam: Nar Du Ser Mig, Se Dig ()
  • Imarhan Timbuktu: Akal Warled (Clermont Music) [03-18] - Saharan [**]
  • In the Country & Frida Ånnevik: Skogenes Sang ()
  • Incantation: Dirges of Elysium () - metal
  • Indigo Mist [Cuong Vu/Richard Karpen]: That the Days Go By and Never Come Again (Rare Noise) - jazz
  • The Eric Ineke Jazzxpress: Cruisin' (Challenge) - jazz
  • Chuck Inglish: Convertibles (Federal Prism/Sounds Like Fun) [04-08] - alt-rap
  • Randy Ingram: Sky/Lift (Sunnyside) [**]
  • Inner City Ensemble: Black/White (Instant Classics)
  • Inspiral Carpets: Inspiral Carpets (Cherry Red) [11-04] - pop/rock
  • International Orange: International Orange (self-released) [***]
  • Interpol: El Pintor (Matador) [09-09] - alt pop/rock
  • Interstatic: Arise (Rare Noise) - jazz
  • The Intuition Orchestra: To the Inside (ForTune) - jazz
  • Inventions: Inventions (Temporary Residence) [04-01] - experimental ambient
  • The Inward Circles: Nimrod (self-released)
  • Jon Irabagon/Mark Helias/Barry Altschul: It Takes All Kinds (Irabbagast/Jazzwerkstatt) - jazz [***]
  • Markéta Irglová: Muna (Anti) [09-23] - gospel
  • Iron Reagan: The Tyranny of Will ()
  • Gregory Alan Isakov: The Weatherman (Suitcase Town Music)
  • Ital: Endgame (Planet Mu) [09-09] - club/dance
  • Anne Mette Iversen's Double Life: So Many Roads (Brooklyn Jazz Underground) - jazz
  • Vijay Iyer: Mutations (ECM) - jazz [A-]
  • Ja, Panik: Libertatia ()
  • Jessie J: Sweet Talker (Island/Lava/Republic) [10-14] - pop
  • Jason Jackson: Inspiration (Jack & Hill Music/Planet Arts) [10-14] - jazz [B]
  • Javon Jackson: Expression (Smoke Sessions) - jazz [*]
  • Paul Jackson Trio: Groove or Die (Whirlwind) - pop jazz
  • Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey: Worker (Royal Potato Family) [10-14] - avant-garde jazz
  • Peter Jacquemyn: Dig Deep (ChampdAction) - jazz
  • Ahmad Jamal/Yusef Lateef: Live at the Olympia: June 27, 2012 (Jazz Village, 2CD) [09-07] - jazz
  • Sarah Jaffe: Don't Disconnect (Kirtland) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Jagged Edge: JE Heartbreak II (So So Def) [10-28] - contemporary r&b
  • Jamaica: Ventura (Relativity) [04-01] - alt/indie rock
  • James: La Petite Mort (BMG Rights Management) [06-02] - adult alt pop/rock
  • José James: While You Were Sleeping (Blue Note) [06-10] - neo-soul [B]
  • Leela James: Fall for You (J&T) [07-08] - contemporary r&b [***]
  • Luke James: Luke James (Island) [09-23] - contemporary r&b [**]
  • James Farm: City Folk (Nonesuch) [10-27] - jazz
  • B.J. Jansen: Ronin (ARC) [**]
  • Japanther: Instant Money Magic (Seayou) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Al Jarreau: My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke (Concord) [08-05] - vocal jazz
  • Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden: Last Dance (2007, ECM) [06-17] - jazz
  • Jax Jazz Collective: Lotus Blossom: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (J-Bo) - jazz
  • JazzBonez: Watch It! (Summit) [B]
  • Jazzhole: Blue 72 (Beave Music) [**]
  • Olivia Jean: Bathtub Love Killings (Third Man)
  • Jeezy: Seen It All: The Autobiography (Def Jam) [09-02] - southern rap
  • Anthony Jefferson: But Beautiful (2014, self-released) - vocal jazz [**]
  • Ada Jenshus: Let It Go ()
  • Mark Jennett: Everybody Says Don't (Jazzizit) - vocal jazz
  • Shooter Jennings: Don't Wait Up (for George) (Black Country Rock) [08-05] - alt-country
  • Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra: Habitat (Justin Time) - jazz [*]
  • The Jezabels: The Brink (PIAS) [02-18] - indie pop
  • JJ: V (Secretly Canadian) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Joakim: Tropics of Love (Because) [05-27] - house
  • Job for a Cowboy: Sun Eater () - metal
  • Alain Johannes: Fragments & Wholes Vol 1 (self-released) [11-14]
  • Ethan Johns: The Reckoning (Three Crows Music) [06-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Eric Johnson/Mike Stern: Eclectic (Heads Up) [10-28] - guitar virtuoso
  • Jo Johnson: Weaving (Further)
  • Max Johnson: The Prisoner (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • Max Johnson Trio: The Invisible Trio (Fresh Sound New Talent) [**]
  • Richard Leo Johnson: Celeste (Soft Science) - jazz
  • Russ Johnson: Meeting Point (Relay) [05-16] - jazz
  • Russ Johnson: Still Out to Lunch (Yellowbird) [10-10] - jazz [**]
  • Syleena Johnson: Chapter 6: Couples Therapy (Blakbyrd) [10-28] - adult contemporary r&b
  • Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey: Going Back Home (Chess) [04-08] [***]
  • Jokleba: Outland (ECM) - jazz
  • Nick Jonas: Nick Jonas (Island) [11-11] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Darius Jones/Matthew Shipp: Cosmic Lieder: The Darkseid Recital (AUM Fidelity) [08-12] - avant-garde jazz [*]
  • Darius Jones: The Oversoul Manual (AUM Fidelity) [10-14] - choral group [B-]
  • Mimi Jones: Balance (Hot Tone Music) [*]
  • Paul Jones: Short History (Blujazz) - jazz [**]
  • Sean Jones: Im-pro-vise Never Before Seen (Mack Avenue) [07-22] - jazz
  • Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: Give the People What They Want (Daptone) [01-14] [*]
  • The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Revelation (A) [05-19] - psychedelic rock
  • Paul Jost: Breaking Through (Dot Time) - vocal jazz
  • JOY: Under the Spell of JOY (Teepee) [08-19] - hard rock
  • Joyce Manor: Never Hungover Again (Epitaph) [07-22] - punk revival
  • Jua: Colors of Life (Chocolate Chi Music) [B-]
  • The Juan MacLean: In a Dream (DFA) [09-16] - alt dance [***]
  • Judas Priest: Redeemer of Souls (Epic) [07-08] - heavy metal
  • Jukebox the Ghost: Jukebox the Ghost (Yep Roc) [10-21] - indie rock
  • Sherie Julianne: 10 Degrees South (Azul Do Mar) [B]
  • Orlando Julius with the Heliocentrics: Jaiyede Afro (Strut) [09-09] - international [A-]
  • Jungle: Jungle (XL) [07-15] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Damian Jurado: Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (Secretly Canadian) [01-21] - indie rock
  • K Michelle: Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? (Atlantic) [12-09] - contemporary r&b [*]
  • Beat Kaestli: Collage (B+B Productions) [**]
  • Dave Kain: Raising Kain (Stop Time) [**]
  • Kaiser Chiefs: Education, Education, Education & War (ATO) [04-01] - indie rock
  • Kalle Kalima & K-18: Buñuel de Jour (TUM) [09-16] - jazz [***]
  • Matthew Kaminski: Swingin' on the New Hammond (Summit) [*]
  • Vikesh Kapoor: The Ballad of Willy Robbins (Mama Bird) [10-15]
  • Pandelis Karayorgis Quintet: Afterimage (Driff) [***]
  • Rafael Karlen: The Sweetness of Things Half-Remembered (Pinnacles) - jazz
  • Kasabian: 48:13 (Columbia) [06-09] - alt/indie rock
  • Kasai Allstars: Beware the Fetish [Congotronics 5] (Crammed Discs, 2CD) [06-24] - African folk/pop [***]
  • Darrell Katz and the JCA Orchestra: Why Do You Ride? (Leo) [10-14] - jazz [*]
  • Manika Kaur: Satnam Waheguru: The True Name (self-released) [**]
  • Keb' Mo': Blues America () [04-22] - modern acoustic blues
  • Ryan Keberle & Catharsis: Into the Zone (Greenleaf Music) [09-30] - jazz [*]
  • Assaf Kehati Trio: Naked (self-released) - jazz
  • Kehlani: Cloud 19 (self-released)
  • Toby Keith: Double Shot (Show Dog Universal) [02-04] - country
  • Ricky Kej/Wouter Kellerman: Winds of Samsara (Listen 2 Africa) [07-15] - world [C]
  • Kele: Trick (Lilac) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Kelis: Food (Ninja Tune) [B-]
  • Kent: Tigerdrottningen ()
  • Stacey Kent: The Changing Lights (Warner Jazz) - jazz [**]
  • Stan Kenton Alumni Band: Road Scholars Live (Summit) [B]
  • KG: Passage Secret ()
  • Wiz Khalifa: Blacc Hollywood (Atlantic) [08-19] - east coast rap [**]
  • Steve Khan: Subtext (Tone Center) [06-24] - jazz
  • Kiasmos: Kiasmos (Erased Tapes) [10-28] - club/dance
  • Kid Cudi: Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon (Republic) [02-25] - rap
  • Kid Ink: My Own Lane (RCA) [01-07] - West coast rap
  • Angélique Kidjo: Eve (429) [01-28] - Afro-pop
  • Franklin Kiermyer: Further (Mobility Music) [**]
  • Kiesza: Sound of a Woman (Universal) [10-21] - club/dance
  • EG Kight: A New Day (Blue South) [09-16] - Chicago blues [**]
  • Rebecca Kilgore with the Harry Allen Quartet: I Like Men (Arbors) [*]
  • David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights: End Times Undone (Merge) [08-05] - alt/indie rock
  • Kill It Kid: You Owe Nothing (Sire) [06-06]
  • Killer Be Killed: Killer Be Killed (Nuclear Blast) [05-13] - metal
  • Killers Walk Among Us: Killers Walk Among ()
  • Kimbra: The Golden Echo (Warner Bros) [08-19] - pop
  • Frank Kimbrough: Quartet (Palmetto) [10-14] - piano jazz
  • Kindness: Otherness (Female Energy) [10-14] - alt r&b
  • Kindred the Family Soul: A Couple Friends (Shanachie) [06-10] - adult contemporary r&b
  • King Creosote: From Scotland With Love (Domino) [07-21] - alt/indie rock
  • King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: I'm in Your Mind Fuzz (Castle Face/Heavenly) [11-11] - neo-psychedelia
  • King of Prussia: Zonian Girls . . . and the Echoes That Surround Us All (Minty Fresh) [04-08] - indie rock
  • King of the Mountains: Zoetrope (Melodic) - electronic
  • King Tuff: Black Moon Spell (Sub Pop) [09-23] - garage rock revival
  • Leyland Kirby Presents V/Vm: The Death of Rave (A Partial Flashback) (History Always Favors the Winners)
  • Kishi Bashi: Lighght () [05-13] - art pop
  • Søren Kjaegaard/Ben Street/Andrew Cyrille: Syvmileskridt (ILK Music) [***]
  • Klangkarussell: Netzwerk (Universal) [01-01]
  • Kleerup: As If We Never Won ()
  • KMFDM: Our Time Will Come (Metropolis) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Jennifer Knapp: Set Me Free (Righteous Babe) [10-14] - alt singer/songwriter
  • The Knife: Shaken Up Versions (Mute) [06-17] - indie electronic
  • Kirk Knuffke and Jesse Stacken: Five (Steeplechase) - jazz
  • Toby Koenigsberg Trio: Drift (Ninjazz) - piano jazz
  • Kogumaza: Konokon (Lancashire and Somerset)
  • Sandra Kolstad: Zero Gravity State of Mind ()
  • Lee Konitz: Standards Live: At the Village Vanguard (Enja) [**]
  • Lee Konitz/Dan Tepfer/Michael Janisch/Jeff Williams: First Meeting: Live in London Volume 1 (Whirlwind) - jazz [***]
  • Konstrukt & Marshall Allen: Live at Sant'anna Aressi Jazz Festival (8mm) - jazz
  • Köök: Imber, Wiltshire (Va Fongool) - jazz
  • The Kooks: Listen (Astralwerks) [09-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Kool AD: Word OK (self-released) [03-20] - alt hip-hop [A-]
  • Korallreven: Second Comin' (Cascine) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Kristin Korb: Finding Home (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Glenn Kotche: Adventureland (Cantaloupe) [***]
  • Elly Kouri: I Love You Too Much (RBR) [*]
  • Boris Kovac & La Campanella: Eastern Moon Rising (Riverboat) - world
  • Mark Kozelek: Live at Biko (Caldo Verde) [07-01] - alt/indie rock
  • Mark Kozelek: Sings Christmas Carols (Caldo Verde)
  • Krakatau: Water Near a Bridge (Trouble in Mind) [07-29] - indie rock
  • David Krakauer: The Big Picture (Table Pounding) [***]
  • Lenny Kravitz: Strut () [09-23] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Jonathan Kreisberg: Wave Upon Wave (New for Now Music) [11-11] - jazz [*]
  • Yoni Kretzmer/Pascal Niggenkemper/Weasel Walter: Protest Music (Out Now) - jazz
  • Krieg: Transient ()
  • Krokodil: Nachash (Spinefarm) [11-10] - hard rock
  • Krokofant: Krokofant (Rume Grammofon) - jazz
  • Krom: Krom (self-released) [C+]
  • Kronomorfic [David Borgo & Paul Pellegrin]: Entangled (OA2) [10-21] - jazz [*]
  • Kronos Quartet: A Thousand Thoughts (Nonesuch) [06-25] - chamber music
  • Kronos Quartet: Richard Reed Parry: Music for Heart and Breath (Deutsche Grammophon) [08-19] - classical crossover
  • Martin Küchen: . . . And Everything Inside Came Down as Dust (Confront) - jazz
  • Joachim Kühn/Alexey Kruglov: Duo Art: Moscow (ACT) [A-]
  • Jonas Kullhammar/Torbjörn Zetterberg/Espen Aalberg: Basement Sessions Vol. 2 (Clean Feed) [A-]
  • Jonas Kullhammar/Jørgen Mathisen/Torbjörn Zetterberg/Espen Aalberg: Basement Sessions Vol. 3: The Ljubljana Tapes (Clean Feed) [**]
  • Jonas Kullhammar: Gentlemen (Moserobie) - jazz [A-]
  • Takuya Kuroda: Rising Son (Blue Note) [*]
  • Seun Kuti + Egypt 80: A Long Way to the Beginning (Knitting Factory) [***]
  • Talib Kweli: Gravitas (Javotti Media) [02-18] - east coast rap
  • LA 6: Frame of Mind (Jazzed Media) - jazz
  • La Dispute: Rooms of the House (Vagrant) [***]
  • La Hell Gang: Thru Me Again (Mexican Summer)
  • Kyla La Grange: Cut Your Teeth (Epic) [06-03] - alt singer/songwriter
  • La Roux: Trouble in Paradise (Cherrytree/Interscope) [07-22] - pop/rock [***]
  • La Santa Cecilia: Someday New (Universal) [03-04] - alt latin
  • Arthur Lacerda/Eduardo Manso/Paal Nilssen-Love/Felipe Zenicola: Bota Fogo (Bocian) - jazz
  • Lady Antebellum: 747 (Big Machine) [09-30] - contemporary country
  • Andrew Lafkas: 1+1 = Year Zero (Watermoon) - jazz
  • Lagwagon: Hang (Fat Wreck Chords) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Laibach: Spectre (Mute)
  • Oliver Lake Organ Quartet: What I Heard (Passin' Thru) - jazz [**]
  • Lake Street Dive: Bad Self Portraits (Signature Sounds) [*]
  • Lakefield: Swan Songs (self-released)
  • Michel Lambert: Journal des Épisodes II (Jazz From Rant) [11-18] - jazz [***]
  • Miranda Lambert: Platinum (RCA Nashville) [06-03] - country [A-]
  • Ray LaMontagne: Supernova (RCA) [04-29] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Land Observations: The Grand Tour (Mute) [07-29] - experimental rock
  • Dawn Landes: Bluebird (Western Vinyl) [**]
  • Landlady: Upright Behavior (Hometapes) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Mark Lanegan Band: Phantom Radio (Flooded Soil/Vagrant) [10-21] - indie rock
  • David Lang: Love Fail (Cantaloupe) [07-28]
  • Adam Lane's Full Throttle Orchestra: Live in Ljubljana (Clean Feed) [A-]
  • Nikki Lane: All or Nothin' (New West) [05-06] - alt country-rock [*]
  • Jon Langford & Skull Orchard: Here Be Monsters (In De Goot/Relativity) [A-]
  • Bob Lark and His Alumni Big Band: Sweet Return (Jazzed Media) - jazz
  • Last Ex: Last Ex (Constellation) [10-14] - indie rock
  • The Last Hombres: Old Fellows Rest (Louisiana Red Hot)
  • Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler: Slant of Light (Thrill Jockey)
  • Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey: And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch) - jazz
  • Ingrid Laubrock Octet: Zürich Concert (Intakt) - jazz [*]
  • Jim Lauderdale: I'm a Song (Sky Crunch) [07-01] - contemporary country
  • Matt Lavelle/John Pietaro: Harmolodic Monk (Unseen Rain) [06-27] - jazz [**]
  • Lavender Country: Lavender Country (Paradise of Bachelors) [03-25] - progressive country
  • Amy LaVere: Runaway's Diary (Archer) [A-]
  • Azar Lawrence: The Seeker (Sunnyside) [07-08] - jazz [**]
  • The Lawrence Arms: Metropole (Epitaph) [01-27] - punk revival [**]
  • Lay Llamas: Ostro (Rocket) [05-26]
  • Daunik Lazro/Benjamin Duboc/Didier Lasserre: Sens Radiants (Dark Tree) - jazz
  • Joëlle Léandre/Pascal Contet: 3 (Ayler) - jazz
  • Nguyen Lê: Celebrating the Dark Side of the Moon (ACT) - jazz
  • Le Butcherettes: Cry Is for the Flies (Nadie Sound)
  • Le1f: Hey (Terrible/XL, EP) - rap [**]
  • Lean Left: Live at the Area Sismica (Unsounds) - free jazz
  • Anja Lechner/François Couturier: Moderato Cantabile (ECM New Series) [09-16] - jazz
  • LeCrae: Anomaly (Reach) [09-09] - hip-hop
  • Led Bib: The People in Your Neighborhood (Cuneiform) [05-13] - jazz
  • Led Bib: The Good Egg (Cuneiform) [05-13] - jazz
  • Mike LeDonne: I Love Music (Savant) [05-19] - jazz
  • Lee: Shine (self-released) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Enoch Lee: Finish Line (self-released) - jazz
  • Gordon Lee with the Mel Brown Septet: Tuesday Night (Origin) [B-]
  • Shawn Lee/Tim "Love" Lee: KPM: New York Trouble/Electric Progression (Tummy Touch) [04-08] - library music
  • Steve Lehman Octet: Mise en Abîme (Pi) [06-24] - jazz [A]
  • Hamilton Leithauser: Black Hours (Ribbon Music) [06-03] - indie rock
  • Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies: Earth Air Spirit Fire Water (Van)
  • Ute Lemper: Forever: The Love Poems of Pablo Neruda (Steinway & Sons) [08-19] - vocal music
  • Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca: La Rumba So Yo (Cumbancha) [06-24] - [PM] [A-]
  • Gianni Lenoci/Kent Carter/Bill Elgart: Plaything (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • Annie Lennox: Nostalgia (Blue Note) [10-21] - adult contemporary
  • Lenzman: Looking at the Stars (Metalheadz) [06-16]
  • Neil Leonard: For Kounellis (Gasp)
  • Stefano Leonardi/Stefano Pastor/Fridolin Blumer/Heinz Geisser: Conversations About Thomas Chapin (Leo) - jazz
  • Jerry Léonide: The Key (ACT) - jazz
  • Peter Lerner: Continuation (OA2) [***]
  • Les Big Bird: They Worshipped Cats (Hoga/A)
  • Les Sins: Michael (ADA/Company) [11-04] - indie electronic
  • L'Étau: Choses Clandestines (Disques Bloc Thyristors) - jazz
  • Let's Wrestle: Let's Wrestle (Fortuna Pop) [02-10] - alt/indie rock [*]
  • Mica Levi: Under the Skin [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Milan) [04-01] - original score
  • Lewis: L'Amour/Romantic Times ()
  • Edvard Graham Lewis: All Under (Editions Mego)
  • Greg Lewis: Organ Monk: American Standard (self-released) [*]
  • James Brandon Lewis: Divine Travels (Okeh) [A-]
  • Jenny Lewis: The Voyager (Warner Brothers) [07-29] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Jerry Lee Lewis: Rock & Roll Time (Vanguard) [10-28] - outlaw country [**]
  • The John A. Lewis Trio: One Trip Out (Valarteri) [*]
  • Klara Lewis: ETT (Editions Mego)
  • Liars: Mess (Mute) [03-25] - indie rock
  • Dave Liebman Big Band: A Tribute to Wayne Shorter (Summit) [08-12] - jazz [*]
  • Helge Lien Trio: Badgers and Other Beings (Ozella) [05-02] - jazz
  • Lily & Madeleine: Fumes (Asthmatic Kitty) [10-26]
  • John Lindberg/Anil Eraslan: Juggling Kukla (NoBusiness) - jazz [**]
  • Linkin Park: The Hunting Party (Warner Bros) [06-17] - nu metal
  • Literature: Chorus (Slumberland) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Little Big League: Tropical Jinx (Run for Cover)
  • Little Big Town: Pain Killer (Capitol Nashville) [10-21] - contemporary country
  • Little Boots: Business Pleasure (This Is Music) [12-02] - left-field pop
  • Little Dragon: Nabuma Rubberband (Republic) [05-13] - electronic [B]
  • Cher Lloyd: Sorry I'm Late (Epic) [05-27] - pop
  • Tove Lo: Queen of the Clouds (Island) [09-30] - dance-pop [B]
  • Joe LoCascio and Woody Witt: Absinthe (Blue Bamboo Music) [**]
  • Locust: After the Rain (Editions Mego) [10-14] - ambient
  • Lo-Fang: Blue Film (4AD) [02-25] - alt singer-songwriter
  • Logic: Under Pressure (Def Jam) [10-21] - pop-rap [**]
  • Lo'Jo: 310 Lunes (World Village) - world
  • The Mark Lomax Trio: Isis & Osiris (Inarhyme) [09-16] - jazz [A-]
  • Fred Lonberg-Holm/Frode Gjerstad: Life on Sandpaper (FMR) - jazz
  • Theophilus London: Vibes! (Warner Bros) [11-04] - alt r&b
  • Lone: Reality Testing (R&S) [06-17] - house
  • Lonely the Brave: The Day's War ()
  • Mike Longo: Step On It (CAP) [***]
  • The Mike Longo Trio: Celebrates Oscar Peterson: Live (CAP) [10-07] - piano jazz [**]
  • Luis Lopes Lisbon Berlin Trio: The Line (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [A-]
  • Jennifer Lopez: AKA (Capitol) [06-17] - pop
  • Lord Mantis: Death Mask () - metal
  • Lorentz: Karlekslatar ()
  • Michelle Lordi: Michelle Lordi Sings (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Lorelle Meets the Obsolete: Chambers (Sonic Cathedral/Captcha) [03-03] - shoegaze
  • Los Lobos & Friends: Si Se Puede! (Fantasy) [04-01] - latin rock
  • Loscil: Sea Island (Kranky) [11-18] - ambient techno [*]
  • Lost in the Trees: Past Life (Anti) [***]
  • Maurice Louca: Benhayyi Al-Baghbaghan (Nawa)
  • Lydia Loveless: Somewhere Else (Bloodshot) [02-17] [**]
  • Low Jack: Garifuna Versions (LIES)
  • Low Society: You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down (Icehouse) - vocal jazz [*]
  • Allen Lowe: Mulatto Radio: Field Recordings: 1-4 (Constant Sorrow, 4CD) [A-]
  • Lowell: We Loved Her Dearly (Arts & Crafts) [09-16] - left-field pop
  • Lower: Seek Warmer Climes (Matador) [06-17] - post-punk
  • Lower Plenty: Life/Thrills (Mexican Summer) [09-23] - indie pop
  • LP: Forever for Now (Warner Bros) [06-03] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Romero Lubambo: Só: Brazilian Essence (Sunnyside) [*]
  • Lucero: Live From Atlanta (Ingrooves) [08-12] - alt country-rock
  • Luluc: Passerby (Sub Pop) [07-15] - indie folk
  • Lumen Drones: Lumen Drones (ECM) [11-25] - instrumental rock
  • Corb Lund: Counterfeit Blues (New West) [07-01] - country blues [*]
  • Jon Lundbom & Big Five Chord: Liverevil (Hot Cup, 2CD) [A-]
  • Jan Lundgren: All By Myself (Fresh Sound) - piano jazz [**]
  • Carmen Lundy: Soul to Soul (Afrasia) - vocal jazz
  • The John Lurie National Orchestra: The Invention of Animals (1993-94, Amulet) [***]
  • Lushes: What Am I Doing (Felte) [03-04] - indie rock
  • Lust for Youth: International (Sacred Bones) [06-10] - indie electronic
  • The Luxembourg Signal: The Luxembourg Signal (Shelflife) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • LV & John Idehen: Islands (Keysound) [09-15] - electronic
  • LVL Up: Hoodwink'd (Double Double Whammy/Exploding in Sound)
  • Lykke Li: I Never Learn (Atlantic) [05-05] - indie pop [**]
  • Vincent Lyn: Live in New York City (Budo) [*]
  • Brian Lynch and Emmet Cohen: Questioned Answer (Hollistic Musicworks) [07-31] - jazz [**]
  • Lera Lynn: The Avenues (self-released) [09-09]
  • Harold Mabern: Right on Time (Smoke Sessions) [01-08] - jazz [*]
  • Catherine MacLellan: The Raven's Sun (True North)
  • Machine Head: Bloodstone & Diamonds (Nuclear Blast) [11-11] - death metal
  • Machine Mass [Tony Bianco/Michel Delville]: Inti (Moonjune) [**]
  • The Madden Brothers: Greetings From California (Capitol) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • Made to Break: Cherchez La Femme (Trost) [***]
  • Peter Madsen: Elvis Never Left the Building (Playscape) - piano jazz
  • Joe Magnarelli: Lookin' Up (Posi-Tone) [06-24] - jazz
  • Dean Magraw & Eric Kamau Gravatt: Fire on the Nile (Red House) [10-14] - jazz [**]
  • Roberto Magris Quintet: Cannonball Funk'n Friends (JMood -13) [**]
  • Roberto Magris Septet: Morgan Rewind: A Tribute to Lee Morgan Vol. 2 (JMood, 2CD) [*]
  • Roberto Magris Trio: One Night in With Hope and More, Vol. 2 (JMood -13) [**]
  • Mike Majkowski: Why Is There Something Instead of Nothing (Bocian) - jazz
  • Major Lazer: Apocalypse Soon (Mad Decent, EP) [03-04] - dancehall
  • Makthaverskan: II (Run for Cover) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Tony Malaby Tamarindo: Somos Aqua (Clean Feed) [***]
  • Tony Malaby TubaCello: Scorpion Eater (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [***]
  • Malachai: Beyond Ugly (Domino) [04-01] - neo-psychedelia
  • Luke Malewicz: Green Ruins (Heritage Jazz) - jazz
  • Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks: Wig Out at Jagbags (Matador) [01-07] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Bob Mamet: London House Blues (Blujazz) [**]
  • Mammal Hands: Mammal Hands (Gondwana) - jazz
  • Jeremy Manasia: Pixel Queen (Blujazz) [***]
  • Manchester Orchestra: Cope (Republic) [04-01] - indie rock
  • Manchester Orchestra: Hope (Loma Vista) [11-18] - indie rock
  • Eleni Mandell: Let's Fly a Kite (Yep Roc) [*]
  • Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra With Bobby Sanabria: Que Viva Harlem! (Jazzheads) - Latin jazz
  • Manic Street Preachers: Futurology (Columbia) [07-07] - [PM]
  • Sarah Manning: Harmonious Creature (Posi-Tone) - jazz [***]
  • Karen Mantler: Business Is Bad (ECM/Xtra Watt) [07-29] - vocal jazz
  • Michael Mantler: The Jazz Composer's Update (ECM) - jazz [B]
  • Mapei: Hey Hey ()
  • Augie March: Havens Dumb ()
  • Mariachi El Bronx: Mariachi El Bronx (III) (ATO) [11-04] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Paul Marinaro: Without a Song (Myrtle) [*]
  • Louis-Michel Marion: 5 Strophes (Kadima) - jazz
  • Ziggy Marley: Fly Rasta (Tuff Gong) [04-15] - reggae
  • The Marmozets: The Weird and Wonderful (Roadrunner) [09-29] - pop/rock
  • Johnny Marr: Playland (New Voodoo) [10-07] - Britpop
  • Thomas Marriott: Urban Folklore (Origin) [10-21] - jazz [*]
  • Mars 4-Tet: The Blind Watchmaker (Summit) [**]
  • Branford Marsalis: In My Solitude: Live at Grace Cathedral (Okeh) [10-21] - jazz [**]
  • Delfeayo Marsalis: The Last Southern Gentlemen (Troubadour Jass) - jazz [***]
  • Ellis Marsalis Trio: On the Second Occasion (ELM) - jazz
  • Bernie Marsden: Shine (Mascot) [09-30]
  • Dominic J. Marshall Trio: Spirit Speech (Origin) [*]
  • Mike Marshall/Turtle Island Quartet: Mike Marshall & the Turtle Island Quartet (Adventure Music) [B]
  • Terry Marshall: Arrival (self-released) [C+]
  • Emilia Martensson: Ana (Babel) - jazz
  • Marteria: Zum Glück in die Zukunft II ()
  • Ross Martin/Max Johnson/Jeff Davis: Big Eyed Rabbit (Not Two) [07-01] - jazz [B]
  • Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers feat. Edie Brickell: Live (Rounder) [03-11] - bluegrass
  • Martyn: The Air Between Words (Ninja Tune) [06-17] - dubstep
  • J Mascis: Tied to a Star (Sub Pop) [08-26] - indie rock [*]
  • Harvey Mason Sr: Chameleon (Concord) [04-29] - crossover jazz
  • The Mastersons: Good Luck Charm (New West)
  • Mastodon: Once More 'Round the Sun (Reprise) [06-24] - hard rock
  • Matadors: Matadorials (Birncore) - jazz
  • Patsy Matheson: Domino Girls (Tomorrow)
  • Jimbo Mathus: Dark Night of the Soul (Fat Possum) [02-18] - singer-songwriter
  • Jimbo Mathus: Jimmy the Kid (Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum) [09-30] - modern acoustic blues
  • Matisyahu: Akeda (Elm City Music) [06-03] - contemporary reggae
  • Mats/Morgan: [Schack Tati] (Cuneiform) [05-27]
  • Matthew & the Atlas: Other Rivers (Communion)
  • Matthewdavid: In My World (Brainfeeder) [07-01] - indie electronic
  • Maximo Park: Too Much Information (Daylighting) [02-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Shawn Maxwell: Shawn Maxwell's Alliance (Chicago Sessions) [B-]
  • Imelda May: Tribal (Decca/Verve) [09-23] - rockabilly revival
  • Tina May: My Kinda Love (Hep) - vocal jazz
  • ¡Mayday x Murs!: ¡Mursday! (Strange Music) [A-]
  • Jessica Lea Mayfield: Make My Head Sing . . . (ATO) [04-15] [**]
  • Mayhem: Esoteric Warfare (Seasons of Mist) [06-10] - heavy metal
  • Mazes: Wooden Aquarium (Fat Cat) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • Rob Mazurek: Mother Ode (Corbett vs Dempsey) - jazz
  • Rob Mazurek and Black Cube SP: Return the Tides: Ascension Suite and Holy Ghost (Cuneiform) [10-14] - jazz
  • Martina McBride: Everlasting (Sharon's Rose) [04-08] - neo-trad country
  • Alexander McCabe/Paul Odeh: This Is Not a Pipe (Wamco) - jazz [**]
  • Leyla McCalla: Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes (Fat Possum/Music Maker) [02-04] - regional blues
  • Carol McCartney: Be Cool (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Dave McConnell Group: The Dragon and the Griffin (New Atlantis) - jazz
  • Andrew McCormack: First Light (Edition) - piano jazz
  • Aaron McEvers/M13: 1 Human, Too Human (Blujazz) [B]
  • Zara McFarlane: If You Knew Her (Brownswood) [01-20] - vocal jazz [B]
  • Taylor McFerrin: Early Riser (Brainfeeder) [06-03] - experimental electronic
  • Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer: Maritime ()
  • Tim McGraw: Sundown Heaven Town (Big Machine) [09-16] - contemporary country
  • Pete McGuinness Jazz Orchestra: Strength in Numbers (Summit) - jazz [*]
  • Mark McGuire: Along the Way (Dead Oceans) [02-04] - electronic/experimental
  • Lori McKenna: Numbered Doors (Liz Rose Music) - country
  • Sarah McLachlan: Shine On (Decca/Verve) [05-06] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Ian McLagan & the Bump Band: United States (Yep Roc) [06-17] - pop/rock
  • John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension: The Boston Record (Abstract Logix) [03-18] - jazz [B]
  • Andrew McMahon: Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness (Vanguard) [10-14] - indie electronic
  • James Vincent McMorrow: Post Tropical (Vagrant) [01-14] - alt singer-songwriter
  • Joe McPhee: Glasses (Corbett & Dempsey) - jazz
  • Mark Meadows: Somethin' Good (self-released) [B-]
  • Meatbodies: Meatbodies (In the Red) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Medeski Martin & Wood + Nels Cline: Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2 (Indirecto) [***]
  • Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood: Juice (Indirecto) [09-16] - electric jazz [*]
  • Medicine: Home Everywhere (Captured Tracks) [10-28] - dream pop
  • Leighton Meester: Heartstrings (Holly Wanting/Vagrant) [10-28] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Megson: In a Box (EDJ)
  • Brad Mehldau/Mark Guiliana: Mehliana: Taming the Dragon (Nonesuch) [**]
  • Meiko: Dear You (Fantasy) [10-14] - alt singer/songwriter
  • John Mellencamp: Plain Spoken () [09-23] - Americana
  • Lubomyr Melnyk: Evertina (Erased Tapes)
  • Melvins: Hold It In (Ipecac) [10-14] - alt metal
  • Memory Drawings: There Is No Perfect Place (Hibernate)
  • The Men: Tomorrow's Hits (Sacred Bones) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Sergio Mendes: Magic (Okeh) [09-09] - Brazilian pop
  • Cava Menzies/Nick Phillips: Moment to Moment (self-released) [***]
  • The Menzingers: Rented World (Epitaph) [B]
  • Merchandise: After the End (4AD) [08-26] - indie rock
  • Giocomo Merega/Noah Kaplan/Joe Moffett: Crows and Motives (Underwolf) - jazz
  • Merkabah: Moloch (Instant Classic)
  • Metabolismus: Sus (Amish)
  • Pat Metheny Unity Group: Kin (Nonesuch) [B-]
  • Metronomy: Love Letters (Because/Elektra) [03-10] [**]
  • Collette Michaan: Incarnate/Encarna (self-released) [12-02] - jazz [B]
  • Dan Michaelson & the Coastguards: Distance (The State51 Conspiracy) [08-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Ingrid Michaelson: Lights Out (Mom + Pop Music) [04-15] - singer/songwriter
  • Lea Michele: Louder (Epic) [03-04] - pop-rock
  • Kelley Mickwee: You Used to Live Here (CEN/Red)
  • The Microscopic Septet: Manhattan Moonrise (Cuneiform) [05-27] - jazz [A-]
  • Microtub: Star System (Sofa) - jazz
  • Microwaves: Regurgitant Phenomena (New Atlantis) - noise rock [B]
  • Middlemist Red: Supersonic Overdrive ()
  • Bette Midler: It's the Girls! (East/West) [11-04] - contemporary pop/rock [**]
  • Midnight: No Mercy for Mahyem () - metal
  • Mighty Oaks: Howl ()
  • Sei Miguel: Salvation Modes (Clean Feed) - jazz [*]
  • Milagres: Violent Light (Kill Rock Stars) [02-25] - indie rock
  • Ron Miles: Circuit Rider (Enja) [10-14] - jazz
  • Militia: Deluxe Cigars (self-released)
  • Jaro Milko & the Cubalkanics: Cigarros Explosivos! (Asphalt Tango) [*]
  • Milky Chance: Sadnecessary (Ignition) [07-07]
  • Millennium Jazz Orchestra: Safety Zone (self-released) - jazz
  • The Ben Miller Band: Any Way, Shape or Form (New West) [08-05] - alt-country
  • David Michael Miller: Poisons Sipped (CDBaby) [04-29]
  • Scott Miller/Lee Camfield/Merzbow: No Closure (Cold Spring)
  • Millie & Andrea: Drop the Vowels (Modern Love) [03-21] - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Blake Mills: Heigh Ho (Verve) [09-16] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Pete Mills: Sweet Shadow (Cellar Live) - jazz [***]
  • Parker Millsap: Parker Millsap (Okrahoma) [**]
  • Andy Milne and Dapp Theory: Forward in All Directions (Whirlwind) - jazz
  • Milo: A Toothpaste Suburb (Hellfyre Club)
  • Gianni Mimmo/Alison Blunt: Lasting Ephemerals (Amirani) - jazz
  • Nicki Minaj: The Pinkprint (Young Money) [12-15] - pop-rap [A-]
  • Dom Minasi & Hans Tammen: Alluvium (Straw2gold) [*]
  • Mind Fair: Mind Fair (Golf Channel)
  • The Ministry of Wolves: Music From Republic der Wölfe (Mute) [04-22] - goth rock
  • Kylie Minogue: Kiss Me Once (Parlophone/Warner Bros.) [03-18] - dance-pop
  • Minus the Bear: Lost Loves (Dangerbird) [10-07] - indie rock
  • Mirage: Blood for the Return (Olde English Spelling Bee/Weird World)
  • Mirah: Changing Light ()
  • Kristen Miranda: Double Time (self-released) [**]
  • Mishaped Pearls: Thamesis (Proper Music)
  • Mississippi Heat: Warning Shot (Delmark) - blues
  • Mr Mitch: Parallel Memories (Planet Mu)
  • Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble: Intergalactic Beings (FPE) [***]
  • Nicole Mitchell's Sonic Projections: The Secret Escapades of Velvet Anderson (RogueArt) - jazz
  • Roscoe Mitchell/Mike Reed: In Pursuit of Magic (482 Music) [01-28] - jazz
  • Roscoe Mitchell: Conversations I (Wide Hive) - jazz [B]
  • Roscoe Mitchell: Conversations II (Wide Hive) [04-15] - jazz [*]
  • Mitski: Bury Me at Makeout Creek (Double Double Whammy)
  • Jim Mize: Jim Mize (Big Legal Mess)
  • Mndsgn: Yawn Zen (Stones Throw) [08-26] - left-field hip-hop
  • MØ: No Mythologies to Follow (RCA) [03-10] - electropop
  • Mo Kolours: Mo Kolours (One-Handed Music) [03-23]
  • Mobb Deep: The Infamous Mobb Deep (Infamous) [04-01] - pop rap
  • Moby: Almost Home: Live at the Fonda, LA (Mute) [03-04] - club/dance
  • Connan Mockasin: Caramel (Mexican Summer) [11-05]
  • Modern Baseball: You're Gonna Miss It All (Run for Cover) [***]
  • Hafez Modirzadeh: In Convergence Liberation (Pi) [**]
  • Noshir Mody: Stories From the Years of Living Passionately (self-released) [B]
  • Moe: Not Guts, No Glory (Sugar Hill) [05-27] - American trad rock
  • Jar Moff: Financial Glam (Pan)
  • Mogwai: Rave Tapes (Sub Pop) [01-21] - experimental rock
  • Mohammad: Lamne Gastama (Antifrost)
  • Moiré: Shelter (Werkdiscs) [08-26] - house
  • Tony Molina: Dissed and Dismissed (Slumberland) [03-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Pete Molinari: Theosophy (Cherry Red) [06-02] - British folk
  • Hedvig Mollestad Trio: Enfant Terrible () - metal
  • Nils Petter Molvaer: Switch (Okeh/Sony) - jazz
  • Tony Monaco: Furry Slippers (Summit) - jazz [B]
  • Monarch: Sabbracadaver () - metal
  • Moniquea: Yes No Maybe (MoFunk) [10-14] - neo disco
  • Mono: The Lawt Dawn (Pelagic) [10-28] - experimental rock
  • Mono: Rays of Darkness (Temporary Residence) [10-28] - experimental rock
  • Mono/Poly: Golden Skies (Brainfeeder) - electronic
  • The Monster/Nostalgia 77: Measures (Tru Thoughts) [12-09] - modern creative
  • Moodymann: Moodymann (Mahogani) [01-20] - deep house [*]
  • Jemeel Moondoc: The Zookeeper's House (Relative Pitch) [05-27] - jazz
  • Stanton Moore: Conversations (Royal Potato Family) [04-15] - New Orleans jazz
  • Thurston Moore: The Best Day (Matador) [10-21] - experimental [A-]
  • Thurston Moore/Gabriel Ferrandini/Pedro Sousa: Live at ZDB (Shhpuma) - jazz
  • Moose Blood: I'll Keep You in Mind, From Time to Time (No Sleep) [10-07] - pop/rock
  • Jason Moran: All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller (Blue Note) [09-16] - modern creative [*]
  • Morbus Chron: Sweven (Century Media) - metal
  • Kevin Morby: Still Life (Woodsist) [10-14] - indie rock
  • Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson: For Pops: A Tribute to Muddy Waters (Severn) [08-19] - blues
  • Ludovic Morlot/Seattle Symphony Orchestra: John Luther Adams: Beyond Ocean (Cantaloupe) [09-30] - classical [***]
  • Morning Glory: War Psalms (Fat Wreck Chords) [03-04] - pop/rock
  • Morning Parade: Pure Adulterated Joy (Caroline/So) [05-06] - indie rock
  • Joe Morris Quartet: Balance (Clean Feed) - jazz [**]
  • Barbara Morrison: I Love You, Yes I Do (Savant) [A-]
  • Morrissey: World Peace Is None of Your Business (Harvest) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Moskus: Mestertyven (Hubro) - piano jazz [A-]
  • Moss: We Both Know the Rest Is Noise ()
  • Kassem Mosse: Workshop 19 (Workshop)
  • Sam Most: New Jazz Standards (Summit) - jazz [**]
  • Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Blue (Hot Cup) [10-14] - jazz [B]
  • Motionless in White: Reincarnate (Fearless) [09-16] - goth metal
  • Motorpsycho: Behind the Sun ()
  • Ed Motta: AOR (Tummy Touch) [09-30] - album rock
  • Bob Mould: Beauty & Ruin (Merge) [06-03] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Moutin Factory Quintet: Lucky People (Blujazz/Plus Loin Music) [**]
  • Mozart's Sister: Being (Asthmatic Kitty) [08-05] - indie electronic
  • Mozes & the Firstborn: Mozes & the Firstborn (Burger) [**]
  • Mr Little Jeans: Pocketknife (Sony/Harvest) [03-25] - electro-pop
  • Mr Scruff: Friendly Bacteria (Ninja Tune) [05-20] - funky beats
  • Jason Mraz: Yes! (Atlantic) [07-15] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Mssigno: Mssigno EP (Goon Club Allstars, EP) - JG near pick
  • Jon Mueller's Death Blues: Ensemble (Rhythmplex)
  • The Muffs: Whoop Dee Doo (Burger) [07-29] - punk-pop [***]
  • Nick Mulvey: First Mind (Polydor) [05-12] - indie folk [*]
  • Peter Mulvey: Silver Ladder (Black Walnut) - country
  • Wolfgang Muthspiel: Driftwood (ECM) [06-24] - jazz [*]
  • Jean-Louis Murat & the Delano Orchestra: Babel ()
  • Peter Murphy: Lion (Nettwerk) [06-03] - goth rock
  • Music Go Music: Impressions (Secretly Canadian) [08-19] - indie pop
  • Michael Musillami: Pride (Playscape) - jazz
  • Mutation Rites: Harbinger () - metal
  • Zoe Muth: World of Strangers (Signature Sounds) - country
  • Mutual Benefit: Love's Crushing Diamond (Other Music)
  • MV & EE: Alpha Lyrae (Child of Microtones)
  • My Brightest Diamond: This Is My Hand (Asthmatic Kitty) [09-16] - dream pop
  • My Sad Captains: Best of Times (Bella Union) [03-17]
  • Myriad 3: The Where (ALMA) [**]
  • Mysteries: New Age Music Is Here (Felte) - indie electronic
  • Mystery Skulls: Forever (Warner Bros) [10-28] - alt dance
  • Nada Surf: B-Sides (Barsuk) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Marissa Nadler: July (Sacred Bones) [02-04] - alt singer-songwriter
  • David Nail: I'm a Fire (MCA Nashville) [03-04] - country
  • Naked Wolf: Naked Wolf (El Negocito) - jazz [*]
  • Naomi Punk: Television Man (Captured Tracks) [08-05] - indie rock [B]
  • Napolian: Incursio (Software) [05-27] - left-field hip-hop
  • Khun Narin: Electric Phin Band (Innovative Leisure) [09-02] - Thai pop [**]
  • Israel Nash: Rain Plans ()
  • Nashville Cast: The Music of Nashville: Season 3, Vol 1 (Big Machine) [12-09] - soundtracks
  • Roy Nathanson's Sotto Voce: Complicated Day (Enja/Yellow Bird) [**]
  • National Jazz Trio of Scotland: Standards Vol III (Karaoke Kalk) [07-22] - jazz
  • Natura Morta: Decay (FMR) - jazz
  • Natural Child: Dancin' With Wolves (Burger) [02-25] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Meshell Ndegeocello: Comet, Come to Me (Naive) [06-03] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Alon Nechushtan: Venture Bound (Enja) [**]
  • Neel: Phobos (Spectrum Spools)
  • Bishop Nehru/MF Doom: Nehruviandoom (Lex) [10-07] - rap
  • Tami Neilson: Dynamite! (self-released) [03-21] - rockabilly [A-]
  • Matt Nelson: Lower Bottoms (Tubapede) - jazz
  • Willie Nelson: Band of Brothers (Legacy) [06-17] - country [A-]
  • John Németh: Memphis Grease (Blue Corn Music) [**]
  • Neon Trees: Pop Psychology (Mercury) [04-22] - alt/indie rock
  • Marius Neset/Trondheim Jazz Orchestra: Lion (ACT) - jazz
  • Jennifer Nettles: That Girl (Mercury Nashville) [B]
  • Keir Neuringer: Ceremonies Out of the Air (New Atlantis) - jazz
  • David Neves: Progress Report (self-released) - jazz
  • The New Basement Tapes: Lost on the River (Island) [11-10] - roots rock [*]
  • New Bums: Voices in a Rented Room (Drag City)
  • A New Line (Related): A New Line (Related) (Home Assembly)
  • The New Mendicants: Into the Lime (Ashmont) [A-]
  • The New Pornographers: Brill Bruisers (Matador) [08-26] - indie rock [*]
  • The New York Standards Quartet [NYSQ]: The New Straight Ahead (Whirlwind) - jazz
  • Carrie Newcomer: A Permeable Life (Available Light) [04-01] - folk
  • Sam Newsome: The Straight Horn of Africa: A Path to Liberation [The Art of the Soprano, Vol. 2] (self-released) [10-21] - jazz [A-]
  • Matt Newton: Within Reach (self-released) [*]
  • Nickel Creek: A Dotted Line (Nonesuch) [04-01] - country
  • Emilie Nicolas: Like I'm a Warrior ()
  • Nightingales: For Fuck's Sake (self-released)
  • Nightmares on Wax: NOW Is the Time (Warp, 2CD) [06-17] - trip-hop
  • Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit: First Blow (PNL) - jazz
  • Paal Nilssen-Love Large Unit: Erta Ale (PNL, 3CD) [11-13] - jazz [***]
  • Ninetails: Quiet Confidence ()
  • Bo Ningen: III (Stolen) [05-12]
  • Niobe: Child of Paradise (Onglagoo)
  • Nisennenmondai: N (Blast First)
  • No Sinner: Boo Hoo Hoo (MRI) [06-23]
  • Miho Nobuzane: Simple Words: Jazz Loves Brazil (self-released) [10-21] - piano jazz [*]
  • Russ Nolan: Relentless (Rhinoceruss Music) [*]
  • The North: Slow Down (This Isn't the Mainland) (Dowsett) [*]
  • Northwest + 1: Minor Suggestions (self-released) - jazz
  • Jim Norton Collective: Time Remembered: Compositions of Bill Evans (Origin) [11-17] - jazz [**]
  • Kemper Norton: Loor (Front and Follow)
  • Nothing: Guilty of Everything (Relapse) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Nots: We Are Nots (Ex-Cult/Goner) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • The Notwist: Close to the Glass (Sub Pop) [02-25] - indie rock
  • Novox: Over the Mountain (Label Z Production) [08-25] - jazz-rock [C+]
  • Nude Beach: '77 (Don Giovanni) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • The Number Ones: The Number Ones (Static Shock) [08-05] - alt/indie rock
  • Paolo Nutini: Caustic Love (Atlantic) [04-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Nux Vomica: Nux Vomica (Relapse) - metal
  • Lina Nyberg: The Serenades (Hoob)
  • Michael Nyman: Symphony No 11: Hillsborough Memorial (self-released) [11-03] - classical
  • NYTC New York-Tokyo Connection: Precious Live at the B-flat (Seven Steps) - jazz
  • Karen O: Crush Songs (Cult) [09-09] - pop/rock [*]
  • Oake: Auferstehung (Downwards)
  • The Oath: The Oath () - metal
  • Obake: Mutations (Rare Noise)
  • Ian O'Beirne: Glasswork (self-released) [*]
  • Conor Oberst: Upside-Down Mountain (Nonesuch) [05-20] - singer-songwriter [**]
  • Obituary: Inked in Blood () - metal
  • Objekt: Flatland (Pan) [10-28] - club/dance [A-]
  • Giorgio Occhipinti: Ronda de Musica (self-released) - jazz
  • Sinéad O'Connor: I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss (Nettwerk) [08-12] - pop/rock
  • Octave Minds: Octave Minds (Boys Noize) [09-16] - downtempo
  • Octet Ensemble: William Susman: Scatter My Ashes (Belarca) [06-10]
  • The Ocular Concern: Sister Cities (PJCE) [*]
  • Odesza: In Return (Counter) [09-08]
  • Odonis Odonis: Hard Boiled Soft Boiled (Buzz) [04-15] - noise rock
  • Of Mice & Men: Restoring Force ()
  • Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra: The Offense of the Drum (Motéma Music) [05-06] - Afro-Cuban jazz [**]
  • Off!: Wasted Years (Vice) [**]
  • OK Go: Hungry Ghosts (Paracadute) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Itaru Oki: Chorul Zukan (Improvising Beings) [***]
  • Old 97's: Most Messed Up (ATO) [04-29] [A-]
  • Old Crow Medicine Show: Remedy (ATO) [07-01] - contemporary country [**]
  • Old Style Sextet: Old Style Sextet (Blujazz) - jazz [*]
  • Sea Oleena: Shallow (Lefse) [09-30] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Pauline Oliveros: Accordion & Voice (Important) - avant-garde
  • Angel Olsen: Burn Your Fire for No Witness (Jagjaguwar) [02-18] - singer-songwriter [*]
  • The Jim Olsen Ensemble: We See Stars (OA2) [**]
  • Steve Olson: Conversations (self-released) - jazz
  • Omarion: Sex Playlist (MMG/Atlantic)
  • One Direction: Four (Syco) [11-18] - pop
  • Tara Jane O'Neil: Where Shine New Lights (Kranky) [01-28] - ex-Rodan bassist
  • Onyx: #Wakedafucup (Goon MuSick/Mad Money) [03-18] - rap
  • OOIOO: Gamel (Thrill Jockey) [07-01] - indie rock
  • Oozing Wound: Earth Suck (Thrill Jockey) [10-21] - heavy metal
  • Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner) [08-26] - neo-prog
  • Opus 5: Progression (Criss Cross) [06-10] - jazz
  • Oso Leone: Mokragora (El Segell del Primavera)
  • Ark Ovrutski: 44:33 (Zoho) [*]
  • Oracles: Stanford Torus EP ()
  • Ought: More Than Any Other Day (Constellation) [04-29] - post-punk [A-]
  • Ought: Once More With Feeling (Constellation, EP) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Outrageous Cherry: The Digital Age (Burger) [10-07] - indie pop
  • Judith Owen: Ebb & Flow (Twanky)
  • Christopher Owens: A New Testament (Turnstile) [09-30] - pop/rock
  • Ulysses Owens Jr.: Onward & Upward (D Clef) [*]
  • Owl John: Owl John (Atlantic) [08-04] - pop/rock
  • Owls: Two (Polyvinyl) [03-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Erlend Øye: Legao (Bubbles) [10-14] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Store P: Regnmannen ()
  • Marialy Pacheco: Introducing (Neuklang) - piano jazz
  • The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Days of Abandon (Yebo Music) [04-22] - alt/indie rock
  • Brad Paisley: Moonshine in the Trunk (Arista Nashville) [08-26] - contemporary country [B-]
  • Doug Paisley: Strong Feelings (No Quarter) [01-21] - Americana
  • The Ed Palermo Big Band: Oh No! Not Jazz!! (Cuneiform) [02-04] - jazz
  • Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden (Profound Lore) [08-19] - doom metal
  • Owen Pallett: In Conflict (Domino) [05-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Paloma Faith: A Perfect Contradiction (RCA) [03-10]
  • Panda Bear: Mr Noah (Domino, EP) [10-22]
  • Panopticon: Roads to the North (Bindrune) [08-05] - black metal
  • The Paperhead: Africa Avenue (Trouble in Mind) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Paragon: Cerca (Jellymould) - jazz
  • Caitlin Park: The Sleeper ()
  • Anders Parker: There's a Blue Bird in My Heart (Recorded and Freed) [06-17] - [PM]
  • Chris Parker: Full Circle (OA2) [**]
  • Parker Abbott Trio: The Wayfinders (self-released) [10-23] - jazz [B]
  • Parquet Courts: Sunbathing Animal (What's Your Rupture?) [06-03] - alt/indie rock [A-]
  • Parquet Courts: Parkay Quarts: Content Nausea (What's Your Rupture?) [11-11] - alt/indie rock [A-]
  • Paqua: Akaliko (Claremont)
  • Charlie Parr: Hollandale (Chaperone) - folk guitar [*]
  • Dolly Parton: Blue Smoke (Sony Masterworks) [*]
  • Partynextdoor: Partynextdoor Two (Warner Bros) [07-29]
  • Eric Paslay: Eric Paslay (Capitol Nashville) [B]
  • Juan Pastor: Chinchano (Ears & Eyes) - jazz
  • Beata Pater: Golden Lady (B&B) [B]
  • Dan Patlansky: Dear Silence Thieves (self-released) [09-30]
  • Pattern Is Movement: Pattern Is Movement (Hometapes) [04-01] - lo-fi [B-]
  • Hanna Paulsberg Concept: Song for Josia (Ora Fonogram) - jazz
  • Matt Pavolka: The Horns Band (Fresh Sound New Talent) [**]
  • PAWS: Youth Culture Forever (FatCat) [05-06] - indie rock
  • Nicholas Payton: Numbers (Paytone) [07-22] - jazz [B-]
  • Peaking Lights: Cosmic Logic (Weird World) [10-07] - lo-fi [***]
  • Peep Tempel: Tales ()
  • Felix Peikli: Royal Flush (self-released) [B]
  • Rich Pellegrin Quintet: Episodes IV-VI (OA2) - jazz [*]
  • Jeremy Pelt: Face Forward, Jeremy (High Note) [B-]
  • Clarence Penn & Penn Station: Monk: The Lost Files (Origin) [10-21] - jazz [*]
  • People's Temple: Musical Garden (Hozac)
  • Perc: The Power and the Glory (Perc Trax) [02-17] - techno
  • Pere Ubu: Carnival of Souls (Fire) [09-09] - alt/indie rock
  • Ivo Perelman: Book of Sound (Leo) - avant-jazz [***]
  • Ivo Perelman: The Other Edge (Leo) - avant-jazz [A-]
  • Ivo Perelman/Karl Berger: Reverie (Leo) [09-23] - avant-jazz [A-]
  • Ivo Perelman/Mat Maneri: Two Men Walking (Leo) - avant-jazz [***]
  • Danilo Perez: Panama 500 (Mack Avenue) [02-03] - Latin jazz [**]
  • Perfect Pussy: Say Yes to Love (Captured Tracks) [03-18] - alt/indie rock [B-]
  • Perfume Genius: Too Bright (Matador) [09-23] - pop/rock [B]
  • Linda Perhacs: The Soul of All Natural Things (Asthmatic Kitty) [03-04] - alt folk
  • Pericopes [Alessandro Sgobbio & Emiliano Vernizzi]: Frames (Parmafrontiere) [10-14] - jazz
  • Peripheral Vision: Sheer Tyranny of the Will (self-released) [09-23] - jazz [**]
  • Sonya Perkins: Dream a Little Dream (self-released) [10-21] - vocal jazz [B]
  • Shane Perlowin & Jacob Wick: Objet A (Prom Night) - jazz
  • Lee Scratch Perry: Back on the Controls (Upsetter Music) [04-28] - dub [A-]
  • Houston Person: The Melody Lingers On (High Note) [10-21] - jazz
  • Lucky Peterson: Travelin' Man (JSP) [09-16] - modern electric blues
  • The Ralph Peterson Fo'tet Augmented: Alive at Firehouse 12: Vol 2: Fo' n Mo' (Onyx) [***]
  • The Danny Petroni Blue Project: The Blue Project (DPS) [***]
  • Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Hypnotic Eye (Reprise) [07-29] - contemporary pop/rock [*]
  • Phantogram: Voices (Republic) [02-18] - alt/indie rock [*]
  • The Phantom Band: Strange Friend (Chemikal Underground) [06-10] - indie rock
  • Phantom Orchard Ensemble: Through the Looking Glass (Tzadik) [06-00] - jazz
  • Pharmakon: Bestial Burden (Sacred Bones) [10-14] - noise
  • Pharmakustik + Tanner Garza: Pleuraraum (Jehu & Chinaman)
  • Pharoah & the Underground: Spiral Mercury (Clean Feed) [*]
  • Judy Philbin and Adam Levine: Keeping It Simple (self-released) [*]
  • PJ Philipson: Peaks (Little Cracked Rabbit)
  • Phish: Fuego (Jemp) [06-24] - American trad rock
  • Phox: Phox (Partisan) [06-24] - alt/indie rock
  • Phronesis: Life to Everything (Edition) - jazz
  • Pianos Become the Teeth: Keep You (Epitaph) [10-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Picastro: You (Static Clang) [03-11] [*]
  • Lenny Pickett With the UMO Jazz Orchestra: The Prescription (Random Act) [***]
  • Rod Picott: Hang Your Hopes on a Crooked Nail (Welding Rod) [02-11] - country [***]
  • Adam Pieronczyk: The Planet of Eternal Life (Jazzwerkstatt) - jazz [**]
  • Adam Pieronczyk Quartet: A-Trane Nights (Fortune, 2CD) [10-00] - jazz [***]
  • The Pine Hill Haints: The Magik Sounds of the Pine Hill Haints (K) [09-30] - alt country-rock
  • Richard Pinhas/Oren Ambarchi: Tikkun (Cuneiform) [05-27] - improvisation
  • Richard Pinhas/Tatsuya Yoshida: Welcome in the Void (Cuneiform) [05-27] - experimental electronic
  • Ariel Pink: Pom Pom (4AD) [11-18] - indie rock [C-]
  • Pink Floyd: The Endless River (Rhino) [11-11] - art rock [*]
  • Pink Martini & the Von Trapps: Dream a Little Dream (Heinz) [*]
  • The Pink Mountaintops: Get Back (Jagjaguwar) [04-29] - indie rock
  • Leslie Pintchik: In the Nature of Things (Pintch Hard) [*]
  • Alex Pinto & All India Permit: All Indis Permit (Pursuance) - jazz
  • Anthony Pirog: Palo Colorado Dream (Cuneiform) [10-14] - jazz [*]
  • Pixies: EP2 (Pixies, EP) [01-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Pixies: Indie Cindy (Pixies) [04-29] - alt/indie rock
  • Plaid: Reachy Roots (Warp) [05-20] - alt/indie rock
  • Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters: Lullaby and . . . the Ceaseless Roar (EastWest) [09-09] - Americana
  • Plasmic: Live at Chilli Jazz Festival 2013 (Leo) - jazz
  • Plastikman: Ex: Performed Live at the Guggenheim NYC (Minus/Mute) [07-15] - acid techno
  • Plymouth: Plymouth (Rare Noise) [04-06] - jazz [*]
  • Polar Bear: In Each and Every One (The Leaf Label) [04-01] - modern jazz
  • Popguns: Pop Fiction (Matinée) [12-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Popa Chubby: I'm Feelin' Lucky: The Blues According to Popa Chubby (Cleopatra) [10-14] - blues
  • Popcaan: Where We Come From (Mixpak) [06-10] - dancehall [***]
  • Popstrangers: Fortuna (Carpark) [05-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Population One: Theater of a Confused Mind (Rush Hour Music)
  • Populous: Night Safari (Bad Panda/Folk Wisdom) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Jon Porras: Light Divide (Thrill Jockey) [03-25] - indie rock
  • Posse: Soft Opening (Beating a Dead Horse) - Pitchfork overlooked
  • Tineke Postma/Greg Osby: Sonic Halo (Challenge) - jazz [***]
  • Prawn: Kingfisher (Topshelf) [08-12] - hardcore punk [PM]
  • Preatures: Blue Planet Eyes (Universal) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Yvonnick Prene & Padam Swing: Wonderful World (self-released) [*]
  • Angaleena Presley: American Middle Class (Saddle Creek) [10-14] - country [A-]
  • Robert Prester: Dogtown (Commonwealth Ave. Productions) [B]
  • The Pretty Reckless: Going to Hell (Razor & Tie) [03-18] - pop/rock
  • Bobby Previte: Terminals (Cantaloupe) [10-28] - modern composition [*]
  • PRhyme: PRhyme (PRhyme/Universal) [12-09] - east coast rap [**]
  • Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses: Blow (Warrior) [**]
  • The Primitives: Spin-O-Rama (Elefant) [10-14] - indie pop
  • Primordial: Where Greater Men Have Fallen ()
  • Primus: Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (ATO) [10-21] - alt metal
  • Prince: Art Official Age (Warner Bros) [09-30] [**]
  • Prince/3rdEyeGirl: Plectrum Electrum (Warner Bros) [09-30] - soul [*]
  • Prince Fatty & Nostalgia 77: In the Kingdom of Dub (Tru Thoughts) [09-22] - dub
  • PRISM Quartet: People's Emergency Center (Innova) - jazz
  • David Pritchard: Among the Missing (Morphic Resonance)
  • The Proper Ornaments: Wooden Head (Slumberland) [07-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Protomartyr: Under Color of Official Right (Hardly Art) [04-08] - noise-rock [**]
  • PS I Love You: For Those Who Stay (Paper Bag) [07-22] - noise pop
  • Psalm Zero: The Drain ()
  • Puce Mary: Persona (Posh Isolation)
  • Pulled Apart by Horses: Blood (Best of the Best) [09-01]
  • Pup: Pup (Side One Dummy) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Simon Purcell: Red Circle (Whirlwind) - piano jazz
  • Pure X: Angel (Fat Possum) [04-01] - indie rock
  • Purling Hiss: Weirdon (Drag City) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Puss N Boots: No Fools, No Fun (Blue Note) [07-15] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Pye Corner Audio/Not Waving: Intercepts (Ecstatic)
  • Pye Corner Audio: Black Mill Tapes 3&4 (Type)
  • Quadraceratops: Quadraceratops (Efpi) - jazz
  • Quilt: Held in Splendor (Mexican Summer) [01-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Daniel Patrick Quinn: Acting the Rubber Pig (self-released)
  • Quintron: Spellcaster II: Death in Space (Pizza Burglar) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Radian/Howe Gelb: Radian Verses Howe Gelb (Radian Releases) [11-11] - experimental rock
  • Rafter: It's Reggae (Asthmatic Kitty) [03-04] - dub
  • Rag Lore: Misr Environs: Cairo Road Recordings and Other Half Truths (Cabin Floor Esoterica) [02-20]
  • Chuck Ragan: Till Midnight (Side One Dummy) [03-25] - alt singer/songwriter
  • The Rails: Fair Warning (Universal) [05-06] - alt/indie rock
  • Tom Rainey: Obbligato (Intakt) [A-]
  • Rallidae: Paper Birds (self-released, EP) [B-]
  • Arun Ramamurthy Trio: Jazz Carnatica (self-released) - Indian jazz
  • Ramona Lisa: Arcadia (Terrible) [04-29] - pop/rock
  • Rancid: . . . Honor Is All We Know (Epitaph) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Randolph's Leap: Clumsy Knot ()
  • Rapsody: Beauty and the Beast (JAMLA)
  • Isaiah Rashad: Cilvia Demo (Top Dawg) [01-28] - hip-hop [***]
  • PJ Rasmussen: Another Adventure (Third Freedom Music) [B]
  • Adrian Raso and Fanfare Ciocarlia: Devil's Tale (Asphalt Tango) [***]
  • Andrew Rathbun Quartet: Numbers & Letters (SteepleChase) [**]
  • Ratking: So It Goes (XL) [04-08] - hip-hop [B]
  • The Raveonettes: Pe'ahi (The Orchard) [07-22] - noise pop
  • Amy Ray: Goodnight Tender (Daemon) [01-28] - country [***]
  • Mason Razavi: Quartet Plus (First Orbit Sounds) - jazz
  • Gemma Ray: Milk for Your Motors (Bronzerat) [08-26] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Real Estate: Atlas (Domino) [03-04] - indie rock [**]
  • Josh Record: Pillars ()
  • Recycle Culture: Drown Me Up ()
  • Red Molly: The Red Album (self-relased)
  • RED Trio & Mattias Ståhl: North and the Red Stream (NoBusiness) - jazz [**]
  • Joshua Redman: Trios Live (Nonesuch) - jazz [**]
  • Eric Reed: The Adventurous Monk (Savant) [03-25] - post-bop
  • Eric Reed: Groovewise (Smoke Sessions) [09-09] - jazz
  • Sam Reed Meets Roberto Magris: Ready for Reed (JMood -13) [***]
  • Dianne Reeves: Beautiful Life (Concord Jazz) - vocal jazz [B-]
  • Donna Regina: Holding the Mirror for Sophia Loren (Karaoke Kalk) [05-27] - indie electronic
  • Steve Reich: Radio Rewrite (Nonesuch) [09-30] - avant-garde
  • Rufus Reid: Quiet Pride: The Elizabeth Catlett Project (Motéma) [*]
  • The Reigning Sound: Shattered (Merge) [07-15] - indie rock
  • Xavi Reija: Resolution (Moonjune) - jazz [***]
  • Greg Reitan: Post No Bills (Sunnyside) [*]
  • Brian Reitzell: Auto Music (Smalltown Supersound) [06-03] - film score
  • Brian Reitzell: Watch Dogs [Original Game Soundtrack] (Invada) [08-05] - soundtracks
  • Relations: Songbirds (100m) [04-01]
  • Remember Remember: Forgetting the Present (Rock Action) [06-30] - post-rock
  • Remi: Raw x Infinity ()
  • Dave Rempis/Joshua Abrams/Avreeayl Ra: Aphelion (Aerophonic) [***]
  • The Rempis/Daisy Duo: Second Spring (Aerophonic) [***]
  • Dave Rempis/Darren Johnston/Larry Ochs: Spectral (Aerophonic) - jazz [***]
  • Dave Rempis/Lasse Marhaug: Naancore (Aerophonic) - jazz [**]
  • Revolutionary Snake Ensemble: Live Snakes (Accurate) - jazz [A]
  • Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross: Gone Girl [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Columbia) [12-02] - film score
  • Marc Ribot Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard (Pi) - jazz [***]
  • Damien Rice: My Favourite Faded Fantasy (Atlantic) [11-11] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Jeff Richman & Wayne Johnson: The Distance (ITI Music) [*]
  • Rex Richardson & Steve Wilson: Blue Shift (Summit) - jazz [***]
  • Riff Raff: Neon Icon (300 Entertainment) [06-24] - alt rap
  • Sylvain Rifflet & Jon Irabagon: Perpetual Motion: A Celebration of Moondog (Jazz Village) [10-14] - jazz [*]
  • Rigor Mortis: Slaves to the Grave () [12-23] - metal
  • Howard Riley: To Be Continued (Slam) - piano jazz
  • Ringworm: Hammer of the Witch (Relapse) [03-18] - hardcore metal
  • Thorbjørn Risager and the Black Tornado: Too Many Roads (Ruf) [03-21] - blues-rock
  • Rise Against: The Black Market (Interscope) [07-15] - punk revival
  • Ritmos Unidos: Ritmos Unidos (Patois) [**]
  • Rival Sons: Great Western Valkyrie (Earache) [07-08]
  • Riverloam Trio: Inem Gortin (FMR) - jazz
  • The Duke Robillard Band: Calling All Blues! (Stony Plain) [09-23] - blues
  • Pete Robbins: Pyramid (Hate Laugh Music) [***]
  • Matana Roberts/Sam Shalabi/Nicolas Caloia: Feldspar (Tour de Bras) - jazz
  • Justin Robinson: Alana's Fantasy (Criss Cross) [06-10] - jazz
  • Chris Robinson Brotherhood: Phosphorescent Harvest (Silver Arrow)
  • Michael Robinson: Lucknow Shimmer (Azure Miles)
  • Michael Robinson: Hummingbird Canyon (Azure Miles)
  • Porter Robinson: Worlds (Astralwerks) [08-12] - club/dance
  • Bruce Robison/Kelly Willis: Our Year (Premium) [05-27] - Americana [***]
  • Diane Roblin: Reconnect (self-released) - jazz [*]
  • Paul Rodgers: The Royal Sessions (Savoy) [02-04] - blues-rock
  • Rodrigo y Gabriela: 9 Dead Alive (ATO) [04-29] - guitar virtuoso
  • Alfredo Rodriguez: The Invasion Parade (Mack Avenue) [*]
  • Roberto Rodriguez: Aguares: The Book of Angels Volume 23 (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz
  • Jason Roebke: Combination (self-released) [04-09] - jazz [*]
  • Jason Roebke Octet: High/Red/Center (Delmark) - jazz [***]
  • Roil [Chris Abrahams/Mike Majkowski/James Waples]: Raft of the Meadows (NoBusiness) - jazz [***]
  • Roll the Dice: Until Silence (The Leaf Label) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Sonny Rollins: Road Shows: Volume 3 (2001-12, Okeh) [A-]
  • Rent Romus' Life's Blood Ensemble: Cimmerian Crossroads (Edgetone) [A-]
  • Ronika: Selectadisc (Record Shop)
  • The Roots: . . . And Then You Shoot Your Cousin (Def Jam) [**]
  • Rootville: Offshore (Double Moon) [09-05] - jazz
  • Rafael Rosa: Portrait (self-released) - jazz [**]
  • Caroline Rose: I Will Not Be Afraid (Little Hill)
  • Jefferson Rose Band: Feel Like Dancing (self-released) [B]
  • Rosebuds: Sand + Silence (Western Vinyl) [08-05] - alt/indie rock
  • Daniel Rosenboom Quintet: Fire Keeper (Orenda) - jazz
  • Rich Rosenthal: Falling Up (Muse-Eek) [***]
  • Annie Ross: To Lady With Love (Red Anchor) - vocal jazz
  • Brandon Ross/Stomu Takeishi: For Living Lovers: Revealing Essence (Sunnyside) - jazz [B]
  • Rick Ross: Mastermind (Def Jam) [03-04] - gangsta rap
  • Rick Ross: Hood Billionaire (Def Jam) [11-24] - gangsta rap
  • Sterling Roswell: The Call of the Cosmos (Media Roscom) [10-21] - space rock
  • Asher Roth: RetroHash (Pale Fire/Federal Prism) [04-22] - rap
  • Ellen Rowe Quintet: Courage Music (PKO) [***]
  • Royal Blood: Royal Blood (Warner Bros) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Röyksopp & Robyn: Do It Again (Cherrytree, EP) [***]
  • The Roys: The View (Rural Rhythm)
  • Röyksopp: The Inevitable End (Arts & Crafts) [11-11] - downbeat
  • Rudy Royston: 303 (Greenleaf Music) [02-04] - jazz [**]
  • Harold Rubin/Barre Phillips/Tatsuya Nakatani: E on a Thin Line (Hopscotch) [***]
  • Jochen Rueckert: We Make the Rules (Whirlwind) [**]
  • Rumer: Into Colour (Atlantic) [11-11] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Runa: Current Affairs (self-released)
  • The Rural Alberta Advantage: Mended With Gold (Saddle Creek) [09-30] - indie pop
  • Rusconi: History Sugar Dream (Qilin/Beejazz) - jazz
  • Catherine Russell: Bring It Back (Jazz Village) [A-]
  • Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar: The Call (Felside)
  • Leon Russell: Life Journey (Universal) [B-]
  • Rustie: Green Language (Warp) [08-26] - electronic
  • Amanda Ruzza/Mauricio Zottarelli: Glasses, No Glasses (Pimenta Music) [***]
  • Dylan Ryan/Sand: Circa (Cuneiform) [09-30] - jazz [*]
  • Matthew Ryan: Boxers (self-released) [10-14]
  • RX Bandits: Gemini, Her Majesty (Mashdown) [07-22] - ska-punk
  • Jerome Sabbagh: The Turn (Sunnyside) [09-16] - jazz
  • Sabina: Toujours (Bar/None) [**]
  • The Sacred Shakers: Live (Signature Sounds)
  • Laetitia Sadier: Something Shines (Drag City) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Jamie Saft/Steve Swallow/Bobby Previte: The New Standard (Rare Noise) - jazz [*]
  • Sage the Gemini: Remember Me (Republic) [03-25] - west coast rap
  • Saint Saviour: In the Seams (Surface Area)
  • Akira Sakata/Giovanni Di Domenico: Iruman (Mbari Musica) [01-10] - free jazz [*]
  • Akira Sakata/Johan Berthling/Paal Nilssen-Love: Arashi (Trost) [06-14] - free jazz [***]
  • Akira Sakata/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Ketil Gutvik/Paal Nilssen-Love: The Cliff of Time (PNL) [05-00] - free jazz [*]
  • Samo Salamon Bassless Quartet: 2Alto (SteepleChase LookOut) - jazz [*]
  • Sales: Sales (self-released, EP) [09-22]
  • Felipe Salles: Ugandan Suite (Tapestry) [***]
  • Dino Saluzzi: El Valle de la Infancia (ECM) - jazz
  • Samaris: Silkidrangar (One Little Indian) [05-05]
  • Antonio Sanchez: Three Times Three () [08-05] - jazz
  • Sten Sandell/Paal Nilssen-Love: Jacana (Rune Grammofon) - jazz
  • Christopher Sander: Jorden Var Rund ()
  • Bruno Sanfilippo: Claroscuro (Ad21) [05-15]
  • JC Sanford Orchestra: Views From the Inside (Whirlwind) [B]
  • Mehmet Ali Sanlikol: Whatsnext (Dunya) [*]
  • Masahiko Satoh/Paal Nilssen-Love: Spring Snow (PNL) [05-00] - piano jazz [**]
  • Carl Saunders: America (Summit) [08-12] - jazz [*]
  • Paul Thomas Saunders: Beautiful Desolation (Atlantic) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Sean Nicholas Savage: Bermuda Waterfall (Arbutus) [05-12]
  • Savaging Spires: We Should Be Dead (Together) (Critical Heights) [08-19] - ambient pop
  • Boris Savoldelli/Garrison Fewell: Electric Bat Conspiracy (Creative Nation Music) [11-04] - jazz [B+(*)]
  • Saxophone Summit [Dave Liebman/Ravi Coltrane/Joe Lovano]: Visitation (ArtistShare) [***]
  • Say Anything: Hebrews (Equal Vision) [06-10] - pop-rock
  • Philip Sayce: Influence (Provogue) [08-25]
  • SBTRKT: Wonder Where We Land (Young Turks) [10-07] - electronic [B]
  • Scenes: . . . But Not Heard (Origin) [**]
  • Andreas Schaerer/Lucas Niggli: Arcanum (Intakt) - jazz
  • Morten Schantz: Unicorn (Calibrated) - jazz
  • Jenny Scheinman: The Littlest Prisoner (Masterworks) [A]
  • Malte Schiller Octet: All the Way (Unit) [10-14] - jazz
  • Daniel Schlaeppi: Essentials (self-released) - jazz
  • Matt Schofield: Far as I Can See (Mascot) [02-18]
  • School of Language: Old Fears (Memphis Industries) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron (Interscope) [02-25] - rap [**]
  • Adam Schroeder: Let's (Capri) [***]
  • Nicky Schrire: To the Spring (self-released, EP) [B-]
  • Reg Schwager: Delphinus (Jazz From Rant) [12-30] - jazz [**]
  • Eric Schugren/Vin Scialla/Brian Charette/Mike DiRubbo: Wake Up! (Liftoff) - jazz
  • Louis Sclavis Quartet: Silk and Salt Melodies (ECM) [09-30] - jazz [***]
  • Robert Scott: The Green House (Flying Nun) [11-04] - New Zealand rock
  • The Script: No Sound Without Silence (Columbia) [09-30] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Anton Schwartz: Flash Mob (Anton Jazz) - jazz [B]
  • Brandon Seabrook: Sylphid Vitalizers (New Atlantis) [06-24] - guitar jazz [*]
  • Seahawks: Paradise Freaks (Ocean Moon)
  • Marc Seales: American Songs Volume 2: Blues . . . and Jazz (Origin) - jazz [*]
  • Second Exit: Spoon (ForTune) - jazz
  • The Secret Sisters: Put Your Needle Down (Republic) [04-15] - americana
  • Peggy Seeger: Everything Changes (Signet Music)
  • Doug Seegers: Going Down to the River (Rounder) [10-07] - honky tonk [A-]
  • Ty Segall: Manipulator (Drag City) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Bob Seger: Ride Out (Capitol) [08-14] - heartland rock
  • The Seldom Scene: Long Time . . . Seldom Scene (Smithsonian Folkways) [04-22] - bluegrass
  • Bobby Selvaggio: Short Stories (Origin) [**]
  • Phil Selway: Weatherhouse (Bella Union) [10-07] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Semi Precious Weapons: Aviation (Redzone) [04-22] - hard rock
  • Pat Senatore Trio: Ascensione (Fresh Sound) - jazz [**]
  • Lenny Sendersky/Tony Romano: Desert Flower (LeTo) [*]
  • Lorenzo Senni: Superimpositions (Boomkat)
  • September Girls: Cursing the Sea (Fortuna Pop) [01-13] - pop/rock
  • September Girls: Veneer (Kanine) [11-25] - noise pop
  • Sequoia: Relations (Evil Rabbit) - jazz
  • Serengeti: Kenny Dennis III (Joyful Noise) [11-11] - alt rap [A-]
  • Sara Serpa & André Matos: Primavera (Inner Circle Music) [C+]
  • Brian Settles Trio: Folk (Engine Studios) - jazz
  • Noura Mint Seymali: Tzenni (Glitterbeat) [06-20] - Moorish music [**]
  • Shabazz Palaces: Lese Majesty (Sub Pop) [07-29] - left-field hip-hop [***]
  • Shackleton: Freezing Opening Thawing ()
  • Shakey Graves: And the War Came (Dualtone) [10-07] - alt-country
  • Shakira: Shakira (RCA) [A-]
  • Shamir: Northtown EP (God Mode, EP) - Pitchfork overlooked [*]
  • Kendra Shank & John Stowell: New York Conversations (TCB) [**]
  • Kenny Shanker: Action City (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Paul Shapiro: Shofarot Verses (Tzadik) [A]
  • Elliott Sharp: Momentum Anomaly (New Atlantis) - jazz
  • Linda Sharrock: No Is No: Don't Fuck Around With Your Women (Improvising Beings) - jazz [***]
  • Billy Joe Shaver: Long in the Tooth (Lightning Rod) [08-05] - outlaw country [**]
  • She Keeps Bees: Eight Houses ()
  • Dylan Shearer: Garagearray (Castle Face/Empty Cellar) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Ed Sheeran: X (Asylum/Atlantic) [06-24] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Shellac: Dude Incredible (Touch & Go) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • Joan Shelley: Electric Ursa (No Quarter)
  • Blake Shelton: Bringing Back the Sunshine (Warner Bros) [09-30] - country-pop
  • Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens: Cold World (Daptone) [07-29] - retro-soul
  • Elizabeth Shepherd: The Signal (Linus Entertainment) [09-30] - contemporary jazz
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd: Goin' Home (Concord) [05-20] - modern electric blues
  • Archie Shepp: Attica Blues Orchestra Live: I Hear the Sound (Archieball) - jazz [***]
  • Shield Patterns: Contour Lines ()
  • Shihad: Fvey ()
  • Mitch Shiner and the Blooming Tones Big Band: Fly! (Patois) [B-]
  • Matthew Shipp Trio: Root of Things (Relative Pitch) - piano jazz [***]
  • Matthew Shipp: I've Been to Many Places (Thirsty Ear) [09-09] - piano jazz [*]
  • Shit & Shine: Powder Horn (Diagonal) [08-25]
  • Shit Robot: We Got a Love (DFA) [***]
  • The Shivas: You Know What to Do (K) [10-28] - garage punk
  • Shlohmo/Jeremih: No More (We Did It)
  • Shonen Knife: Overdrive (Damnably) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Shovels & Rope: Swimmin' Time (Dualtone) [08-26] - indie rock
  • Ryan Shultz Quintet: Hair Dryers (Origin) [10-21] - jazz [*]
  • Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut: The Music of Everything (Creative Music for Creative Listeners) - jazz
  • Sia: 1000 Forms of Fear (RCA) [07-08] - electronic [B]
  • Side A: In the Abstract (Not Two) [06-00] - free jazz [**]
  • Signal Problems: Signal Problems (Pfmentum) - jazz
  • Silk Rhodes: Silk Rhodes (Stones Throw) [12-02] - retro-soul
  • Sarah Silverman: We Are Miracles (Sub Pop) [09-23] - comedy
  • Herb Silverstein: Monday Morning (self-released) [*]
  • Sonny Simmons/Delphine Latil/Thomas Bellier: Beyond the Planets (Improvising Beings, 2CD) [A-]
  • Sonny Simmons: Leaving Knowledge, Wisdom and Brilliance/Chasing the Bird? (2006-14, Improvising Beings, 8CD) [***]
  • Sonny Simmons & Moksha Samnyasin: Nomadic (Svart) [11-28] - jazz [***]
  • Edward Simon: Venezuelan Suite (Sunnyside) [**]
  • Sylvie Simmons: Sylvie (Light in the Attic) [11-11] - adult alt pop/rock [*]
  • Simple Minds: Big Music (Caroline) [11-24] - dance-rock
  • Sturgill Simpson: Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (High Top Mountain) [05-13] - country [***]
  • Siné Qua Non: Simple Pleasures (self-released) - jazz
  • Donna Singer: Destiny: Moment of Jazz (Emerald Baby) - vocal jazz [B]
  • Single Mothers: Negative Qualities (HXC/XL) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Jarekus Singleton: Refuse to Lose (Alligator) [05-06] - contemporary blues
  • Riccardo Sinigallia: Per Tutti ()
  • Sinkane: Mean Love (DFA) [09-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Sisyphus: Sisyphus (Asthmatic Kitty) [**]
  • Rotem Sivan Trio: For Emotional Use Only (Fresh Sound New Talent) [**]
  • Sivu: Something on High (Atlantic) [10-06] - alt/indie rock
  • Blaise Siwula/Harvey Valdes/Gian Luigi Diana: Tesla Coils () - jazz
  • Sixx: AM: Modern Vintage (Eleven Seven) [10-07] - hair metal
  • Sketches: Volume 2 (BJU) - jazz
  • Skogen: Despairs Had Governed Me Too Long (Another Timbre) - jazz
  • Skrillex: Recess (Owsla/Big Beat/Atlantic) [B-]
  • Skyzoo & Torae: Barrel Brothers (First Generation Rich/Internal Affairs) [05-27] - rap
  • Slackk: Palm Tree Fire (Local Action) - grime [B]
  • Sleaford Mods: Austerity Dogs (Harbinger Sound) - post-punk [A-]
  • Sleaford Mods: Divide and Exit (Harbinger Sound) [04-28] - post-punk [A-]
  • Sleaford Mods: Chubbed Up (Ipecac) [10-28] - alt/indie rock [***]
  • Slipknot: .5: The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner) [10-21] - alt metal
  • Sloan: Commonwealth (Yep Roc) [09-09] - power pop
  • Matt Slocum: Black Elk's Dream (Chandra) - jazz
  • Slow Club: Complete Surrender (Wichita) [07-15] - pop/rock
  • Sly & Robbie: Dubrising (Taxi) [12-02] - roots reggae [A-]
  • Sly 5th Ave: Sly 5th Ave Presents Akuma (self-released) [**]
  • Adam Smale: Out of the Blue (self-released) [*]
  • Smashing Pumpkins: Monuments to an Elegy (BMG/Martha's Music) [12-09]
  • Ches Smith and These Arches: International Hoohah (ForTune) - jazz
  • Daniel Smith: Smokin' Hot Bassoon Blues (Summit) [*]
  • Paul Smith/Peter Brewis: Frozen by Sight (Memphis Industries) [11-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Sam Smith: In the Lonely Hour (Capitol) [05-27] - pop [B-]
  • Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock: Whisperng of the Stars (Spartacus) - jazz [***]
  • Wadada Leo Smith: The Great Lakes Suites (TUM, 2CD) [09-16] - jazz [A-]
  • Wadada Leo Smith/George Lewis/John Zorn: Sonic Rivers (Tzadik) [06-00] - jazz
  • Wadada Leo Smith/Bill Laswell: The Stone (Akashic Meditation) (MOD) - jazz [*]
  • Wadada Leo Smith/Jamie Saft/Joe Morris/Balasz Pandi: Red Hill (Rare Noise) [09-23] - jazz [A-]
  • Walter Smith III: Still Casual (CD Baby) [09-09] - jazz
  • The Smith Street Band: Throw Me in the River ()
  • Chris Smither: Still on the Levee (Signature Sounds, 2CD) [07-22] - contemporary folk [*]
  • Smoke DZA: Dream.Zone.Archive (RFC Music Group) [04-01] - rap
  • Smoke Fairies: Smoke Fairies (Full Time Hobby) [05-20] - alt/indie rock
  • Torben Snekkestad/Barry Guy: Slip Slide and Collide (Maya) - jazz
  • Michael Snow & Thollem McDonas: Two Piano Concert at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Edgetone) [10-30] - piano jazz [**]
  • Snowbird: Moon (Bella Union) [01-27] - dream pop [B]
  • The Soft Pink Truth: Why Do the Heathen Rage? (Thrill Jockey) [06-17] - black metal
  • Soft Walls: No Time (Trouble in Mind) [07-29] - noise pop
  • Sohn: Tremors (4AD) [04-07] - art-pop [*]
  • SOJA: Amid the Noise and Haste (ATO) [08-12] - contemporary reggae
  • Silja Sol: Pa Hjertet ()
  • Solids: Blame Confusion (Fat Possum) [02-18] - lo-fi
  • Emilio Solla y la Inestable de Brooklyn: Second Half (self-released) - jazz [**]
  • Solstafir: Otta () - metal
  • Somi: The Lagos Music Salon (Okeh) [08-05] - [PM]
  • Sonar: Static Motion (Cuneiform) [01-21] - minimalism
  • A Sondheim Jazz Project: City of Strangers (Bobby Hsu Music) - jazz
  • Söndörgö: Tamburocket Hungarian Fireworks (Riverboat) - world
  • Sondre Lerche: Please (Mona) [09-23] - pop/rock
  • Sonic Avenues: Mistakes (Dirtnap) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Sonzeira: Brasil Bam Bam Bam (Talkin' Loud/Virgin) [***]
  • Tyshawn Sorey: Alloy (Pi) [10-28] - jazz [***]
  • The Souljazz Orchestra: Inner Fire (Strut) [*]
  • Soundcarriers: Entropicalia (Ghost Box) [**]
  • J Spaceman and Kid Millions: Live at the Poisson Rouge (Northern Spy) - jazz
  • Spain: Sargent Place (Dine Alone) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Jesse Sparkawk & Eric Carbonara: Tributes & Diatribes (VHF)
  • Tim Sparks: Chasin' the Boogie (Tonewood) [05-30] - folk guitar [***]
  • Dave Specter: Message in Blue (Delmark) - blues
  • Speedy Ortiz: Real Hair (Carpark, EP) [*]
  • D Charles Speer & the Helix: Doubled Exposure (Thrill Jockey) [02-25] - alt singer-songwriter
  • Alister Spence/Myra Melford: Everything Here Is Possible (self-released) - jazz
  • Vinnie Sperrazza: Apocryphal (Loyal Label) - jazz [**]
  • Spider Bags: Frozen Letter (Merge) [08-05] - garage punk [*]
  • The Spin Quartet: In Circles (Origin) [10-21] - jazz [**]
  • Spiro: Pole Star (Real World) - jazz
  • Split Single: Fragmented World (Inside Outside) [04-01] - rock
  • Spoke: (R)anthems (River) [10-08] - jazz [*]
  • Spoon: They Want My Soul (Anti-) [08-05] - alt pop/rock [A-]
  • Spring Offensive: Young Animal Hearts (self-released) [03-10] - indie rock
  • Bruce Springsteen: High Hopes (Columbia) [*]
  • Bruce Springsteen: American Beauty (Columbia, EP) [C+]
  • Springtime Carnivore: Springtime Carnivore (Autumn Tone) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Squarepusher: Music for Robots (Warp, EP) [04-08] - electronic
  • Tomasz Sroczynski/Marek Pospieszalski: Bareness (Requiem) - jazz
  • St Paul & the Broken Bones: Half the City (Single Lock) [02-18] - retro-soul [*]
  • St Vincent: St Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic) [02-25] - art pop [***]
  • Jesse Stacken: Helleborus (Fresh Sound New Talent) - jazz [***]
  • Stalley: Ohio (Atlantic/Maybach) [10-28] - gangsta rap
  • Peter Stampfel and the Brooklyn & Lower Manhattan Banjo Squadron: Better Than Expected (Don Giovanni) [**]
  • Lyn Stanley: Potions (A.T. Music) [11-08] - vocal jazz [**]
  • Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction (Omnivore) [06-03] - Americana
  • Vince Staples: Hell Can Wait (Def Jam, EP) [10-07] - gangsta rap [*]
  • Ryan Star: Angels + Animals (self-released) [01-13] - alt rock
  • Stardeath and White Dwarfs: Wastold (Federal Prism) [07-29] - neo-psychedelia
  • Stars: No One Is Lost (ATO) [10-14] - indie pop
  • Statik Selektah: What Goes Around (Duck Down Music) [08-19] - underground rap [A-]
  • The John Steel Singers: Everything's a Thread (Full Time Hobby) [07-29] - alt/indie rock
  • John Stein & the Mingotan Project: Emotion (Whaling City Sound) [**]
  • Stephen Steinbrink: Arranged Wives (Melodic)
  • Vaghe Stelle: Sweet Sixteen (Astro: Dynamics)
  • Håkon Stene: Lush Laments for Lazy Mammal (Hubro)
  • Step Brothers: Lord Steppington (Rhymesayers) [01-21] - hip-hop [**]
  • Dayna Stephens: Peace (Sunnyside) [11-04] - jazz
  • Bob Stewart: Connections: Mind the Gap (Sunnyside) [08-05] - jazz
  • Zan Stewart: The Street Is Making Music (Mobo Dog) [***]
  • Curtis Stigers: Hooray for Love (Concord) [04-29] - vocal jazz
  • Robert Stillman: Leap of Death (Archaic Future)
  • Baba Stiltz: Total ()
  • Brenda Earle Stokes: Right About Now (self-released) [B]
  • Ben Stolorow/Ian Carey: Duocracy (Kabosha) [**]
  • Angus & Julia Stone: Angus & Julia Stone (American/Virgin) [08-05]
  • Ed Stone: King of Hearts (Sapphire Music) [08-05] - smooth jazz [C+]
  • CW Stoneking: Gon' Boogaloo (King Hokum) - blues
  • Storyboard [David Boswell/Alex Locasio/Rod MacDowell]: Hello (My Quiet Moon) [B]
  • Andy Stott: Faith in Strangers (Modern Love) [11-18] - experimental techno
  • Isabel Stover: Her Own Sweet World (self-released) [*]
  • Straight Arrows: Rising (Agitated)
  • Strand of Oaks: Heal (Dead Oceans) [06-24] - alt/indie rock [B-]
  • Stray Birds: Best Medicine (Yep Roc) [10-21] - neo-traditional folk
  • Street Priest: More Nasty (Humbler) [06-21] - improv noise [**]
  • Barbra Streisand: Partners (Sony) [09-16] - vocal
  • Dave Stryker: Eight Track (Strikezone) [03-04] - guitar jazz
  • The Strypes: Snapshot (Island/Photo Finish) [A]
  • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives: Saturday Night/Sunday Morning (Superlatone, 2CD) [09-30] - new traditionalist [*]
  • Suarasama: Timeline (Space)
  • Subtle Lip Can: Reflective Drime (Drip Audio) [12-16] - jazz [**]
  • Such Gold: The New Sidewalk (Razor & Tie) [11-11] - punk revival
  • Suicide Silence: You Can't Stop Me (Nuclear Blast) [07-15] - metal
  • Suicideyear: Remembrance (Software) [09-23] - electronic
  • The Suite Unraveling: The Suite Unraveling (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz
  • Dan Sultan: Blackbird ()
  • Sun Araw: Belomancie (Sun Ark/Drag City) [02-18] - psychedelic rock
  • Sun Kil Moon: Benji (Caldo Verde) [02-11] - singer-songwriter [***]
  • Sundae + Mr Goessl: Cheek to Cheek (self-released) - vocal jazz
  • Helen Sung: Anthem for a New Day (Concord Jazz) - jazz [*]
  • Sunn 0)))/Ulver: Terrestrials (Southern Lord) [02-04] - experimental
  • A Sunny Day in Glasgow: Sea When Absent (Lefse) [06-24] - alt/indie rock
  • Avery Sunshine: The Sun Room (Shanachie) [05-27] - [PM]
  • Supersilent: 12 (Rune Grammofon) - jazz
  • Supreme Cuts: Divine Ecstasy (Dovecote) [A-]
  • Tierney Sutton: Paris Sessions (Varese Sarabande) [09-16] - vocal jazz
  • Steve Swallow/Ohad Talmor/Adam Nussbaum: Singular Curves (Auand) [***]
  • Swans: To Be Kind (Young God, 2CD) [05-13] - experimental rock [B]
  • Brian Swartz & the Gnu Sextet: Portraiture (Summit) - jazz [**]
  • Sunny Sweeney: Provoked (Aunt Daddy/Thirty Tigers) [08-05] - contemporary country [*]
  • Nelda Swiggett Stringtet: Blue-Eyed Painted Lady (Origin) [*]
  • Sweet Apple: The Golden Age of Glitter (Teepee) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Taylor Swift: 1989 (Big Machine) [10-28] - teen pop
  • Sylvan Esso: Sylvan Esso (Partisan) [05-13] - art pop [*]
  • David Sylvian: There's a Light That Enters Houses With No Other House in Sight (Samadhi Sound) [conceptual art]
  • Syrinx Effect: Snail Songs (self-released) - jazz
  • SZA: Z (Top Dawg Enterprises, EP) [04-08]
  • Daniel Szabo/Peter Erskine/Edwin Livingston: A Song From There (self-released) [*]
  • Jamie T: Carry on the Grudge (Virgin) [09-30] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Tacocat: NVM (Hardly Art) [***]
  • Aki Takase/La Planète: Flying Soul (Intakt) [***]
  • Aki Takase/Alexander von Schlippenbach: So Long, Eric!: Homage to Eric Dolphy (Intakt) - jazz [***]
  • Taking Back Sunday: Happiness Is (Hopeless) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Talibam! & Weasel Walter: Polyp (Mnóad) - jazz?
  • Tom Tallitsch: Ride (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Natsuki Tamura/Alexander Frangenheim: Nax (Creative Sources) [11-04] - jazz [*]
  • Tape: Casino (Hapna)
  • Tarbaby with Oliver Lake & Marc Ducret: Fanon (RogueArt) - jazz
  • Greg Tardy: Hope (SteepleChase) - jazz
  • Tarwater: Adrift (Bureau B) [11-11] - alt/indie rock
  • Joanne Tatham: Out of My Dreams (Cafe Pacific) [12-02] - vocal jazz [B]
  • Alexis Taylor: Await Barbarians (Domino) [06-10] - alt/indie rock
  • George Taylor: Rain or Shine (self-released) - jazz
  • George Taylor: Trouble Town (self-released) - jazz
  • Joanne Shaw Taylor: The Dirty Truth (Imports) [09-30]
  • John Taylor: In Two Minds (CAM Jazz) - piano jazz
  • Teebs: Estara (Brainfeeder) [04-08] - electronic
  • Teen: The Way and Color (Carpark) [04-22] - indie pop
  • Teenager: EPLP (Telephone Explosion) [09-09]
  • Teitanblood: Death ()
  • Teleman: Breakfast (Moshi Moshi) [06-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Sébastien Tellier: L'Aventura (Universal) [05-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Kate Tempest: Everybody Down (Big Dada) [05-19] - hip-hop
  • Temples: Sun Structures (Heavenly) [02-11] - alt/indie rock [*]
  • Temples: Sun Restructured (Heavenly) [11-11] - indie rock
  • Mark Templeton + Kyle Armstrong: Extensions (Graphical)
  • Benmont Tench: You Should Be So Lucky (Blue Note) [02-18] - singer-songwriter
  • Tennis: Ritual in Repeat (Communion) [09-09] - indie rock
  • Tennis System: Technicolour Blind (Papercup Music) [10-21] - indie pop
  • Tense Men: Where Dull Care Is Forgotten (Faux Discx) [03-10]
  • Tensnake: Glow (Astralwerks) [***]
  • Todd Terje: It's Album Time (Olsen) [04-08] - nu-disco [A-]
  • Yosvany Terry: New Throned King (5Pasion) [04-01] - jazz [***]
  • Tetema: Geocidal (Ipecac) [12-09] - alt/indie rock
  • Jimmy Thackery: Extra Jimmies (Blind Pig) [10-14] - blues
  • Thank You Scientist: Maps of Non-Existent Places ()
  • Thantifaxath: Sacred White Noise () - metal
  • Thee Oh Sees: Drop (Castle Face) [04-15] - indie rock
  • Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra: Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything (Constellation) [01-21] - alt/indie rock; Pitchfork overlooked [B]
  • Thelonious: Crows on the Beeline (self-released) - jazz
  • Billy Thermal: Billy Thermal (Omnivore) [08-12] - punk/new wave
  • Rachel Therrien: Home Inspiration (self-released) - jazz
  • Robin Thicke: Paula (Star Trak/Interscope) [07-01] - adult contemporary r&b
  • Eric Thielemans: Sprang (Miasmah) - jazz
  • Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer: Bass & Mandolin (Nonesuch) [09-09] - jazz
  • This Will Destroy You: Another Language (Suicide Squeeze) [09-16] - post-rock
  • Jacob Thomas Jr: Original Sin (self-released)
  • Prins Thomas: Prins Thomas III (Full Pupp) [04-29] - neo-disco
  • Richard Thompson: Acoustic Classics (Relativity) [07-22] - British folk
  • Thompson Family: Family (Fantasy) [11-18] - British folk-rock
  • Ken Thomson and Slow/Fast: Settle (NCM East) - jazz [***]
  • Paul Thorn: Too Blessed to Be Stressed (Perpetual Obscurity) [08-19] - Americana [**]
  • Thou: Heathen (Gilead Media) [03-25] - doom metal
  • Throttle Elevator Music: Area J (Wide Hive) [10-28] - jazz [**]
  • Throwing Snow: Mosaic (Houdstooth) [06-03] - pop/rock
  • Thug Entrancer: Death After Life (Software) [02-17] - juke
  • Thumpers: Galore (Sub Pop) [02-11] - indie electronic
  • Camille Thurman: Origins (Hot Tone Music) [*]
  • TI: Paperwork (Grand Hustle) [10-21] - gangsta rap [**]
  • Yann Tiersen: [Infinity] (Mute) [05-20] - film score
  • Tigers Jaw: Charmer (Run for Cover) [06-03] - alt/indie rock
  • Tigran: Shadow Theater (Sunnyside) [C+]
  • Christopher Tignor: Thunder Lay Down in the Heart (Western Vinyl) [03-17]
  • Ana Tijoux: Vengo (Nacional) [03-18] - Latin rap [**]
  • Tilting: Holy Seven (Barnyard) [***]
  • Timber Timbre: Hot Dreams (Arts & Crafts) [04-01] - indie folk
  • Tinariwen: Emmaar (Anti-) [02-10] - world [***]
  • Tinashe: Aquarius (RCA) [10-07] - contemporary r&b [**]
  • The Ting Tings: Super Critical (Finac) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Tink: Winter's Diary 2: Forever Yours (self-released) [01-10] - hip-hop
  • Shirazette Tinnin: Humility: Purity of My Soul (Hot Tone Music) [B]
  • Tiny Ruins: Brightly Painted One (Bella Union) [05-06] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Jason Titley: Still Rollin' (Dreadnought)
  • Tobacco: Ultima Il Massae (Ghostly International) [05-13]
  • Mia Dol Todd: Floresta (City Zen) [09-16] - bossa nova
  • Together Pangea: Badillac (Harvest) [01-21]
  • Tohpati: Tribal Dance (Moonjune) - jazz/world fusion
  • Tokyo Police Club: Forcefield (Mom + Pop Music) [***]
  • Jonah Tolchin: Clover Lane (Yep Roc) [A-]
  • Simon Toldam Trio: Kig Op 14 (ILK Music) - jazz
  • Tom the Lion: Sleep (Verve) [05-13]
  • Tombs: Savage Gold (Relapse) [06-10] - heavy metal
  • Ton Trio II: On and On (Singlespeed Music) - jazz [***]
  • TOPS: Picture You Staring (Arbutus) [09-09] - indie electronic
  • Torch Runner: Endless Nothing (Southern Lord) [09-30] - grindcore
  • Total Control: Typical System (Iron Lung) [06-24] - post-punk
  • Touch and Go Sextet: Live at the Novara Jazz Festival (Nine Winds) - jazz [***]
  • Ralph Towner/Wolfgang Muthspiel/Slava Grigoryan: Travel Guide (ECM) - jazz
  • Toy: Join the Dots (Heavenly) [01-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Trampled by Turtles: Wild Animals (Banjodad) [07-14]
  • Trap Them: Blissfucker (Prosthetic) [06-10] - heavy metal
  • Traumer: Takt (Herzblut) [04-24]
  • Randy Travis: Influence, Vol. 2: The Man I Am (Warner Bros) [08-19] - contemporary country [**]
  • TRE + Stefano Battaglia: Horo (Abeat, 2CD) - jazz
  • Steve Treseler Group: Center Song (Creative Music Adventures) [*]
  • Trey Songz: Trigga (Atlantic) [07-01] - contemporary r&b
  • Tricky: Adrian Thaws (!K7) [09-08] - electronic [***]
  • Tri-Fi [Phil Palombi/Matthew Fries/Keith Hall]: Staring Into the Sun (self-released) [B]
  • Trio 3 & Vijay Iyer: Wiring (Intakt) [***]
  • Triptykon: Melana Chasmata (Century Media) [04-15] - metal
  • Walter Trout: The Blues Came Callin' (Mascot) [06-10]
  • Trümmer: Trümmer ()
  • Trust: Joyland (Arts & Crafts) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Assif Tsahar/Gerry Hemingway/Mark Dresser: Code Re(a)d (Hopscotch) [A-]
  • Assif Tsahar/Tatsuya Nakatani: I Got It Bad (Hopscotch) [***]
  • Allison Adams Tucker: April in Paris (Allegato Music) [B]
  • Tune-Yards: Nikki Nack (4AD) [05-06] - art pop [**]
  • Tunto: Huvi (Aani) - jazz
  • Alexander Turnquist: Flying Fantasy (Western Vinyl) [06-09]
  • Mark Turner Quartet: Lathe of Heaven (ECM) [09-09] - jazz [**]
  • François Tusques: La Jungle du Douanier Rousseau (Improvising Beings) [**]
  • TV Eyes: TV Eyes (Omnivore) [10-07] - indie rock
  • TV on the Radio: Seeds (Harvest) [11-18] - alt/indie rock [B]
  • Tweedy: Sukierae (Anti) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Tweens: Tweens (Frenchkiss) [04-08] - alt/indie rock [B]
  • Twelfth Day: The Devil Makes Three (Orange Feather)
  • The Twilight Sad: Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave (Fat Cat) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Twin Atlantic: The Great Divide (Red Bull) [08-19] - alt/indie rock
  • Twin Forks: Twin Forks (Dine Alone Music) [02-25] - indie folk
  • Twin Peaks: Wild Onion (Grand Jury) [08-05] - alt pop/rock
  • Mr Twin Sister: Mr Twin Sister (Infinite Beat) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Ty Dolla Sign: Beach House EP (Atlantic, EP) [01-21] - rap
  • Tycho: Awake (Ghostly International) [03-17]
  • Paul Tynan & Aaron Lington: Bicoastal Collective: Chapter Four (OA2) [*]
  • Typhoon: Lobi Da Basi ()
  • U2: Songs of Innocence (Interscope/Island) [10-14] - pop/rock
  • Matt Ulery: In the Ivory (Greenleaf Music, 2CD) [*]
  • Fernando Ulibarri: Transform (self-released) [*]
  • The David Ullmann 8: Corduroy (Little Sky) [08-26] - jazz [**]
  • Ultimate Painting: Ultimate Painting (Trouble in Mind) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Ume: Monuments (Dangerbird) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • The Underachievers: Cellar Door: Terminus UI Exordium (RPM MSC) [08-12] - east coast rap
  • United Nations: The Next Four Years (Temporary Residence) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Adam Unsworth/Byron Olson/John Vanore: Balance (Acoustical Concepts) [*]
  • Untold: Black Light Spiral (Hemlock) [02-24]
  • Us Free [Bill McHenry/Henry Grimes/Andrew Cyrille]: Fish Stories (2006, Fresh Sound New Talent) - jazz [***]
  • The Used: Imaginary Enemy (Hopeless) [04-01] - emo
  • Peeter Uuskyla: Daydreaming Nerves (Omlott) - jazz
  • The Vacant Lots: Departure (Sonic Cathedral) [07-01] - alt/indie rock
  • Vader: Tibi Et Igni () - metal
  • Manuel Valera: Self Portrait (Mavo) [**]
  • Manuel Valera and New Cuban Express: In Motion (Criss Cross) [09-16] - jazz
  • Manuel Valera Sr: Recuerdos (Mavo) - jazz
  • Vallenfyre: Splinters ()
  • Colin Vallon: Le Vent (ECM) [**]
  • Vamos: More Songs About Circles (Antipop)
  • The Vamps: Meet the Vamps (Mercury) [04-14] - pop-rock [**]
  • Van Valami: Furcsa Es Megmagyarazhatatlan (Filmzene) ()
  • Ken Vandermark: Nine Ways to Read a Bridge (Not Two, 6CD) - jazz
  • Ken Vandermark/Paal Nilssen-Love Duo: Lightning Over Water () - jazz
  • Ken Vandermark/Paal Nilssen-Love: Extended Duos (Audiographic) - jazz
  • David Vanderveide: Shadow Sides (Park the Van) [09-09] - alt/indie rock
  • Sharon Van Etten: Are We There (Jagjaguwar) [05-27] - alt singer/songwriter [B-]
  • Chad VanGaalen: Shrink Dust (Sub Pop) [04-29] - indie rock
  • Gideon van Gelder: Lighthouse (Bertus-Rosen) [10-14] - jazz
  • Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: OverTime: Music of Bob Brookmeyer (Planet Arts) - jazz [*]
  • Peter Van Huffel's Gorilla Mask: Bite My Blues (Clean Feed) [*]
  • Peter Van Huffel/Michael Bates/Jeff Davis: Boom Crane (Fresh Sound New Talent) - jazz [A-]
  • Brock Van Wey: Home (Echospace, 2CD) [04-01]
  • Jozef Van Wissem: It Is Time for You to Return (Made to Measure/Crammed Discs) [12-02] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Andreas Varady: Andreas Varady (Verve) [08-05] - guitar jazz
  • Variable Density Sound Orchestra: Evolving Strategies (Not Two) - jazz
  • The Vaselines: V for Vaselines (Rosary Music) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Dimitrije Vasiljevic: Metaphor (self-released) - piano jazz
  • VAX: Count to VAX (self-released) - jazz
  • Cornelius Veit/Eugen Prieur/Jörg Fischer: Stromraum (Spore Print) [***]
  • Tom Vek: Luck (Moshi Moshi) [06-10] - indie electronic
  • Velkro: Don't Wait for the Revolution (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [A]
  • Caetano Veloso: Abraçoço (Nonesuch) [**]
  • Moreno Veloso: Coisa Boa (Luaka Bop) [09-09] - Latin
  • Venetian Snares: My Love Is a Bulldozer (Planet Mu) [06-17] - electronic
  • Piet Verbist/Zygomatik: Cattitude (Origin) - jazz [**]
  • Verma: Sunrunner (Trouble in Mind) [05-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Erik Vermeulen Trio: Asterisk (El Negocito) [09-05] - jazz
  • Marlene VerPlanck: I Give Up, I'm in Love (Audiophile) - vocal jazz [A-]
  • Vertical Scratchers: Daughter of Everything (Merge) [02-25] - indie rock
  • Vertigo Trombone Quartet: Developing Good Habits (NWOG) [05-16] - jazz
  • Vessel: Punish, Honey (Tri Angle) [09-16] - experimental techno
  • Vesuvio Solo: Flavors (Banko Gotit) [10-15]
  • Viet Cong: Cassette (Mexican Summer, EP) [01-21] [B]
  • Elio Villafranca and His Jazz Syncopators: Caribbean Tinge: Live From Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Motéma) [06-24] - Latin jazz [*]
  • Hugues Vincent & Yasumune Morishige: Fragment () - jazz
  • The Vines: Wicked Nature (Wicked Nature Music) [09-02] - alt/indie rock
  • David Virelles: Mbókó (ECM) [10-07] - Afro-Cuban [**]
  • Virgil and the Accelerators: Army of Three () [10-21]
  • Rosenna Vitro: Clarity: Music of Clare Fischer (Random Act) [09-30] - vocal jazz [*]
  • Jerry Vivino: Back East (Blujazz) - jazz [**]
  • Eric Vloeimans: Oliver's Cinema (Buzz) - jazz
  • Wolfgang Voigt: Rückverzauberung 9/Musik für Kulturinstitutionen (Kompakt)
  • The Voluntary Butler Scheme: A Million Ways to Make Gold (Split) [02-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Alexander Von Mehren: Aéropop Revisited (Aeropop) [10-28] - alt/indie rock
  • Von Spar: Streetlife ()
  • The Voyeurs: Rhubarb Rhubarb (Heavenly) [11-11] - neo-psychedelia
  • Vril: Torus (Forum)
  • Christian Vuust: Urban Hymn (self-released) - jazz
  • Leon Vynehall: Music for the Uninvited (3024) [03-24] [*]
  • Mirel Wagner: When the Cellar Children See the Light of Day (Sub Pop) [08-12] - alt singer/songwriter [**]
  • Harvey Wainapel: Amigos Brasileiros Vol. 2 (Jazzmission) [B]
  • Loudon Wainwright III: Haven't Got the Blues (Yet) (429) [09-09] - contemporary singer/songwriter [*]
  • Ulf Wakenius: Solo: Momento Magico (ACT) [03-28] - guitar jazz [*]
  • Torgeir Waldemar: Torgeir Waldemar ()
  • Anne Waldman: Jaguar Harmonics (Fast Speaking Music) [A-]
  • Brahja Waldman Quintet: Sir Real Live at Resonance (self-released) [**]
  • Terry Waldo: The Soul of Ragtime (Tompkins Square)
  • Walk the Moon: Talking Is Hard (RCA) [12-02]
  • Joe Louis Walker: Hornet's Nest (Alligator) [B-]
  • Lissy Walker: Wonderland (Dogwood) - vocal jazz
  • Scott Walker + Sunn O))): Soused (4AD) [10-21] - alt pop/rock [C]
  • Ryley Walker: All Kinds of You (Tompkins Square) [04-15] - guitar virtuoso
  • Seth Walker: Sky Still Blue (The Royal Potato Family) [B]
  • Wand: Ganglion Reel (God?) [08-26] - garage punk
  • Beau Wanzer: Untitled (self-released)
  • The War on Drugs: Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian) [03-18] - folk rock [***]
  • Ward Thomas: From Where We Stand (WTW Music)
  • Jessie Ware: Tough Love (Interscope) [10-21] - adult alt pop/rock [*]
  • Dean Wareham: Dean Wareham (Sonic Cathedral) [***]
  • The Bill Warfield Big Band: Trumpet Story (Planet Arts) [*]
  • Warm Widow: Childless (Filthy Home)
  • Warpaint: Warpaint (Rough Trade) [01-21] - indie rock [B]
  • Geoff Warren: The Quartet Album (FMR) - jazz
  • Marcin Wasilewski Trio w/Joakim Milder: Spark of Life (ECM) [10-07] - jazz [A-]
  • Nick Waterhouse: Holly (Innovative Leisure) [03-04] - retro-soul
  • Reggie Watkins: One for Miles, One for Maynard (Corona Music) [**]
  • Sean Watkins: All I Do Is Lie (Roaring Girl) [07-01] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Bill Watrous/Pete Christlieb/Carl Saunders/The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra: A Beautiful Friendship (Summit) - jazz [B]
  • Watsky: All You Can Do (Steel Wool Media/Welk Music Group) [08-12] - alt rap [**]
  • Ben Watt: Hendra (Unmade Road) [04-15] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Watter: This World (Temporary Residence) [05-27] - experimental rock
  • Ken Watters/Ingrid Felts: Watters/Felts Project (Summit) [***]
  • Ernie Watts Quartet: A Simple Truth (Flying Dolphin) [05-20] - jazz [**]
  • Trevor Watts: Veracity (FMR) - jazz
  • Wax Witches: Center of Your Universe (Burger) [10-07] - garage punk
  • Gerard Way: Hesitant Alien (Reprise) [10-07] - punk-pop
  • Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne: Get Rollin' (Stony Plain) [04-22] - blues
  • We Are Catchers: We Are Catchers (Domino) [03-25] - indie pop
  • We Are Scientists: TV En Français (Dine Alone) [03-04] - indie rock
  • We Are Shining: Kara () [10-26]
  • We Have Band: Movements (Naive) [04-29] - new wave/post-punk revival
  • We Need Secrets: Melancholy and the Archive (Saint Marie) [07-29]
  • We Were Promised Jetpacks: Unravelling (Fat Cat) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Jane Weaver: The Silver Globe (Bird) [11-18] - indie folk
  • Bry Webb: Free Will (Idee Fixe)
  • Anna Webber: Simple (Skirl) - jazz [***]
  • Colin Webster/Mark Holub: Viscera (self-released) - jazz
  • Colin Webster/Andrew Lisle/Alex Ward: Red Kite (Raw Tonk) [11-24] - jazz [**]
  • Weeping Willows: The Time Has Come (Razzia) [02-26] - rock
  • Weezer: Everything Will Be Alright in the End (Island/Republic) [10-07] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Walt Weiskopf: Overdrive (Posi-Tone) - jazz [B]
  • Chuck E. Weiss: Red Beans and Weiss (Anti) [04-15] - roots rock [*]
  • Dan Weiss: Fourteen (Pi) - jazz [B-]
  • David Weiss: When Words Fail (Motema Music) - jazz
  • Ezra Weiss: Before You Know It: Live in Portland (Roark) [09-09] - jazz [A-]
  • Leo Welch: Sabougla Voices (Big Legal Mess) - blues [A-]
  • Bobby Wellins and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra: Culloden Moor Suite (Spartacus) - jazz
  • Wiley: Snakes & Ladders (Big Dada) [11-03]
  • Chris Willer: Chris Weller's Hanging Hearts (self-released) - jazz
  • Paul Weller: More Modern Classics (Virgin EMI) [06-03] - British trad rock
  • Wen: Signals ()
  • Scott Wendholt & Adam Kolker Quartet: Andthem (Fresh Sound New Talent) - jazz [**]
  • Kenny Werner/Lionel Loueke/Miguel Zenon/Benjamin Koppel/Ferenc Nemeth: Coalition (Half Note) [09-16] - jazz
  • Frank Wess: Magic 201 (IPO) [***]
  • Joe West and the Santa Fe Revue: Blood Red Velvet (Frogville) - country
  • The Westerlies: Wish the Children Would Come on Home: The Music of Wayne Horvitz (Songlines) [**]
  • Western Jazz Quartet: Free Fall (Blujazz) - jazz [*]
  • Weyes Blood: The Innocents (Mexican Summer) [10-21] - alt singer/songwriter
  • The Whammies: Play the Music of Steve Lacy Vol. 3: Live (Driff) [***]
  • Tim Wheeler: Lost Domain (RED Music Solutions) [11-10] - alt/indie rock
  • Whirr: Sway (Graveface) [09-23] - alt/indie rock
  • Rodney Whitaker: When We Find Ourselves Alone (Mack Avenue) [08-19] - jazz
  • David White Jazz Orchestra: The Chase (Mister Shepherd) - jazz [*]
  • Jack White: Lazaretto (Third Man) [06-10] - pop/rock [B-]
  • Paul White: Shaker Notes (R&S) [09-30] - experimental electronic
  • Philip White: Documents (Infrequent Seams)
  • Walter White: Most Triumphant (Summit) [*]
  • Xylouris White: Goats (Other Music) [10-14] - experimental
  • White Fence: For the Recently Found Innocent (Drag City) [07-22] - alt/indie rock
  • White Hinterland: Baby (Dead Oceans) [04-01] - alt singer-songwriter
  • White Lung: Deep Fantasy (Domino) [06-17] - indie [**]
  • White Suns: Totem (The Flenser)
  • Betty Who: Take Me When You Go (RCA) [10-07] - dance-pop
  • The WHO Trio: The WHO Zoo (Auricle) - jazz
  • Wild Beasts: Present Tense (Domino) [02-25] - indie rock [B]
  • Wildbirds & Peacedrums: Rhythm (The Leaf Label) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Wildest Dreams: Wildest Dreams (Smalltown Supersound) [07-29] - neo-psychedelia [**]
  • Devon Williams: Gilding the Lily (Slumberland) [06-03] - indie pop
  • Don Williams: Reflections (Sugar Hill) [03-11] - country [*]
  • Hank Williams III: Ramblin' Man (Curb, EP) [04-01] - new traditional [*]
  • Holly Williams: The Highway (Georgiana) - country
  • Jessica Williams: With Love (Origin) [**]
  • Lucinda Williams: Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone (Highway 20) [09-30] - contemporary folk
  • Pharrell Williams: Girl (Columbia) [03-03] - r&b [A-]
  • Willie the Kid and Bronze Nazareth: The Living Daylights (Embassy)
  • The Willows: Amidst Fiery Skies (Elk)
  • Dan Wilson: Love Without Fear (Ballroom) [04-15] - singer/songwriter
  • Matt Wilson Quartet + John Medeski: Gathering Call (Palmetto) [***]
  • Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash Duo: Duologue (MCG Jazz) - jazz [***]
  • Winter Wilson: Cutting Free (self-released)
  • Jesse Winchester: A Reasonable Amount of Trouble (Appleseed) [09-16] - folk-rock
  • Martin Wind: Turn Out the Stars (What If? Music) - jazz
  • Virginia Wing: Measures of Joy (Fire) [11-04] - experimental rock
  • A Winged Victory for the Sullen: Atomos (Kranky) [10-07] - ambient [**]
  • Luke Winslow-King: Everlasting Arms (Bloodshot) [09-30] - New Orleans jazz [B]
  • Brice Winston: Child's Play (Criss Cross) [09-16] - jazz
  • Norma Winstone: Dance Without Answer (ECM) [**]
  • Winterfylleth: Divination of Antiquity () - black metal
  • Withered Hand: New Gods (Slumberland) [03-10] [**]
  • Nils Wogram Root 70 With Strings: Riomar (NWOG) [*]
  • Julia Wolfe: Steel Hammer (Cantaloupe) [04-29]
  • Tom Wolfe: Solerovescent (Summit) [*]
  • Michael Wollny Trio: Weltentraum (ACT) [**]
  • Wolves in the Throne Room: Celestite (Artemesia) [07-08] - heavy metal
  • Lee Ann Womack: The Way I'm Livin' (Sugar Hill/Welk) [09-23] - contemporary country [A-]
  • Woman's Hour: Conversations (Secretly Canadian) [07-15] - indie electronic
  • Woo: When the Past Arrives (Drag City)
  • Wooden Wand: Farmer's Corner (Fire) [**]
  • The Woodentops: Granular Tales (Cherry Red) [03-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Woods: With Light and With Love (Woodsist) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Matt Woods: With Love From Brushy Mountain (Lonely Ones) [05-13] - country [***]
  • Woods of Desolation: As the Stars (Northern Silence) [02-14] - black metal
  • Nate Wooley/Hugo Antunes/Chris Corsano: Malus (NoBusiness) - jazz [**]
  • Wovenhand: Refractory Obdurate (Deathwish) [04-29] - post-rock
  • Wrangler: LA Spark (Memetune) [05-27] - indie electronic
  • Wreck & Reference: Want ()
  • Wrekmeister Harmonies: Then It All Came Down/You've Always Meant So Much to Me (Thrill Jockey) [10-21] - experimental
  • Jack Wright/Ben Wright: As If Anything Could Be the Same (Relative Pitch) - jazz
  • J.J. Wright: Inward Looking Outward (Ropeadope) [**]
  • Wunder Wunder: Everything Infinite (Dovecote) [07-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Wussy: Attica! (Shake It) [A-]
  • Wu-Tang Clan: A Better Tomorrow (Warner Bros) [12-02] - east coast rap [***]
  • Eric Wyatt: Borough of Kings (Posi-Tone) - jazz
  • Wye Oak: Shriek (Merge) [04-29] - alt/indie rock
  • The Wytches: Annabel Dream Reader (Partisan) [08-26] - alt/indie rock
  • Xeno & Oaklander: Par Avion (Ghostly International) [06-24] - indie electronic
  • Xiu Xiu: Angel Guts: Red Classroom (Bella Union/Polyvinyl) [02-04] - experimental rock
  • Yamaneko: Pixel Wave Embrace (Local Action)
  • Weird Al Yankovic: Mandatory Fun (RCA) [07-15] - comedy rock
  • Basak Yavuz: Things (Z Music) [*]
  • Jason Yeager Trio: Affirmation (Inner Circle Music) [10-21] - jazz [B]
  • Yelle: Complètement Fou (Kemosabe) [09-30] - alt dance [**]
  • Yellow Ostrich: Cosmos (Barsuk) [02-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Yellow Tears: Golden Showers May Bring Flowers (Septic World)
  • Yellowcard: Lift a Sail (Razor & Tie) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • YG: My Krazy Life (Def Jam) [B-]
  • Girma Yifrashewa: Love and Peace (Unseen Worlds)
  • Ymusic: Balance Problems (New Amsterdam) [09-30]
  • YOB: Clearing the Path to Ascend ()
  • Thom Yorke: Tomorrow's Modern Boxes (self-released) [09-26] - electronica
  • James Yorkston: Cellardyke Recording and Wassalling Society (Domino) [08-19] - alt singer/songwriter
  • You Are Wolf: Hawk to the Hunting Gone (Stone Tape)
  • You Blew It!: Keep Doing What You're Doing (Topshelf)
  • Jacob Young: Forever Young (ECM) [06-17] - jazz
  • Neil Young: A Letter Home (Third Man) [04-19] [**]
  • Neil Young: Storytone (Reprise) [11-04] - album rock [*]
  • Sarah Marie Young: Little Candy Heart (Snip) - vocal jazz
  • Young and in the Way: When Life Comes to Death ()
  • Young & Sick: Young & Sick (Harvest) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Young Boy: Other Summers (Saint Marie) [04-08] - shoegaze
  • Young Fathers: Dead (Anticon) [02-03] - hip-hop [*]
  • The Young Mothers: A Mothers Work Is Never Done (Tektite) [A-]
  • The Young Sinclairs: This Is the Young Sinclairs (Ample Play) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Young Thug & Bloody Jay: Black Portland (self-released) - rap [A-]
  • Young Thug/Rich Homie Quan/Birdman: Rich Gang: The Tour Pt 1 (Cash Money) [09-29] - rap [*]
  • Young Widows: Easy Pain (Temporary Residence) [05-12] - noise rock
  • Yusuf [Cat Stevens]: Tell 'Em I'm Gone (Legacy) [10-28] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Yvette: Process (Godmode)
  • Zaimph & Yek Koo: L'intérieur de la Vue (Obsolete Units)
  • Peter Zak Trio: The Disciple (Steeplechase) - piano jazz [***]
  • Zamilska: Untune (self-released)
  • Zammuto: Anchor (Temporary Residence) [09-02] - experimental techno
  • Zanussi 5: Live in Coimbra (Clean Feed) [11-21] - jazz [A-]
  • Brigitte Zarie: L'amour (NJ Music) [B]
  • Zebrina: Hamidbar Medaber (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz/Jewish
  • Zeitkratzer: Lou Reed: Metal Machine Music (self-released) - noise
  • Denny Zeitlin: Stairway to the Stars (Sunnyside) [07-08] - jazz
  • Miguel Zenón: Identities Are Changeable (Miel Music) [11-04] - jazz [*]
  • Hans Zimmer & the Magnificent Six: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Columbia) [04-22] - film score
  • Dann Zinn: Shangri La (self-released) [10-01] - jazz [B]
  • Zion 80: Adramelech: Book of Angels 22 (Tzadik) - jazz
  • Zola Jesus: Taiga (Mute) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Zongo Junction: No Discount (Electric Cowbell) - world
  • Zoor: Volumes A + B (Umlaut) - jazz
  • John Zorn: In the Hall of Mirrors (Tzadik) [05-00] - jazz
  • John Zorn: Myth and Mythopoesis (Tzadik) [06-00] - jazz
  • John Zorn: On Leaves of Grass (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz
  • John Zorn: The Testament of Solomon (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz
  • John Zorn: Valentine's Day (Tzadik) [07-00] - jazz
  • Yumi Zouma: Yumi Zouma (Cascine, EP) [02-11]
  • Zu: Goodnight, Civilization (Trost, EP) - jazz?
  • ZZ Quartet: Beyond the Lines (In + Out) [**]
  • All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman (Rounder) [05-06] - album rock
  • Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie (Compass, 2CD) [09-09] - folk
  • Duduvudu: The Gospel According to Dudu Pukwana (Edgetone) [09-30] - jazz [A]
  • Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One (ATO) [**]
  • The Buddy Holly Country Tribute: Remember Me (Nashville America) - country
  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt 1 [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Republic) [11-18] - soundtrack
  • Hyperdub 10.1 (Hyperdub) [06-17] - electronic [**]
  • Hyperdub 10.2 (Hyperdub) [07-29] - electronic
  • Hyperdub 10.3 (Hyperdub) [09-22] - electronic
  • Hyperdub 10.4 (Hyperdub) [11-10] - electronic
  • Just Passing Through: The Breithaupt Brothers Songbook Vol. II (ALMA) - jazz [B]
  • Link of Chain: A Songwriters' Tribute to Chris Smither (Signature Sounds) [09-30] - contemporary folk [**]
  • Look Again to the Wind: Johnny Cash's Bitter Tears Revisited (Masterworks) [08-19] - Americana [**]
  • Red Hot + Arthur Russell: Master Mix (Yep Roc) [10-21] - alt/indie rock

Reissues, Etc.

  • The Afghan Whigs: Gentlemen (Elektra/Rhino) [10-28] - indie rock
  • The Aislers Set: Terrible Things Happen (Slumberland) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • The Aislers Set: The Last Match (Slumberland) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • The Aislers Set: How I Learned to Write Backwards (Suicide Squeeze) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • Rashied Al Akbar/Muhammad Ali/Earl Cross/Idris Ackamoor: Ascent of the Nether Creatures (1980, NoBusiness, LP) - free jazz [***]
  • Keith Allison: In Action: The Complete Columbia Sides Plus! (Real Gone) [04-01] - rock & roll
  • The Allman Brothers Band: The 1971 Fillmore East Recordings (Mercury) [07-29] - album rock
  • The Allman Brothers Band: Play All Night: Live at the Beacon Theater 1992 (Epic/Legacy) [02-18] - rock
  • Negro Aquilino: El Saxofon Humano (Fresh Sound) - jazz
  • Louis Armstrong: Columbia and RCA Victor Live Recordings of Louis Armstrong and the All Stars (Mosaic) - jazz
  • Louis Armstrong: Complete Newport 1956 & 1958 (Mosaic) - jazz
  • Steve Arrington: Way Out 80-84 (Tummy Touch) [09-30]
  • Albert Ayler: Lorrach, Paris 1966 (Hatology) - jazz
  • Albert Ayler: Spiritual Unity [50th Anniversary Edition] (ESP-Disk) - free jazz
  • Julian Bahula: Spirit of Malombo: Malombo Jazz, Jabula and Jazz Africa 1966-1984 (Strut, 2CD) - South African [**]
  • William Basinski: Melancholia (Temporary Residence)
  • The Beatles: The US Albums (Capitol, 13CD) [01-21] - British invasion
  • Francis Bebey: Psychedelic Sanza 1982-1984 (Born Bad) [10-05] - African [**]
  • Bedhead: 1992-1998 (Numero Group, 4CD) [11-11] - alt pop/rock
  • Martyn Bennett: Grit (Real World Gold) - world
  • The Bevis Frond: High in a Flat: Highlights 1987-1990 (Cherry Red) [04-29] - alt pop/rock
  • Beyoncé: Beyoncé [Platinum Edition] (Columbia) [11-24] - r&b [TH:**]
  • Big Star: Live in Memphis (Omnivore) [11-04] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Bikini Kill: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (Bikini Kill) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Bis: Data Panik Etcetera (Do Yourself In) [05-06] - alt/indie rock
  • Bis: Return to Central [Deluxe Edition] (Do Yourself In) [12-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Bis: Social Dancing [Deluxe Edition] (Do Yourself In) [12-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Bis: The Anthology: 20 Years of Antiseptic Poetry (Do Yourself In) [11-11] - indie rock
  • Black Zone Myth Chant: Straight Cassette (Laitdbac)
  • Blaqstarr: The Blaq-Files 2002-06 (Jeffree's/Mad Decent)
  • Michael Bloomfield: From His Head to His Heart to His Hands (Columbia/Legacy) [02-04] - Chicago blues
  • Boards of Canada: Hi Scores (Skam)
  • David Bowie: Nothing Has Changed (Columbia/Legacy, 3CD) [11-18] - art rock
  • Lester Bowie: The Great Pretender (1981, Jazzwerkstatt) - jazz
  • Glenn Branca: Lesson No 1 ()
  • Peter Brötzmann: For Adolphe Sax (1967, Cien Fuegos) - jazz
  • Peter Brötzmann: Opened, but Hardly Touched (1981, Cien Fuegos) - jazz
  • Peter Brötzmann/Sonny Sharrock: Whatthefuckdoyouwant (1987, Trost) [07-14] - free jazz [**]
  • Clifford Brown: Brownie Speaks: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (Blue Note) [06-10] - bop
  • James Brown: Get On Up: The James Brown Story (Polydor) [07-29] - funk
  • Zac Brown Band: Greatest Hits So Far (Atlantic) [11-11] - contemporary country
  • Cabaret Voltaire: #7885 Electropunk to Technopop (1978-85, Mute) [A-]
  • Hadley Caliman: Hadley Caliman (Boplicity) - jazz
  • Johnny Cash: Out Among the Stars (1981-84, Columbia) [03-25] - country [***]
  • Cave: Release: Singles 2007-2013 (Drag City) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • A Certain Ratio: Sextet (1982, Factory Benelux, 2CD) [11-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Michael Chapman: Playing Guitar the Easy Way (1976, Light in the Attic) [04-22] - British folk
  • Bobby Charles: Bobby Charles (1972, Light in the Attic) - swamp rock
  • Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company [10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] (Concord) - r&b/soul
  • The Chills: Stand By [Bonus Tracks] (2004, Fire) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • The Chills: The BBC Sessions (Fire) [11-04] - New Zealand rock
  • Clark: Clark (Warp) [11-04] - experimental techno
  • Jay Clayton & John Lindberg: As Tears Go By (1988, Jazzwerkstatt) [01-28] - vocal jazz [*]
  • The Clean: Anthology (Merge) [07-15] - indie rock
  • John Coltrane: Afro Blue Impressions (Pablo) - jazz
  • John Coltrane & Friends: Trane's Blue Note Sessions (1956-57, Blue Note, 3CD) - jazz
  • John Coltrane: Offering: Live at Temple University (1966, Impulse, 2CD) [09-23] - jazz [**]
  • Ry Cooder: Soundtracks (Rhino/Warner Bros) [10-07] - country-rock
  • Graham Collier: Luminosity (Jazz Continuum) - jazz
  • Gal Costa: Gal Costa (Real Gone) [07-01] - bossa nova
  • Patrick Cowley: School Daze (1973-81, Dark Entries) [01-21] - experimental electronic
  • Laurence Crane: Chamber Works 1992-2007 ()
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival: Greatest Hits (Fantasy) [04-29] - rock & roll
  • Crosby Stills Nash & Young: CSNY 1974 (Atlantic, 4CD) [07-08] - album rock
  • Cursive: The Ugly Organ [Deluxe Edition] (2003, Saddle Creek) [11-25] - alt/indie rock
  • D'Angelo: Live at the Jazz Cafe, London (Virgin) [03-25] - neo-soul [A-]
  • Ted Daniel's Energy Module: Interconnections (NoBusiness, 2CD) - jazz [A-]
  • Danish Radio Big Band: A Good Time Was Had by All (1964-2000, Storyville, 6CD) - jazz
  • Miles Davis: Take Off: The Complete Blue Note Albums (Blue Note) [05-20] - cool jazz
  • Miles Davis: Miles at the Fillmore (Miles Davis 1970: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 3) (1970, Columbia/Legacy, 4CD) [***]
  • The Miles Davis Quintet: All of You: The Last Tour 1960 (Acrobat) - jazz
  • Smoke Dawson: Fiddle (1971, Tompkins Square) [***]
  • Doris Day: The Essential Doris Day (Columbia/Legacy) [03-25]
  • Jordan De La Sierra: Gymnosphere: Song of the Rose (Numero) [12-02] - monotonal
  • John Denver: All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection (Legacy) [11-04] - singer/songwriter
  • Neil Diamond: All-Time Greatest Hits (Capitol) [07-08] - pop-rock
  • Barbara Dickson & Rab Noakes: Reunified (Neon)
  • Gareth Dickson: Invisible String (Sleeping Man)
  • The Dictators: Faster . . . Louder: The Dictators' Best 1975-2001 (Raven) [04-15] - hard rock
  • Aby Ngana Diop: Liital (1994, Awesome Tapes From Africa) [09-09] - African [***]
  • DJ Koze: Reincarnations: The Remix Chapter 2009-2014 (Pampa) [10-28] - club/dance
  • John Doe: The Best of John Doe: This Far (Yep Roc) [05-20] - roots rock
  • Donato Dozzy: K (2010, Further)
  • Donato Dozzy & Nuel: The Aquaplano Sessions (Spectrum Spools)
  • Hamid Drake/Michael Zerang: For Ed Blackwell (1995, Pink Palace) [11-01] - jazz [***]
  • The Dream Academy: The Morning Lasted All Day: A Retrospective (Real Gone Music) [07-29] - alt pop/rock
  • Bob Dylan: Dylan (1973, Columbia/Legacy) [C-]
  • Bob Dylan: The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol 11 (Columbia/Legacy, 6CD) [11-04] - singer/songwriter
  • Bob Dylan, et al.: The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration [Deluxe Edition] (Columbia/Legacy, 2CD) [03-03]
  • Steve Earle: Live in Nashville 1995 (Shout! Factory) [07-08]
  • Earth Wind & Fire: The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire (Columbia/Legacy) [03-25]
  • Duke Ellington: Masterpieces by Ellington (Columbia/Analogue Productions) - jazz
  • Emerald Web: The Stargate Tapes ()
  • Brian Eno: Neroli (All Saints)
  • Ensemble Politonico Vallenato/Sexteto La Constelacion De Colombia: La Fiesta, Que Viva (Staubgold) [10-28] - Colombian
  • Sleepy John Estes with Hammie Nixon: Live in Japan (1974, Delmark) [***]
  • Bill Evans: The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 (Concord) [J|jazz]
  • Bill Evans: Symbiosis (Edel Kultur) - jazz
  • The Evergreen Classic Jazz Band: Early Tunes 1915-1932 (1995, Delmark) - trad jazz [A-]
  • Howard Eynon: So What If I'm Standing in Apricot Jam (Earth) [12-02] - acid folk
  • The Family Dogg: A Way of Life: Anthology 1967-1976 (RPM) [04-29] - pop/rock
  • The Fates: Furia ()
  • The Fauns: The Fauns (2009, Invada) [07-29] - alt/indie rock
  • Fennesz: Venice [10th Anniversary Edition] (Touch)
  • The Flaming Lips/Imagene Peise: Imagene Peise: Atlas Eels Christmas (Warner Bros) [12-02] - christmas
  • Bob Frank: Bob Frank (1972, Light in the Attic) [02-25] - singer-songwriter
  • Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul (Rhino, 4CD) - soul
  • Fugazi: First Demo (Dischord) [11-18] - American underground
  • Rory Gallagher: Irish Tour '74 [Bonus Tracks] (Eagle Rock) [10-21] - blues-rock
  • Jerry Garcia Band: Garcialive, Vol. 4: March 22, 1978 Veteran's Hall (ATO) [07-15] - country-rock
  • Howe Gelb: Little Sand Box (Fire, 8CD) [01-14] - 6 solo albums + stuff
  • Genesis: R-Kive (Atlantic/Rhino) [09-30]
  • The Jimmy Giuffre 3 & 4: New York Concerts (1965, Elemental, 2CD) [***]
  • Vic Godard & Subway Sect: 1979 Now! (AED) [10-07] - alt/indie rock
  • Grateful Dead: Dave's Picks Volume 9 (1974, Grateful Dead/Rhino) - jam band
  • Grateful Dead: Dave's Picks Volume 12: Colgate College 11/4/1977 (1977, Grateful Dead/Rhino) - jam band
  • Gravenhurst: Flashlight Seasons/Black Holes in the Sand/Offerings (Warp) [12-02] - indie rock
  • The Groovie Ghoulies: Flying Saucer Rock-N-Roll!: The First Three 7"s! (Green Door Recording) [04-08] - alt/indie rock
  • Grupo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza: The Feed-Back (Schema)
  • Gurrumul: Gurrumul (2008, Skinnyfish Music) [07-22] - [PM]
  • Charlie Haden/Jim Hall: Charlie Haden/Jim Hall (Impulse) [09-30] - chamber jazz [A-]
  • Herbie Hancock: Dedication (1974, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • Herbie Hancock: Flood (1975, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • Herbie Hancock: Herbie Hancock Trio (1977, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • Herbie Hancock: Herbie Hancock Trio With Ron Carter & Tony Williams (1981, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • Herbie Hancock: The Warner Bros Years [1969-1972] (Warner) - jazz
  • Emmylou Harris: Wrecking Ball [Deluxe Edition] (Nonesuch)
  • Nancy Harrow: Wild Women Don't Have the Blues/You Never Know (1960-62, Fresh Sound) [***]
  • Roy Haynes: Hip Ensemble (Boplicity) - jazz
  • Lee Hazlewood: Love and Other Crimes ()
  • Stephen David Heitkotter: Black Orckid (Now-Again)
  • Helm: Impasse (New Images)
  • Helm: The Hollow Organ ()
  • Jimi Hendrix: Rainbow Bridge (Legacy) [09-16] - rock
  • Milt Hinton/Ralph Sutton/Gus Johnson/Jim Galloway: The Sackville All Star Christmas Record (1986, Sackville/Delmark) - christmas/jazz [*]
  • Robert Hood: M-Print: 20 Years of M-Plant Music (M-Plant)
  • Whitney Houston: Live: Her Greatest Performances (Legacy) [11-11] - adult contemporary r&b
  • Noah Howard Quartetto: Live at the Swing Club Torino, Italy (Serie WOC Italy) - jazz
  • Rowland S Howard/Nikki Sudden: Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc (08-05) [Numero Group]
  • Rowland S Howard: Pop Crimes (Fat Possum) [08-05]
  • Inspiral Carpets: Dung 4 [Expanded Edition] (Cherry Red) [05-06] - Madchester
  • Chubby Jackson: New York City 1949: Ooh, What an Outfit! (Uptown, 2CD) - big band [***]
  • Michael Jackson: Xscape (Epic) [05-13]
  • Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian: Hamburg '72 (ECM) - jazz [A-]
  • The Jasmine Weeks: Cut Me Deep: The Anthology 1984-2014 (Cherry Red) [02-25] - alt/indie rock
  • Bill Jennings: The Architect of Soul Jazz: Complete Early Recordings 1951-1957 (Fresh Sound) - jazz [**]
  • Johnny Jewel: Rarities & Unreleased (self-released) [10-20]
  • Dexter Johnson & Le Super Star de Dakar: Live à l'Étoile (1969, Teranga Beat) [***]
  • Ross Johnson and Jeffrey Evans: Vanity Sessions (Spacecase) [01-14]
  • Bessie Jones/The Georgia Sea Island Singers: Get in Union: Recordings by Alan Lomax 1959-1966 (Tompkins Square) [10-28] - field recordings
  • Linda Jones: The Complete ATCO, Loma & Warner Brothers Recordings (Real Gone) [12-02] - soul
  • Ralph Jones: Slumber Party Massacre (Death Waltz)
  • Sheila Jordan: Portrait of Sheila (American Jazz Classics) - jazz
  • Ariel Kalma: An Evolutionary Music: Original Recordings 1972-1979 (RVNG Intl) [12-02] - ambient
  • Stan Kenton Orchestra: Kenton Roars! At the Golden Lion (1969, Tantara) - big band jazz
  • King Crimson: Starless: Live in Europe (Panegyric, 24CD) - prog rock
  • The Kinks: The Essential Kinks (Legacy)
  • Roland Kirk: The Limelight/Verve Albums (1964-67, Mosaic) - jazz
  • Kiss: Love Gun [Deluxe Edition] (Casablanca) [10-28] - arena rock
  • Kiss 40 Years: Decades of Decibels: Mercury (05-27) [arena rock]
  • Peter Kowald: Discography (Jazzwerkstatt, 4CD) [08-26] - jazz
  • Fela Kuti: Finding Fela! [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Knitting Factory) [07-29] - African traditions
  • Steve Lacy: Cycles (1976-1980) (1976-80, Emanem, 2CD) - jazz
  • Steve Lacy Four: Morning Joy . . . Paris Live (1986, Hatology) - jazz
  • Harold Land: Choma (Burn) (Boplicity) - jazz
  • Laraaji: Celestial Music 1975-2011 ()
  • Cyndi Lauper: She's So Unusual: A 30th Anniversary Celebration (Legacy) [04-01]
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin 1 [Deluxe Edition] (Atlantic/Rhino) [06-03] - album rock
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin 2 [Deluxe Edition] (Atlantic) [06-03] - album rock
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin 3 [Deluxe Edition] (Atlantic) [06-03] - album rock
  • Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV [Deluxe Edition] (Atlantic/Rhino/Swan Song) [10-28] - album rock
  • Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy [Super Deluxe Box Set Edition] (Atlantic) [10-28] - album rock
  • Craig Leon: Early Electronic Works: Nommos Visiting (1981-82, Aparté) [A-]
  • Les Ambassadeurs: Les Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako (Stern's) [07-28] - world [A-]
  • Lewis: L'Amour (1983, Light in the Attic) [08-13] - [PM] [B]
  • Lewis: Romantic Times (1985, Light in the Attic) [08-13]
  • Jerry Lee Lewis: The Knox Phillips Sessions: The Unreleased Recordings (1970s, Time-Life) [09-23] - rockabilly [A-]
  • The Limiñanas: I've Got Trouble in Mind: 7" and Rare Stuff 2009-2014 (Trouble in Mind) [09-30] - alt/indie rock
  • Arto Lindsay: Encyclopedia of Arto (1996-2012, Northern Spy, 2CD) [A-]
  • Little Feat: Rad Gumbo: The Complete Warner Bros. Yeras 1971-1990 (Rhino) [02-25] - album rock
  • Charles Lloyd: Manhattan Stories (1965, Resonance, 2CD) [09-16] - jazz [A-]
  • Nils Lofgren: Face the Music (Fantasy, 9CD) [08-05] - heartland rock
  • Lone Justice: This Is Lone Justice: The Vaught Tapes, 1983 (Omnivore) [01-14] - country-rock
  • Moreno & L'Orch First Moja-One: Vol. 2: More Pili (Sterns Africa) - African [A-]
  • Donna Loren: These Are the Good Times: The Complete Capitol Recordings (Now Sounds) [04-22] - girl groups
  • Frank Lowe Quartet: Out Loud (1974, Triple Point, 5LP) - jazz
  • Gene Ludwig-Pat Martino Trio: Young Guns (1968-69, High Note) [A-]
  • Kirsty MacColl: All I Ever Wanted: The Anthology (Salvo) [05-06] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Machinedrum: Vapor City Archives (Ninja Tune) [11-18] - ambient breakbeat
  • Pete Magadini: Bones Blues (1977, Sackville/Delmark) [08-26] - jazz [**]
  • The Magic Words: Junk Train (2006, Shake It, EP) [08-11] - alt/indie rock [**]
  • Mahavishnu Orchestra: Whiskey A-Go-Go 27.03.72 (Klondike) [09-30] - fusion jazz
  • Ingram Marshall: Fog Tropes/Gradual Requiem (Arc Light Editions)
  • Linda Martell: Color Me Country (Real Gone) [06-03] - country-pop
  • McCarthy: Complete Albums, Sincles and BBC Collection (Cherry Red) [12-02] - alt/indie rock
  • Paul McCartney/Wings: Venus and Mars [Deluxe Edition] (Hear Music) [11-04] - album rock
  • Paul McCartney/Wings: Wings at the Speed of Sound [Deluxe Edition] (11-04) [contemporary pop/rock]
  • Joe McPhee: The CJR Years 1969-1974 (Bo' Weavil) - jazz
  • Joe McPhee: As Serious as Your Life (1996, Hatology) - jazz
  • Joe McPhee: Underground Railroad (Bo' Weavil) - jazz
  • Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66: Stillness (1971, Universal Sound) [*]
  • Hailu Mergia and the Walias: Tche Belew (1977, Awesome Tapes From Africa) - ethio-jazz [A-]
  • The Mighty Lemon Drops: Uptight: The Early Recordings 1985-1986 (Cherry Red) [04-08] - alt pop/rock
  • Joni Mitchell: Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, a Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced (Elektra) [11-18] - singer/songwriter
  • Hank Mobley: The Classic Blue Note Collection 1955-1961 (Enlightenment) - jazz
  • Mogwai: Music Industry 3, Fitness Industry 1 (Rock Action) [12-02] - experimental rock
  • Moreno and L'Orch First Moja-One: Vol. 2: More Pili (1981-83, Sterns Africa) [A-]
  • Morrissey: Vauxhall & I [20th Anniversary Definitive Remaster] (Atlantic/Rhino) [06-03] - alt pop/rock
  • Bob Mould: Workbook 25 [Deluxe Edition] (Virgin) [02-25] - reissue + b-sides and live
  • Muslimgauze: Chasing the Shadow of Bryn Jones 1983-88 (Vinyl on Sound)
  • My Chemical Romance: May Death Never Stop You: The Greatest Hits 2001-2013 (Reprise) [03-25] - punk-pop
  • Nas: Illmatic XX (Columbia/Legacy) [04-15] - rap
  • Willie Nelson and Sister Bobbie: December Day [Willie's Stash Vol 1] (Legacy) [12-02] - country-pop [B]
  • Stevie Nicks: 24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault (Reprise) [10-07] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Bo Ningen/Savages: Words to the Blind (Pop Noire/Stolen) [11-18] - new wave/post-punk revival
  • Nucleus with Leon Thomas: Live (1970, Gearbox) - vocal jazz
  • Oasis: Definitely Maybe [Deluxe Edition] (Big Brother) [05-20] - alt pop/rock
  • Oasis: (What's the Story) Morning Glory? [Super Deluxe Edition] (Big Brother) [09-30] - alt pop/rock
  • Officer!: Dead Unique (Blackest Ever Black)
  • Ohio Express: Beg, Borrow & Steal: The Complete Cameo Recordings (Real Gone) [04-29] - AM pop
  • Old 97's: Hitchhike to Rhome [20th Anniversary Edition] (Omnivore) [11-18] - alt country-rock
  • William Onyeabor: Vinyl Boxset 1 & 2 ()
  • Roy Orbison: Mystery Girl [Deluxe Edition] (1987, Sony/Legacy) [05-19] - [PM]
  • Ozzy Osbourne: Memoirs of a Madman (Epic/Legacy) [10-14] - album rock
  • Pantera: Far Beyond Driven [20th Anniversary Edition] (1994, Rhino) - metal
  • Joe Pass: Intercontinental (Edel Kultur) - jazz
  • Jaco Pastorius: Modern American Music . . . Period! The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore) [04-15] - fusion
  • Jaco Pastorius: Anthology (Rhino, 2CD) [10-14] - jazz
  • Oscar Peterson/Ben Webster: During This Time (1972, Art of Groove) [A-]
  • Oscar Peterson: Exclusively for My Friends: My Favorite Instrument, Vol 4 (Edel Kultur) - jazz
  • Madeleine Peyroux: Keep Me in Your Heart for a While: The Best of Madeleine Peyroux (Rounder) [10-14] - standards
  • Enrico Pieranunzi/Marc Johnson/Joey Baron: Play Morricone 1 & 2: The Complete Recordings (2001-02, CAM Jazz, 2CD) - jazz [A-]
  • Pissed Jeans: Shallow (2005, Sub Pop) [10-07] - indie rock
  • Pixies: Doolittle (4AD) [12-02] - alt pop/rock
  • Plasticland: Plasticland (Cherry Red) [04-29] - alt/indie rock
  • The Pop Group: We Are Time (Freaks R Us/Kartel) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • The Pop Group: Cabinet of Curiosities (Freaks R Us) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • Bud Powell: Birdland 1953 (ESP-Disk, 3CD) [02-04] - piano jazz
  • Present: Triskaidekaphobie (1980, Cuneiform) [02-04] - prog rock
  • Present: Le Poison Qui Rend Fou (1983, Cuneiform, 2CD) [02-04] - prog rock
  • Elvis Presley: Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis [Legacy Edition] (RCA/Legacy, 2CD) [03-18]
  • Professor Longhair: The Last Mardi Gras (1978, Real Gone)
  • Public Enemy: Icon (Def Jam, 2CD) [02-25] - rap
  • Public Enemy: It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back [Deluxe Edition] (Def Jam) [11-24] - rap
  • Don Pullen: Richard's Tune (1975, Sackville/Delmark) [08-26] - jazz [***]
  • Suzi Quatro: The Girl From Detroit City (7T's/Cherry Red) [10-28] - contemporary pop/rock
  • Radio Birdman: Radio Birdman (Citadel) [10-07] - aussie rock
  • Gene Rains: Far Away Lands: The Exotic Music of Gene Rains (Real Gone Music) [07-29] - lounge
  • Otis Redding: The King of Soul (Atlantic, 4CD) [02-04] - deep soul
  • REM: 7IN-83-88 (Capitol/IRS)
  • REM: Complete Rarities IRS 1982-1987 (Capitol Catalog) [05-20] - alt pop/rock
  • REM: Unplugged 1991 & 2001: The Complete Sessions (Warner Bros) [05-20] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Sam Rivers: Contrasts (1980, ECM) - jazz
  • Steve Roach: Structures From Silence (Projekt)
  • Babs Robert & the Love Planet: Babs Robert & the Love Planet (1970, Alpha)
  • Hans-Joachim Roedelius: Kollektion 02: Roedelius: Electronic Music (Bureau B) [11-11] - ambient
  • The Rolling Stones: From the Vault: Hampton Coliseum (Eagle Rock, 2CD) [11-04] - rock
  • The Rolling Stones: From the Vault: LA Forum (1975, Eagle Rock, 2CD) [11-17] - rock
  • David Ruffin: David Ruffin/Me 'n Rock 'n Roll Are Here to Stay (1973-74, Real Gone) [03-04] - soul
  • David Ruffin: My Whole World Ended/Feelin' Good (Real Gone) [03-04] - soul
  • Arthur Russell: World of Echo ()
  • Christian Scott: Christian Scott Collection (Concord) [11-18] - post-bop
  • Scruffy the Cat: The Anthology ('86-'88) (Relativity/Legacy)
  • Scruffy the Cat: The Good Goodbye: Unreleased Recordings 1984-1990 (Omnivore) [09-16] - roots rock
  • Ty Segall: Singles 2 (Drag City) [11-18] - alt/indie rock
  • She & Him: Classics (Columbia) [12-02] - alt singer/songwriter
  • The Shirelles: Happy and in Love/Shirelles (Real Gone Music) [07-29] - soul
  • Wolfgang Schmidtke Orchestra: Monk's Mood (1999-2001, Jazzwerkstatt) - jazz
  • Simian Mobile Disco: Whorl (Anti) [09-09] - club/dance
  • Sinoia Caves: Beyond the Black Rainbow [Original Soundtrack] ()
  • Sleater-Kinney: Start Together (Sub Pop) [10-21] - alt/indie rock
  • Slint: Spiderland (Touch & Go) [04-15] - alt/indie rock
  • Small Faces: Here Come the Nice (Snapper)
  • Frank Sinatra: London (Universal) [12-09] - trad pop
  • SND: Tplay (SND)
  • Songs: Ohia: Didn't It Rain (2002, Secretly Canadian) [11-11] - alt country-rock
  • Souls of Mischief: 93 'til Infinity (Get on Down) - rap
  • Soundgarden: Superunknown [Deluxe] (A&M) [06-03] - alt metal
  • Nikki Sudden: Dark Rags at Dawn (Numero) [12-02] - alt pop/rock
  • Nikki Sudden and the Jacobites: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Numero Group) [08-05] - alt singer/songwriter
  • Donna Summer: Donna: The CD Collection (Driven by the Music) [12-09] - contemporary r&b
  • Sun Ra: Astro Black (Impulse) - jazz
  • Sun Ra: Atlantis (El Saturn) - jazz
  • Sun Ra: Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy (1963, Poppydisc)
  • Sun Ra: Super-Sonic Jazz (El Saturno) - jazz
  • Sun Ra and His Band From Outer Space: Space Aura (Art Yard, EP) - jazz
  • Sun Ra: Sign of the Myth (Roaratorio) - jazz
  • Sun Ra & His Arkestra: In the Orbit of Ra (Strut, 2CD) [09-23] - jazz [A-]
  • Sun Ra & His Intergalactic Research Arkestra: The Invisible Shield () - jazz
  • Sun Ra Arkestra: Live in Nickelsdorf 1984 (Trost) - jazz
  • Sun Ra Arkestra: Live in Ulm 1992 (Leo) - jazz
  • Superchunk: Indoor Living (1997, Merge)
  • Bettye Swann: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (Real Gone) [01-07] - pop-soul
  • Roosevelt Sykes: Music Is My Business (1975, Fat Possum) [01-07] - acoustic blues
  • Bernard Szajner: Z Presents Visions of Dune (1979, InFiné)
  • Joe Jack Talcum: Home Recordings Vol 2 1993-1999 (Happy Happy Birthday to Me) [09-16] - alt/indie rock
  • Horace Tapscott Quintet: The Giant Is Awakened (International Phonograph) [10-21] - jazz
  • The Buddy Tate Quartet: Texas Tenor (1978, Sackville/Delmark) - jazz [A-]
  • Roger Taylor: Best (Omnivore) [10-28] - album rock
  • The The: Soul Mining [30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] (Sony/Legacy) [07-01] - synth pop
  • They Might Be Giants: Idlewild: A Compilation (Idlewild) [05-27] - alt/indie rock
  • Irma Thomas: Full-Time Woman: The Lost Cotillion Album (Real Gone) [03-04] - New Orleans r&b
  • Transillusion: The Opening of the Cerebral Gate (Tresor)
  • The Traps: Boom Pow Awesome Wow (Castle Face) [02-04] - alt/indie rock
  • Trip Shakespeare: Applehead Man (Omnivore) [12-16] - alt pop/rock
  • Trip Shakespeare: Are You Spakespearienced? (Omnivore) [12-16] - alt pop/rock
  • Lennie Tristano: Chicago April 1952 (Uptown) - piano jazz
  • Udu Calls [Tiziano Tononi/Daniele Cavallanti/William Parker]: The Vancouver Tapes (1999, Long Song) - jazz
  • Uncle Tupelo: No Depression (Legacy) [01-28]
  • Carrie Underwood: Greatest Hits: Decade #1 () [12-09]
  • Underworld: Dubnobasswithmyheadman [20th Anniversary Super Edition] (1994, Universal, 5CD) [10-07]
  • Unwound: Rat Conspiracy (Numero Group) [03-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Unwound: No Energy (Numero Group) [10-14] - alt/indie rock
  • George Van Eps: Once in Awhile (1946-49, Delmark) - guitar jazz [***]
  • Dave Van Ronk: Live in Monterey (Omnivore)
  • The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra: OverTime: The Music of Bob Brookmeyer (Planet Arts) [08-15] - jazz [*]
  • The Velvet Underground: The Velvet Underground [45th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition] (Universal) [11-24] - pop
  • Verckys/Orchestre Veve: Congolese Funk Afrobeat & Psychedelic Rumba 1969-1978 (Analog Africa) [12-09] - African [A-]
  • Vex: Sanctuary: The Complete Discography (Sacred Bones) [01-21] - post-punk
  • VSOP: Tempest in the colosseum (1977, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • VSOP: Five Stars (1979, Wounded Bird) [09-23] - jazz
  • V/VM: The Death of Rave (A Partial Flashback) (History Always Favours the Winners)
  • Rufus Wainwright: Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright (Geffen) [03-04] - adult alt pop/rock
  • Cedar Walton: Reliving the Moment (1977-78, High Note) [07-29] - jazz
  • Dee Dee Warwick: The Complete Atco Recordings (Real Gone Music) [07-29] - soul
  • Willie Watson: Folk Singer Vol 1 (Acony) [05-06] - folk
  • Junior Wells: Southside Blues Jam (1969, Delmark) [11-18] - blues [***]
  • The Who: Quadrophenia: Live in London (Universal) [06-10] - album rock
  • The Who: The Who Hits 50! (Geffen, 2CD) [10-28] - album rock
  • Wilco: Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracks 1994-2014 (Nonesuch) [11-18] - alt country-rock
  • Wilco: What's Your 20? Essential Tracks 1994-2014 (Nonesuch) [11-18] - alt/indie rock
  • Lucinda Williams: Lucinda Williams [Deluxe Edition] (1988-89, Thirty Tigers, 2CD) [01-14] - alt country-rock
  • Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys: Riding Your Way: The Lost Transcriptions for Tiffany Music 1946-1947 (Real Gone) [04-29] - [PM]
  • Johnny Winter: True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story (Columbia/Legacy) [02-25] - blues-rock
  • Wire: Document & Eyewitness 1979-1980 (Mute) [08-26] - post-punk
  • Wreckless Eric: Le Beat Group Electrique (1989, Fire) [07-29] - alt/indie rock
  • Wreckless Eric: Wreckless Eric Presents: The Hitsville Houseband's 12 O'Clock Stereo (Fire) [12-02] - new wave
  • Robert Wyatt: Different Every Time (Domino, 2CD) [11-18] - art rock
  • Steve Wynn: Sketches in Spain (Omnivore) [07-01] - indie rock
  • Trisha Yearwood: Prizefighter: Hit After Hit (Gwendolyn/RCA Nashville) [11-18] - contemporary country
  • Yes: The Yes Album (1972, Panegyric) - prog rock
  • Yo La Tengo: Painful [Extra Painful] (Matador) [12-02] - alt pop/rock
  • Z: Visions of Dune (InFiné)
  • ZZ Top: The Very Baddest (Rhino, 2CD) [07-22] - rock
  • Arkansas at 78 RPM: Corn Dodgers & Hoss Hair Pullers (1928-37, Dust to Digital) [09-30] - old-time country [A-]
  • Balani Show Super Hits: Electronic Street Parties From Mali (Sahelsounds) [A-]
  • The Beatles: A Jazz Tribute (2002-05, High Note) - jazz [B]
  • Beyond Inversion (Accidental Guest)
  • Bombay Disco (Cultures of Soul)
  • Bring It On Home: Black America Sings Sam Cooke (Ace) [11-04] - r&b [A-]
  • Cables to the Ace (Communicating Vessels) [B]
  • Calypso: Musical Poetry in the Caribbean 1955-1969 (Soul Jazz) [A-]
  • The Complete Dial Modern Jazz Sessions (Mosaic) [12-00] - jazz
  • Country Funk II: 1967-1974 (Light in the Attic) [07-15] - country/funk
  • Creative Music Studio Archive Selections: Volume 1 (1977-81, Innova, 3CD) - jazz
  • Def Jam 30 (Def Jam) [09-16] - hardcore rap
  • Disco: A Fine Selection of Independent Disco, Modern Soul and Boogie 1978-82 (Soul Jazz, 2CD) [11-17] - disco [*]
  • Gipsy Rhumba: The Original Rhythm of Gipsy Rhumba in Spain 1965-1974 (Soul Jazz) [**]
  • Haiti Direct: Big Band, Mini Jazz and Twoubadou Sounds, 1960-1978 (Strut, 2CD) [A-]
  • Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1997 (Strut, 2CD) [***]
  • I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969-70 (Light in the Attic) [09-30] - contemporary pop/rock [***]
  • Keynote Jazz Collection (Fresh Sound) - jazz
  • Millions Like Us: The Story of the Mod Revival 1977-1989 (Cherry Red) [12-16] - mod revival
  • The Only Folk Collection You'll Ever Need (Shout! Factory, 2CD) [12-09] - folk
  • Native North America Vol 1: Aboriginal Folk, Rock and Country 1966-1985 (Light in the Attic) [11-25] - aboriginal rock [*]
  • Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959 (Dust-to-Digital)
  • Punk 45: Underground Punk and Post-Punk in the UK 1977-81, Vol. 2: There Is No Such Thing as Society: Get a Job, Get a Car, Get a Bed, Get Drunk! (1977-81, Soul Jazz) [***]
  • Punk 45: Proto-Punk, 1970-77, Vol. 3: Sick on You! One Way Spit! After the Love & Before the Revolution (1970-77, Soul Jazz)
  • Real World 25 (Real World) - world
  • The Rise and Fall of Paramount Records Volume 2 1928-1932 (Revenant)
  • The Rough Guide to African Blues (World Music Network) [04-29]
  • The Rough Guide to Arabic Café (World Music Network) [02-11]
  • The Rough Guide to Arabic Jazz (World Music Network, 2CD) [06-24] - arabic/world fusion [**]
  • The Rough Guide to the Best African Music You've Never Heard (World Music Network) [02-11]
  • The Rough Guide to Bollywood Disco (World Music Network) [09-30] - international [***]
  • The Rough Guide to Celtic Music [Second Edition] (World Music Network, 2CD) [04-29]
  • The Rough Guide to Fado Legends (World Music Network) [09-30] - fado
  • The Rough Guide to Flamenco Guitar (World Music Network, 2CD) [08-25]
  • The Rough Guide to Indian Classical Music (World Music Network) [05-27]
  • The Rough Guide to Latin Music for Children (World Music Network) [06-23]
  • The Rough Guide to Latin Rare Groove: Volume 1 (World Music Network, 2CD) [03-25]
  • The Rough Guide to Music Without Frontiers (World Music Network, 2CD) [10-07]
  • The Rough Guide to Scottish Music [Third Edition] (World Music Network) [02-25]
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Mali [Second Edition] (1996-2013, World Music Network, 2CD) [03-25] [***]
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of Palestine (World Music Network) [07-29] - international
  • The Rough Guide to the Music of the Sahara [Second Edition] (World Music Network, 2CD) [07-29] - international [***]
  • The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cambodia (World Music Network) [05-27] - international
  • Salsa de la Bahia: A Collection of SF Area Salsa and Latin Jazz: Vol. 2, Hoy Y Ayer (1983-2013, Patois, 2CD) - latin jazz [**]
  • The Soul of Designer Records: Big Legal Mess () [J|jazz]
  • The Sound of Siam, Vol. 2: Molam & Luk Thung 1970-1982 (Soundway) [05-27] - Thai pop
  • Suburban Base Records: The History of Hardcore, Jungle, and Drum 'n' Bass: 1991-1997 (New State, 3CD) [***]
  • Tektite Records Presents: The Young Mothers Sampler 1 (2012-14, Tektite, EP) [**]
  • Temporary: Selections From Dunedin's Pop Underground 2011-2014 (Ba Da Bing) [09-16] - New Zealand rock
  • This Ain't No Mouse Music: The Story of Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records (Arhoolie, 2CD) [10-21] - blues
  • Warfaring Strangers: Darkscorch Canticles (Numero Group) [02-18]
  • When I Reach That Heavenly Shore: Unearthly & Raw Black Gospel 1926-1936 (Tompkins Square) [12-09] - gospel
  • While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records (Bloodshot) [11-18] - alt/indie rock

Note: As of Dec. 6, 2014, I stopped automatically adding records from EOY lists where they didn't seem to have any prospecting value.

Priority Counts

  • Priority 1: 2003
  • Priority 2: 71
  • Priority 3: 5
  • Priority 4: 587
  • Priority 5: 493

Total: 3159