Beth Orton : Comfort of Strangers

And what a comforting sound it is.

Plastic Constellations : Crusades

Prog meets punk in Minneapolis, mind-blowing collision ensues.

Super Deluxe : Surrender

Seattle popsmiths return with first new set in quite some time.

Mark Eitzel : Candy Ass

Ill-advised electro-pop recordings from American Music Club frontman.

Film School : Film School

…or the Robert Smith School of Rock.

Tortoise and Bonnie : The Brave and The Bold

A “brave” album of “bold” covers, with a Chicago indie twist.

Headquarters : Get Your Head On

No politics or social statement, just classic power pop.

Robert Pollard : From a Compound Eye

Uncle Bob’s double-wide rock ‘n’ roll ride.

Clearlake : Amber

Third album by UK band takes it louder, crisper and more complex.

Mass : Labour of Love

A frightening discovery.

Liz Durrett : The Mezzanine

Southern comfort in musical form.