Bent Shapes – Wolves Of Want CD/LP+MP3 (Slumberland)

Boston band Bent Shapes churn out earnest, expertly-crafted pop and post-punk laced with “some of the tightest punk poetry around’” (Liz Pelly). Wolves of Want” is an album full of meditations on mental illness, the struggle to bring goodness into the world, and faith in humanity as a renewable resource.

Jeff Buckley – You And I CD/2xLP (Sony Legacy)

Jeff Buckley’s first recording sessions in 1993 in NYC were largely an informal exercise to acclimate the 27-year-old with a recording studio. Recently discovered in the Sony Music archives during the research for the 20th anniversary edition of Buckley’s Grace album, the performances on You And I are an intimate portrait of the artist performing a variety of cover songs and original music expressing a range of emotion channeled through his singular sensibility.

Emmy The Great – Second Love CD/LP (Bella Union)

“This ever so British but peripatetic, poetic, anti-folk gem has been wandering the world since releasing her 2011 second album Virtue, drawing inspiration from cities such as Los Angeles (where she wrote an Oscar-nominated film score), New York, and various cities in Asia, including her birthplace of Hong Kong. For someone who is first and foremost a poet she is experimenting as much with the music as with the lyrics here with more electronic sounds, voices and samples. The entire album is very pleasant to listen to; it makes you think – even on a Sunday afternoon – but without taxing you.” – Too Many Blogs

Brian Fallon – Painkillers CD/LP (Island)

Debut solo album from The Gaslight Anthem frontman. Produced by studio superstar Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Frank Turner, Keith Urban), richly textured songs like “Long Drives” and the addictive title track encompass the great rush and flow of American music, fusing sonic hits of heartland country and folk with hardcore punk energy and classic rock ‘n’ roll swagger.

The Feelies – Only Life [Reissue/1988] CD/LP+MP3 (Bar/None)

The Feelies – Time For A Witness [Reissue/1991] CD/LP+MP3 (Bar/None)

Expanded reissues of The Feelies third and fourth albums. Originally released in 1988, Only Life is the third album by The Feelies and their first with major label support. The album includes classic originals like “Deep Fascination” and “The Undertow.” A cover of the Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On” made Lou Reed take notice at the time. Choosing them as an opening act, sometimes performing with them for encores.Time For A Witness (1991) found the band honing their sound and getting a bit heavier, anticipating the grunge-era that Nirvana would herald six months after this album was released. A cover of the Stooges “Real Cool Time” and their own excellent alt-radio hit “Doin’ It Again” are stand outs.

Into It. Over It. – Standards CD/LP+MP3 (Triple Crown)

“Into It. Over It., the brainchild of Chicago’s Evan Weiss, are known for being a vital part of the still-chugging emo revival. But on their new album Standards, they call back to a different era of indie rock: The wave of grand, unapologetic mid-’00s orchestral confessionals. The band wrote the album in an isolated Vermont cabin, and they recorded it with Mountain Goats/Death Cab For Cutie collaborator John Vanderslice producing.” — Stereogum

Shooter Jennings – Countach (For Giorgio) CD/LP (Black Country Rock)

Shooter Jennings returns with his seventh studio album. In 2014 Shooter released Don’t Wait Up (For George), an EP paying tribute to George Jones, and at the same time announced Countach, his album comprised of songs composed or inspired by production pioneer Giorgio Moroder. But this is no tribute album. Countach is a sound-collage-style journey through the ‘80s and ‘90s culture, innovative songwriting, genre bending, fiddle-meets-synthesizer soundscapes and a shrine to pioneers of books, bytes and beats. The album features guest appearances from modern folk songstress Brandi Carlile, Antichrist Superstar Marilyn Manson, country-rock pioneer Steve Young and even Lord British himself, computer game leviathan Richard Garriott. (Limited pink vinyl edition was released February 26.

Julian Lage – Arclight CD (Mack Avenue)

Arclight, Julian Lage’s Mack Avenue debut, marks his first recorded outing on electric guitar and in a trio format, backed by double bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen.

Little Green Cars – Ephemera CD (Glassnote)

When Ephemera was completed in 2015, its theme became clear. A dozen exquisitely-crafted, exceptionally-sung, sumptuously-produced songs shimmered with the myriad of emotions the band had been through – restlessness, regret, love, heartbreak, hope and acceptance among them. Vivid lines of lyrics began to stand out. You won’t have your heart tugged harder this year than when Stevie depicts the disintegration of his relationship on “You Vs Me.” The death of Adam’s dad inspired the almost unbearably beautiful “Brother” – written by Adam, sung sensationally by Faye. The death of Stevie’s grandmother gave birth to “The Garden Of Death,” a number with breathtaking harmonies in which the singer seeks beauty in the afterlife. Vinyl version due April 15.

Lucius – Good-Grief CD/LP (Mom + Pop)

“Indie folk pop outfit Lucius have parlayed the success of their 2013 album Wildewoman into some wildly impressive opportunities. From collaborating with the likes of Tweedy and David Byrne, to becoming such a part of the Newport Folk Festival family that they were asked to back up Roger Waters during this year’s incredible headlining performance, the last two years have been the best in the group’s career. [New album] Good Griefsees the singer-songwriter duo of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig exploring the emotions of ‘loneliness, sadness and exhaustion alongside excitement, fulfillment and some of the most joyful moments in our lives’ that they experienced while touring behind their last record.” – Consequence Of Sound

Parachute – Wide Awake CD (Vanguard)

Parachute returns with this decidedly infectious collection of pop-rock anthems chocked full of the sticky sweet melodies and indelible hooks that have become their stock-and-trade. Vinyl version due April 15.

The Residents – Demons Dance Alone [Reissue/2002] CD (Cryptic Corp.)

The Residents were in Europe touring their Icky Flix show when the 9/11 attacks occurred. Stunned, they had no choice but to continue the tour, despite many cancelled flights. They wrote an album during many long hours travelling by bus and their stays in hotel rooms. The result, Demons Dance Alone,is an album of loss and of helplessness. Sad weariness with the follies of human nature. This melancholy has always been present in The Residents work but never before this tangible. Instead of being lost to anger, they had created some of the most bittersweet and melodic music of their career.

Sunwatchers – Sunwatchers CD/LP+MP3 (Castle Face)

The full-length debut from this New York ensemble is reminiscent of Ethiopiques, John Handy Band, Terry Riley, and Art Ensemble meets Laddio Bolocko.

The Wild Feathers – Lonely Is A Lifetime CD/LP (WB)

“Nashville-based band The Wild Feathers is rolling out all the punches with their sophomore album, Lonely Is A Lifetime. Half-written in the legendary Muscle Shoals style and half in a vibrant Barcelona style, this multi-faceted record ranges from the spacey to the fun, the slow, and the race-y. Starting off with an extra-terrestrial sounding screech, the opening track ‘Overnight’ booms into a catchy and vibrant riff with a relatable chorus that anyone would love. Similar tracks like ‘Happy Again,’ and ‘On My Way,’ echo that uplifting and vivacious attitude.” – The Mass Media [UMass]

Pete Yorn – Arranging Time CD/LP+MP3 (Capitol)

Six years after his last full length, New Jersey singer/songwriter Pete Yorn returns with his sixth album,Arranging Time. In a lengthy Facebook post about the record, Yorn, who’s collaborated with the likes of Scarlett Johansson and Frank Black in recent years, explained how he wanted to get back to his “original style of creating and recording”.“…. After branching out creatively for a few projects, I felt I had come full circle and once again found myself really excited to work in my original style of creating and recording. This led me back to my old friend R. Walt Vincent who I had made my first two records with. It was powerful to reconnect with Walt and record on the fly, just coming up with parts and ideas as inspiration hit, and I found that we were creating fresh new material that felt like a furthering of the conversation we had started back in 2001.”

The Gaslight Anthem – Sink Or Swim [Reissue/2007] LP+MP3 (SideOneDummy)

HQ-180 gram vinyl repress of the New Jersey rockers’ debut album.

GZA– Beneath The Surface [Reissue/1999] 2xLP (Geffen/UMe)

Respect The Classics vinyl reissue of the third solo studio album from the Wu-Tang Clan member.

Various Artists – God Don’t Never Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson LP+MP3 (Alligator)

Recently released on CD – now available on vinyl. A star studded group of artists celebrate the timeless appeal of legendary gospel bluesman Blind Willie Johnson on this collection of covers. Includes performances by Tom Waits, Lucinda Williams, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Cowboy Junkies, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, Sinead O’Connor, Luther Dickinson featuring The Rising Star Fife & Drum Band, Maria McKee, and Rickie Lee Jones.