Though Anatomy of a Brief Romance recounts a loss of love for Okereke, this feels like the first album since Four where the band have fully healed and become whole again. The desire for whoever this former partner was is well and truly spent, but the passion for Bloc Party 2.0 begins anew

Once again, Wowed Out proves James’ incredible range, leaving the listener in a sense of awe

Fears are being conquered, paths are still being forged, and Dinosaur Jr. still rock as hard and as vitally as anyone in the business

Gold Album’s strength is not that the Peter Pans of power-pop have revisited their mid-’90s success. This is no retro album: Cuomo may cast an eye on the past, but his feet are firmly planted in the present

It is one of their strongest records in years, not because they have suddenly abandoned the sound they established all those years ago, but because they appear to have found new ways to work within it

Though certain skeptical attitudes are held regarding Flowers as an artist and man, THRASHER ranks among the year’s most enjoyable and perhaps intriguing listens

There are probably other currently operating indie acts that are nearly 20 albums in (or more), but safe to say none where they continue to operate at peak creativity

Greg Dulli and The Afghan Whigs have been an important and singular part of the indie rock firmament for their entire career. Soft Control is the latest example of their excellence

Full of wonder, full of creativity, and possibility, fully realized and here for our delight. Like the album as a whole this is a truly excellent piece. It features lyrics full of thankfulness as we “feel the grace in all of life, thank you for this time.” What a great note to end a special album on

Inferno is yet another piece of the puzzle by the ever confounding Scottish brothers. A million questions are raised here and as time marches onwards you can be sure there will be attempts to unpack every vocal sample, every possible mystery. Inferno is a comeback album that sounds perfectly conceptualized, live and alluring

Both sides of Lost Weekend are essential; the desolate ache of loss makes way for new beginnings, and Phoebe Bridgers stands ready to embrace both on her most well-realized album yet

Music, Fashion, Film serves as yet another remarkable achievement for Charli xcx, who is, at least in this writer’s mind, by far the era’s most interesting and innovative superstar