Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith [Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition] 2xCD/2xLP (Kill Rock Stars)
When Elliott Smith’s self-titled second album came out in 1995, it was ignored by the press but championed by artists from the Beastie Boys to Fugazi. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Elliott Smith, the Kill Rock Stars label is releasing a special deluxe package, which includes a new remastering of the original record; a 52-page hardcover book of previously unseen photographs by JJ Gonson with handwritten lyrics, and reminiscences from Smith’s friends and colleagues; and a bonus disc documenting the earliest-known recording of Smith performing as a solo act.

Widowspeak – Plum CD/LP (Captured Tracks)
With Plum, the songwriting partnership rooted in the creative rapport between singer Molly Hamilton and guitarist Robert Earl Thomas continues to expand on shared visions, delving deeper into what was always there: dusty guitars, ear-worm melodies, warm expansive arrangements. Each entry to their catalog has marked a subtle reimagining of Widowspeak’s sound, though perennial points of reference remain the same: ‘90s dream pop, ‘60s psych rock, a certain unshakeable Pacific-Northwestness. [Limited edition white colored vinyl pressing also available.]

Angel Olsen – Whole New Mess CD/LP+MP3 (Jagjaguwar)
An intimate and vulnerable emotional portrait that shows her grappling with a period of personal tumult, Whole New Mess presents Angel Olsen working through her open wounds and raw nerves with just a few guitars and some microphones, isolated in a century-old church in the Pacific Northwest. It follows All Mirrors, Olsen’s grand 2019 masterpiece (and a top 10 critically acclaimed record). At least 9 of the 11 songs should sound familiar to anyone who has heard All Mirrors. “Lark,” “Summer,” “Chance” – they’re all here, at least in some skeletal form and with slightly different titles. But these are not the demos for All Mirrors. Instead, Whole New Mess is its own record with its own immovable mood. [Limited clear smoke tranlucent vinyl pressing also available.]

My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall II CD/LP (ATO)
The Waterfall II completes The Waterfall, My Morning Jacket’s acclaimed 2015 record. Originally intended to be a sprawling triple album, the band were advised to hold back and keep some of it on the shelf. Frontman Jim James says, “this is simply the second half of a long snapshot of life for me as a writer in the years leading up to 2014, and the life of us as a band as we lived and worked in and around Stinson Beach, CA during these recording sessions.” [Limited merlot vinyl pressing and limited 180gm orange and green colored vinyl pressing available.]

Colter Wall – Western Swing & Waltzes And Other Punchy Songs CD/LP (La Honda)
The music industry is no stranger to cowboys – but it’s been a long while since any with an authentic affinity for the North American West came along and carried around a love for heroes like Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Ian Tyson. Enter 24-year-old Colter Wall, whose dusty baritone voice and deep well of stories are almost single-handedly carrying traditional western music into the future. Wall’s approach is that of a preservationist, pure as the prairie wind, and is on full display on his new self-produced album Western Swing & Waltzes And Other Punchy Songs. Wall’s 10-track ode to the themes and labors of western life picks up where his last album left off, with a reverence for his “working cowboy kin” and a whole mess of cowboy songs.

The Avett Brothers – The Third Gleam CD/LP (Loma Vista)
Grammy Award-nominees The Avett Brothers release the highly-anticipated third installment in their ongoing Gleam series. The Third Gleam marks a return to The Avett Brothers’ roots, both sonically and in form with Seth and Scott Avett playing as a trio with longtime bassist Bob Crawford, and follows in the band’s tradition of sharing what’s on their minds and in their hearts as their lives, and the world around them, continue to evolve. Seth and Scott express that while The Third Gleam was recorded ahead of the pandemic and social reform movements that have swept the nation, the new music captures their personal experiences and perspectives on themes that are undeniably universal and timely. Throughout the eight-song collection, the band delves into isolation, incarceration, and injustice, as well as resilience, redemption, and love, offering a gleam of hope in a dark and uncertain time.

Disclosure – Energy CD/2xLP (Capitol)
Grammy and Mercury Music Prize-nominated U.K. duo Disclosure (brothers Guy & Howard Lawrence) release their third album, Energy, featuring a global spectrum of talented artists including, for the first time, rappers. Appearances from Mick Jenkins, ChannelTres, Aminé and slowthai sit comfortably alongside the legend that is Common. Other features include the inimitable Kelis, who opens the album, and Fatoumata Diawara, who the boys have also linked up with previously. Cameroon’s Blick Bassy brings his own flow to the table while a powerhouse team of Kehlani and Syd ease the pace with their contribution. Through an epic process of creation and distillation the path to producing their shortest, most direct album – 11 songs, 39 minutes – ran through around 200 tracks: everything from drum loops to fully realized songs.

John Carpenter – Skeleton b/w Unclean Spirit 12” (Sacred Bones)
Blood red colored vinyl. Legendary composer/director John Carpenter has returned with his first non- soundtrack music since 2016’s Lost Themes II. Collaborating again with son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies, his bandmates and co-composers for the David Gordon Green-directed Halloween films, Carpenter is sharing the propulsive new single “Skeleton” and its B-side, the haunting “Unclean Spirit”.

Dashboard Confessional – The Swiss Army Romance [Reissue/2000] LP (Hidden Note)
Vinyl reissue of the emo band’s debut album. [Limited red colored pressing also available.]

Moon Duo – Escape: Expanded Edition LP (Sacred Bone)
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Moon Duo’s long-out-of-print 2010 debut Escape, Sacred Bones is proud to present a new deluxe version of the album. The new reissue includes the original album in its entirety plus three additional rare tracks taken from Moon Duo’s wild early days. Limited pink colored pressing also available.