Essential Full-Length Releases
 EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring This fourth album from Erika M. Anderson is written about the "outer ring", lower-income housing that has risen up around many large cities as the wealth has moved towards the center. Always socially- and politically-minded, Anderson sings about the poverty and lack of resources plaguing these areas. She works with Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Jacob Portrait on the record, which continues her streak of spectacular music. Watch: "Blood and Chalk" Watch: "Down and Out" |
 Filthy Friends - Invitation Filthy Friends is a band formed from members of Sleater-Kinney (Corin Tucker), Fastbacks (Kurt Bloch), R.E.M. (Peter Buck, Bill Rieflin), and The Young Fresh Fellows (Scott McCaughey). They formed in 2012 primarily to perform David Bowie covers, but have moved to their own material for their debut album together. Watch: "Despierta" Listen: "The Arrival" |
 Gordi - Reservoir Gordi is Sophie Payten, a musician from Sydney, Australia. She got her start a couple of years ago, getting attention from Australian radio stations Triple J and FBi before signing a record deal with (Bloomington, Indiana-based!) Jagjaguwar Records and releasing an EP, Clever Disguise, in May of last year. Reservoir is her debut full-length. Watch: "Bitter End" Watch: "On My Side" |
 Iron & Wine - Beast Epic Iron & Wine's last two albums, 2015's Sing Into My Mouth and 2016's Love Letter for Fire, were his first forays into full-length album collaborations, with Ben Bridwell and Jesca Hoop, respectively. This year, he's back as a solo artist for his sixth album. It is noted as a return to the artist's sound on his earliest work, with at least one critic comparing it to Our Endless Numbered Days, his second studio album. Watch: "Call It Dreaming" Watch: "Thomas County Law" |
 Queens of the Stone Age - Villains QotSA made a surprising (to me, at least) move for their seventh album, working with producer Mark Ronson. Ronson became known for his work with Amy Winehouse, as well as the groover he released in 2014 with Bruno Mars. It seems like a strange pairing, but one that allowed the band to greatly progress their sound. Villains isn't a huge departure from their past work, but does introduce a but of boogie to the mix. Listen: "The Evil Has Landed" Listen: "The Way You Used to Do" |
Other Full-Length Releases
 A$AP Mob - Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy Watch: "Feels So Good" Watch: "RAF" (featuring A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, & Quavo) |  Action Bronson - Blue Chips 7000 Watch: "The Chairman’s Intent" Watch: "Let Me Breathe" |
 Baby in Vain - More Nothing Watch: "To Heaven and Back" Watch: "Lowlife" |  Blank Range - Marooned with the Treasure Listen: "Ember in the Ash" Listen: "Opening Band" |
 CYMBALS - Light Your Mind Watch: "Decay" Listen: "Car Crash" |  The Fresh & Onlys - Wolf Lie Down Watch: "One of a Kind" Watch: "Impossible Man" |
 Game Theory - Supercalifragile |  A Giant Dog - Toy Watch: "Bendover" Listen: "Photograph" |
 Joseph Shabason - Aytche Watch: "Westmeath" Listen: "Aytche" |  Liars - TCFC Watch: "Staring at Zero" Watch: "Cred Woes" |
 The Mynabirds - Be Here Now Watch: "Golden Age" Watch: "Cocoon" |  Oh Sees - Orc Watch: "Night Expo" Listen: "The Static God" |
 Shock Machine - Shock Machine Watch: "Lost in the Mystery" Watch: "Open Up the Sky" |  The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding Watch: "Pain" Watch: "Holding On" |
 Widowspeak - Expect the Best Watch: "Dog" Listen: "When I Tried" |  Wiki - No Mountains in Manhattan Watch: "Mayor" Watch: "Pretty Bull" |
Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.
 D’Angelo - Brown Sugar Reissue Listen: "Cruisin’" (Who’s Foolin’ Who Mix) Listen: "Brown Sugar" (Incognito Molasses Remix) |  Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the RIngs 10-Year Anniversary Reissue Watch: "The Crystal Cat" Listen: "Big Milk" |
 Hand Habits - "Yr Heart" 7” Listen: "Yr Heart" Listen: "Carpenter’s Daughter" |  King Krule - "Czech One" Watch: "Czech One" |
 Philia: Arists Rise Against Islamophobia Listen: The Dodos - "Mirror Flake" Listen: Hamilton Leithauser - "The Song with No Name" |  Superchuck - Superchunk Reissue Watch: "Watery Hands" |
 Underworld - Beaucoup Fish Super Deluxe Edition Listen: "Jumbo" Listen: "Cups" |
