A-Wa Bayti Fi Rasi The Israeli sisters' sophomore set is a rhythmic wonder of empowered global pop with nods to the past and eyes firmly on the horizon.

Aldous Harding Designer The New Zealand singer/songwriter's third effort eschews the last-call darkness of 2017's Party for something a bit sunnier, though no less peculiar.

Altin Gün Gece The second album of lovingly updated Turkish psych from ex-members of Jacco Gardner's band.

Andrew Bird My Finest Work Yet The celebrated songwriter, singer, and whistler refuses to give in to cynicism and rancor in a world full of chaos.

Angel Olsen All Mirrors Risks pay off on a highly stylized album with lavish orchestral arrangements that only elevate the singer's trademark vulnerability.

Ariana Grande thank u, next A swiftly delivered Sweetener sequel that confirms Ariana Grande's place as 2019's pre-eminent pop star.

Baroness Gold & Grey With new guitarist Gina Gleason, the band deliver their most diverse, kaleidoscopic, intricate release to date.

Bibio Ribbons Stephen Wilkinson celebrates his tenth year on Warp with a masterful mix of pastoral reveries and surprising tangents.

Big Thief U.F.O.F. The indie folk-rockers' impressionistic third album is a foray into artful album rock that incorporates improvisation and samples.

Bremer/McCoy Utopia Enveloping Luaka Bop debut from the Danish instrumental duo that begs to be listened to in one sitting.

Brooklyn Rider / Joshua Redman Sun on Sand Composer Patrick Zimmerli's engaging, hybridized jazz and classical suite features saxophonist Joshua and chamber ensemble Brooklyn Rider.

Carly Rae Jepsen Dedicated On her fourth album, the Canadian pop star adds sophistication and ambition to her always-relatable songs.

Cate Le Bon Reward The fifth album from this Welsh songwriter trades guitar rock for risky, open-ended songs, resulting in some of her best work.

Christian Scott Ancestral Recall A culturally aware, musically expansive dreamscape of an album from the New Orleans-born trumpeter.

Christone "Kingfish" Ingram Kingfish The debut album by the 20-year-old Clarksdale, Mississippi native more than lives up to the hype.

Coldplay Everyday Life This globe-trotting double album finds the band confronting society's ills with optimism and hope.

Comet Gain Fireraisers Forever! The long-running band have never sounded punker, sadder, or more alive than on this excellent album.

Danger Mouse / Karen O Lux Prima The singer/songwriter's first album in five years is a sophisticated, sonically adventurous collaboration with Danger Mouse.

Denzel Curry Zuu Celebrating family, his predecessors, and Carol City, the Florida rapper delivers a bold set of bass-heavy anthems.

El León de Oro / Peter Phillips Amarae Morti Sacred music of the high Renaissance is offered by early music authority Peter Phillips and the 33-voice chamber choir El León de Oro.

Ex Hex It's Real The trio's second album is a shiny love letter to rock & roll's transporting magic.

FKA twigs Magdalene Musically wide-ranging and emotionally naked, Tahliah Barnett's breathtaking second album focuses on wounded yet resilient feminine energy.

Floating Points Crush Sam Shepherd's engrossing second album veers from motionless ambient interludes to bracing techno tracks.

Fly Pan Am C'est ça The Montreal-based group return from an extended hiatus with a dense, unpredictable noise-pop suite.

Foxes in Fiction Trillium Killer Lush electro-acoustic production and complex songwriting make the third album from this dream pop project a genre standout.

Freddie Gibbs / Madlib Bandana Five years after the Top 40 LP Piñata, the Gary, IN-Oxnard, CA alliance resumes with more ingeniously coarse rhymes and heady productions.

Gary Clark, Jr. This Land A wildly adventurous blues, funk, R&B, hip-hop, and hard rock hybrid that speaks of America in 2019 with raw passion and wisdom.

Helado Negro This Is How You Smile The project's sixth album offers gently powerful songs that sustain a sense of identity, family, and love through difficult times.

HTRK Venus in Leo Australian duo HTRK's excellent fourth album contains their most romantic, sensuous material yet.

Intocable Percepción Working with producer Don Was, the premiere Tejano/Norteño fusion outfit hits another level with ballads, rockers and dances.

Jamila Woods LEGACY! LEGACY! A galvanizing declaration of pride, support, and discontent from the poet and modern R&B singer/songwriter.

Jazzmeia Horn Love and Liberation The award-winning jazz vocalist offers an ebullient, deeply soulful sophomore album.

Jefre Cantu-Ledesma Tracing Back the Radiance The ambient artist makes a sharp turn from warped shoegaze pop to minimal electro-acoustic beauty.

Jessica Pratt Quiet Signs Third album from the understated singer/songwriter is her most complex without losing any of the subtlety or intimacy of her earlier work.

Jimmie Vaughan Baby, Please Come Home The Texas guitar man returns with a swinging set of unlikely covers of vintage jump blues, R&B, doo wop, and more showcasing his inimitable style.

Jimmy "Duck" Holmes Cypress Grove The Delta blues singer collaborates with Black Key Dan Auerbach on his richest-sounding album.

Joan Shelley Like the River Loves the Sea Recorded in Iceland, the songwriter's fifth album is quiet but never fragile, and all the more powerful for its modesty.

Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry A richly atmospheric set featuring the saxophonist's trio with pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Carmen Castaldi.

Julia Jacklin Crushing The sophomore LP's raw performances, complex emotional honesty, and themes of female autonomy set it apart from other breakup albums.

Kim Lenz Slowly Speeding The rockabilly queen's empowering fifth album is rife with backwoods menace, pulpy romanticism, and rootsy swagger.

Lana Del Rey Norman Fucking Rockwell! Sixth album from this icon of sad pop is her most subtle and majestic yet.

Lankum Livelong Day The Irish band's second album for Rough Trade is a vigorously played, smartly arranged long game that manipulates and celebrates its traditional folk roots.

Lila Downs Al Chile Teaming with producer Camilo Lara and 180 musicians, the Mexican-American singer and songwriter delivers her most innovative recording.

Little Simz Grey Area An honest and impassioned record that brings Simz's wealth of talent into sharp focus.

Lizzo Cuz I Love You The boundary-breaking artist's major-label debut is a triumphant showcase for every part of her talent, physicality, and sexuality.

Loscil Equivalents Inspired by the photographs of Alfred Stieglitz, the producer/composer's beautiful 12th album is a fascinating meditation on artistic interpretation.

Lost Under Heaven Love Hates What You Become The Manchester duo deliver a cathartic, emotionally raw sophomore album that's as moving as it is artful.

Luis Fonsi Vida First album in nearly five years from the romantic pop king balances strutting dance-pop, ballads, reggaeton, cumbia, and vallenato.

Maluma 11:11 Following the success of F.A.M.E., the Colombian artist unabashedly swings for the crossover fences, mastering every pop style he tries on.

Marc Anthony Opus On his first studio outing in six years, the singer and producer Sergio George adds innovative depth and dimension to salsa's lineage.

Mark Ronson Late Night Feelings The Grammy-winning producer's fifth album offers one dejected pop-R&B delight after another.

Matana Roberts Coin Coin Chapter Four: Memphis Utilizing a new band, the artist digs further into her family's history, and American and cultural mythology, delivering a necessary entry in her large project.

Megan Thee Stallion Fever Debut studio album from the unfiltered Houston rapper finds her at near-peerless levels of bold lyricism and personality.

Michael Kiwanuka Kiwanuka On his third long-player, the British singer/songwriter comes into his own in a collection of bracing, affirmative, psychedelic soul tunes.

Miranda Lambert Wildcard Lambert freshens her sound with a playful seventh studio album.

Olivier Latry Bach to the Future Brilliant organ recording that was the last one made at Notre-Dame cathedral before the fire of 2019.

Opeth In Cauda Venenum The Swedish band have left metal completely to pursue their own brand of 21st century progressive rock, and are heavier than ever.

Osmo Vänskä / Minnesota Orchestra Mahler 1 Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra deliver an exceptional performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D major.

Patience Dizzy Spells After a batch of brilliant synth pop singles, the former Veronica Falls member makes good on a full album of brilliant synth pop.

Purple Mountains Purple Mountains Singer/songwriter David Berman's final album is filled with lonely songs that are as warm as a hug from a long-lost friend.

Raphael Saadiq Jimmy Lee The R&B giant breaks from background work to make the most riveting and autobiographical LP of his career.

Rapsody Eve The North Carolinian rapper follows her Grammy-nominated second album with a riveting set paying tribute to black womanhood.

Rhiannon Giddens There Is No Other Collaborating with Francesco Turrisi, Rhiannon Giddens finds common ground between different cultures.

Robert Ellis Texas Piano Man The singer/songwriter takes a welcome left turn that brings him toward eccentric Nilsson territory.

Rocketship Thanks to You The band's third album harkens back to their '90s indie pop glory while adding new tricks, nearly topping their brilliant debut.

Sacred Paws Run Around the Sun The duo's second album has all the giddy exuberance and infectious songs of their debut, plus slightly upgraded production values.

Sean Curtis Patrick / Benoît Pioulard Avocationals The longtime friends collaborate on a somberly beautiful set of ambient pieces inspired by 20th century shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.

Solange When I Get Home The singer and songwriter follows her deeply pained, chart-topping third album with a luxuriant joy ride.

Steve Gunn The Unseen In Between On his sophomore Matador outing, the guitarist shifts his focus to a more direct, vocal-centric method of songwriting and delivers a gem.

Sudan Archives Athena The Stones Throw violinist, singer, songwriter, and producer follows two EPs with an even richer first album.

Tanya Tucker While I'm Livin' Assisted by Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings, Tanya Tucker makes a mighty comeback.

that dog. Old LP The band's first album in 22 years is a near-flawless blend of experience and exuberance.

The Delines The Imperial An evocative, cinematic album, ideal for twilight moments of introspection.

The Highwomen The Highwomen The supergroup of Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, and Natalie Hemby make a vivid, vital debut.

Theo Croker Star People Nation A cosmic fusion of jazz, electronic traditions, hip-hop, and R&B inform the trumpeter's elevated fifth album.

Tool Fear Inoculum Long-awaited LP finds the enigmatic prog-metal outfit older, wiser, and at the peak of their craft.

Tyler, The Creator IGOR The vital, heartsick follow-up to the rapper and producer's Grammy-nominated Flower Boy.

Vampire Weekend Father of the Bride The band returns from a six-year hiatus with some of their most eclectic and satisfying music.

Vanishing Twin The Age of Immunology The group responds to late-2010s xenophobia with beguiling psychedelic pop that's equally welcoming and unusual.

Weyes Blood Titanic Rising Fourth album from this versatile indie-bred songwriter leans into orchestral soft rock touches for some of her most direct and fully formed work.