Capitol

More rarities -- alternate takes, instrumentals, and the like -- from the legendary group's vault.

— Tim Sendra

Prince and the Revolution /Prince

Legacy / Sony Music

The neo-psychedelic follow-up to Purple Rain is remastered and expanded with contemporaneous 7" and 12" versions.

— Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rhino / Ryko / Rykodisc

Outstanding expanded edition of a ragged but right masterpiece from one of the greatest bands of the 1980s.

— Mark Deming

Capitol

All four editions of the band's excellent and sometimes revelatory outtakes and rarities collection housed in one box set.

— Tim Sendra

UMe

The 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe edition of this hard rock live album masterpiece includes a wealth of additional live recordings, rehearsal tapes, and more.

— Fred Thomas

K / K Records

Near brilliant, almost perfect lo-fi power pop, beat group revivalism, and folk-rock jangle that will thrill anyone with any interest at all in any of those genres.

— Tim Sendra

Pacific Jazz Orchestra /Rufus Wainwright

Rock and Roll Credit Card, Inc.

Pop/Rock,Stage & Screen,Vocal,Avant-Garde,Classical,Jazz

The singer leads this lush, live concert homage to the legendary Threepenny Opera composer.

— Matt Collar

Bill Evans /Bill Evans Trio

Craft Recordings / Craft Records

An extensive anthology of the studio output of the tragically short-lived Bill Evans trio with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian.

— Matt Collar

Play It Again Sam

After introducing a more assertive sound via an alter ego (2023's House Party), the songwriter offers a personal LP all about music and self-loathing.

— Marcy Donelson

BMG

Pop/Rock,Electronic

The 20th anniversary of the duo's pop breakthrough comes with live performances as well as old and new remixes from A-list collaborators.

— Heather Phares

Elefant

Melancholy pop songs, sad machine folk ballads, and shimmering post-rock gems highlight another excellent album from the group.

— Tim Sendra

Dave Holland /John Scofield

ECM

Jazz,Pop/Rock

A profound, intimate, and sophisticated duo outing from two masters and longtime collaborators ranges from jazz past to present.

— Thom Jurek

Tapete Records

The quirky tunesmith rescues nine songs from a misbegotten 1985 album and turns them into a triumph.

— Mark Deming

Max García Conover /Haley Heynderickx

Fat Possum Records

Pop/Rock,Folk

Inspired by the writings of Woody Guthrie, the idiosyncratic folkies team up to sing about present-day inequities, identity, commercialism, and more.

— Marcy Donelson

The Bug /Ghost Dubs

Pressure

Sparse, submerged ambient dub from veteran sound explorers Kevin Martin and Michael Fiedler.

— Paul Simpson

PLG

The fifth volume of the infrequent series, focusing on the duo's remixes and productions for Tina Turner, Soft Cell, Noel Gallagher, and others.

— Paul Simpson

Various Artists

Cherry Red

Four-disc anthology spanning early U.K. acid house, hip-house, dance-pop crossovers, and rave anthems.

— Paul Simpson

Various Artists

Doctor Bird

Generous two-CD collection of Perry-produced material reflecting developments in dub, deejay culture, and politically conscious reggae.

— Paul Simpson

Harmonia Mundi

The players turn toward a restrained attitude in these quartets from the relatively liberal years after Stalin's death.

— James Manheim

Fabio Biondi /Europa Galante

Naïve

Direct ancestors to the symphony are given lively performances by leading Italian Baroque interpreters.

— James Manheim

Sono Luminus

Pictorial American scenes, conveyed in a rigorous, flowing contemporary piano language.

— James Manheim