Essential Full-Length Releases
 Bloc Party - Hymns Bloc Party is a band that can't quite seem to make up its mind about its status. The band went on their second hiatus in 2013, not long after original drummer Matt Tong left the band. Another member, bassist Gordon Moakes, left during that time. Menomena's Justin Harris (bassist) and drummer Louise Bartle filled in for the departed members. New members mean a bit of a new sound for the band, with dance influences that take more after frontman Kele Okereke's solo work. Watch: "The Love Within" Listen: "The Good News" |
 Rihanna - ANTI 2015 seemed to be the year artists promised albums that they would not deliver. Rihanna kept her fans waiting through much of the year for her eighth album, with no absolute release date given until right around its release. She had released a series of well-received singles last year, but none of those appear on the long-awaited album. The unending waffling on album releases from artists lately continues to bother me to no end, but, sometimes, they make the wait well worth it. Listen: "Work" Listen: "Same Ol’ Mistakes" |
 Sia - This Is Acting Sia spent years as an beloved indie artist and pop songwriter before reaching a level of fame all her own following 2014's 1000 Forms of Fear. She has continued writing songs for other pop artists, but sometimes those songs get rejected by the performers. Her follow-up collects some of those rejected songs, including songs originally written for Icona Pop, Adele, and Rihanna. Watch: "Alive" Listen: "One Million Bullets" |
 Walter Martin - Arts & Leisure It's been a bit more than a year since The Walkmen announced their indefinite hiatus (sob), but members of the temporarily defunct band continue pushing out solo material. This is bassist Walter Martin's second solo outing, following 2014's children's album We're All Young Together. This album is more for the adults, inspired by years of traveling around the world with his band. Watch: "Down By the Singing Sea" Watch: "Amsterdam" |
Other Full-Length Releases
 Abi Reimold - Wriggling Listen: "sugar" Listen: "Vessel" |  Bianca Casady & The C.i.A. - Oscar Hocks Watch: "dog in a yard" Watch: "Poor Deal" |
 Buddy Miller - Cayamo Sessions By the Sea Listen: "Love’s Gonna Live Here" (featuring Kacey Musgraves) Listen: "Just Someone I Used to Know" (featuring Nikki Lane) |  Charlie Puth - Nine Track Mind Watch: "One Call Away" Listen: "We Don’t Talk Anymore" (featuring Selena Gomez) |
 Cross Record - Wabi-Sabi Watch: "High Rise" Listen: "Steady Waves" |  Laser - Night Driver Listen: "Disconnect" |
 Nevermen - Nevermen Watch: "Mr. Mistake" Listen: "Tough Towns" |  POP ETC - Souvenirs Watch: "Running in Circles" Watch: "Bad Break" |
 Saul Williams - MartyLoserKing Watch: "Burundi" (featuring Emily Kokal) Watch: "Horn of the Clock-Bike" |  St. Lucia - Matter Watch: "Dancing on Glass" Watch: "Love Somebody" |
Singles, EPs, Soundtracks, etc.
 Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat Reissue Listen: "Run Devil Run" Listen: "Big Guns" |  Mac McCaughan - Staring at Your Hologram |
