FLOOD

For Wire fanatics, this often-coarse collection of Chairs Missing/154-era demos is a necessity.

On the extended mixes that fill the box set, one could argue that the stutter and stretch of Grandmaster Flash at his finest is like listening to Miles Davis transition out of post-bop and into the roar of fusion funk.

This show and its material have long been part of the public ledger, but never with such stunning clarity—you can almost feel Prince’s crushed velvet duster breezing by you from the stage.

15 titles to keep an eye out for at your local indie record shop this Saturday.

The sonic vibe of Mike Hadreas’ latest is an extension of the experimentalism of Set My Heart on Fire Immediately and its earthen elements of chamber art-pop, wonky R&B, spindly goth-industrial, and ever-so-decadent disco.

The Kentucky-based songwriter’s sophomore LP basks in Southern glow with just a little more lean toward ennui and existential dilemma than the scarred specifics of her debut.

There’s a reedy feeling on these B-sides, covers, and primal versions of familiar attacks on aristocracy that highlight Johnny Rotten’s role as the last great rebellious frontman.

Will Brooks—a.k.a. MC Dälek—talks the past and future of his longstanding rap project and the shadow and shade of their latest LP.

The legendary keyboardist, composer, and collaborator to Gil Scott-Heron strikes out on his own for the first time in a minute.

This essential reissue ties together most of what the group recorded in studio and demo sessions after the “Radio Clash” 12-inch—plus their collaboration with late toaster Ranking Roger on a separate EP.

On his latest solo venture, Styles smooths out the influences so prevalent on Fine Line in order to make a brassy and clingingly contagious new album.

Roxy Music’s lounge-lizard crooner interprets a handful of classic pop songs across the decades without concern for genre or an era’s agenda.

These two live collections are exceptional examples of the Stones at their grungy, brassy, ballsy finest—and sharp, sad reminders of what it truly means to have lost drummer Charlie Watts.

The full-bodied anniversary collection paints a wilder portrait of Jones’ debut, displaying a surprising angularity and nervous energy.

Over 20 years since their sole album together, the latest from Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli never reaches the skies of their debut, or the full flower of the talents of anyone involved.

The New Zealand–born filmmaker’s new concert film hits theaters tomorrow.

In the final quarter of the first season of HBO’s sporting dramedy, we look at one of its central players.

These three all-rarities packages from the Birmingham sonic-collage duo create a cinematic experience from refurbished unused material.

25 titles to keep an eye out for at your local indie record shop this Saturday.

Compiling and curating rarities, and putting them next to newly remastered, raw-knuckled classics, this box set takes the form of something frank and fresh rather than merely ruminative. 

The “outlaw cowboy” brings to his game the opulence of a big label with an explosive, evocative production tone crossing Spaghetti Western plains and a mountain range’s open skies.

In contrast with his most incisive work with The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, the first of White’s two planned solo albums in 2022 feels based on the ideas of a man who’s lost without equity and union.

Josh Tillman’s latest release is a record so layered, lush, calming, and dulcet that you hardly notice its frequent aimlessness.

Hunter and his Six are unafraid of dashing their smooth soul with the good grit of the blues and a live-in-studio recording vibe.

This collection of previously unreleased Fillmore East showcases and bonus tracks is the wired, weird epic you didn’t know you needed.

This collection of instrumental-only recordings from the band’s final decade together sounds freer than anything in their avant-punk and post-no-wave past.

The job of this freshly remodeled package is to heighten the stellar, grungy-but-clean studio mix given to the original sessions by Tony Clark and Alan Parsons.

RZA pens a rapier-fast love letter to his heart’s obsession while giving Scratch space to run his jazz.

The Doors guitarist discusses his new autobiography, his band’s Hollywood Bowl concert film, the 50th anniversary of their last studio album with Jim Morrison, and life in “fantastic LA.”

Glasper’s most vocal excursion to date features so many voices that there’s hardly room for his bracing instrumental work.

Origin Story captures the raucous fun of two kids feeling their way through their guitars and their words while guessing at their silly talents to come.

Dogg’s 808s & Heartbreak–inspired soul is characterized by steeliness, a live-band feel, and the past’s traditions of oversexed bravura.

On her first album in a decade, Mitchell lets the delights of vocal harmony and opulent melody with a raw, silken edge shine through.

Mark Oliver Everett is, as always, glad to be unhappy with this spare and soul-strewn 14th LP.

These two volumes of early-’70s gospel recordings capture a moment that was fresh and funky for young churchgoing crowds in the South.

Listening in on the pair who’ve made the freakiest soundtrack on television with ’90s indie-rock touches.

The late, legendary stand-up comic and actor with a flair for all things blue, had a thing for music.

So much of the record is of a sneery, stabby nature and blunter than Costello’s more sophisticated recent songcraft.

10 LP packages that kept our eyes and ears busy over the past year.

Bored Ape Yacht Club #9797—a.k.a. Jimbo—on becoming the first NFT to make and release its own music video with the electro-shock-trap-hop of “Delist your ape (2DaMoon).”

The Brooklyn collective have never sounded more sure-footed and effortlessly melodic than they do with this gathering of friends.

Both recent live albums see the songwriter reinventing his and others’ songs with care, invention, and consideration.

Kim Gordon and Bill Nace continue along their improvised music path with the help of fellow avant-garde journeyperson Aaron Dilloway.

Bowie collaborator Mark Plati details the new box set “Brilliant Adventure,” which includes the long-lost LP “Toy” recorded in 2000 among other curios from the preceding decade.

On the pair’s first full-album collaboration, spaced-out ambience and abstract linguistics come together for something unique, brutal, and beautiful.

With Adele contributing “30” to the canon, here are a dozen other albums that poetically and coarsely tackle legal uncoupling.

Both new releases happily and uniquely go further into defining the myth and the magic of Brian Wilson.

28 new releases we’re excited for during this year’s post-Thanksgiving RSD Drop in November.

The Depeche Mode frontman talks developing his skills as a songwriter both with his band and on his new collection of covers with Soulsavers.

For its 40th anniversary, the Stones’ loose and louche 1981 LP gets a sweet, era-appropriate polish job.

The band’s fourth album is full of hooks, shifting moods, and cushiony tunes without dismissing speed or ferocity.

The latest from the Canadian emcee finds itself often humorously in a place of connecting the disparate dots of being Black.

The Philly-based ensemble smooth over their rougher complexities and craft a record that’s oddly happy and broadly familial.

His first album for 4AD welcomes a larger musical ensemble, a livelier palate of sound, and lushly verdant vibes that go beyond.

This 6-CD/LP box—including rarities, live cuts, and alternate mixes—burrows deep and handsomely below the surface.

This soundtrack to PBS’s Big Bend National Park doc provides a chill sonic tonic with nature as its somnolent guide.

Director Haynes goes Underground with a documentary on all things Reed, Cale, Nico, and Warhol.

We spoke to the English songwriter on the occasion of his former glam/prog collective’s massive new “Live! In the Air Age” box set.

Barrett’s box set portrays honest, positivist music with a mission far beyond self-gratification or artistic vision. 

The late Hal Wilner’s introduction to the classic LP is as lovely, fall-like, and serene as was Reed’s original entry.

Rather than a simple set of demos and rarities, Costello strips “This Year’s Model” down to its instrumental tracks and goes en-Español.

Everything Josh Shaw does is immediate, off, and odd—like a welcome meeting of Violent Femmes, Kid Cudi, The Cure, and Tom Verlaine.

The debut album from the outsider-rap cowboy is a bold, verbal, and vocal display of what it must mean to be lonely at the top.

This 5-year case study sees the doctor reviving the patient, taking out the bile, and giving him new legs with more tactile treading.

Andrew discusses microdosing, letting go, and his project’s full-circle return to collaboration on his tenth album.

This workman-like all-CD box signals what might be this period’s finest and most uniquely artful one-two punch.

The original Stillwater songs—penned by Cameron Crowe with Peter Frampton and Heart’s Nancy Wilson—are better here, at home, than they were in the theater back in 2000.

It’s in its marriage to the film that this soundtrack is best served; cold and bleakly comical with an operatic repetitiveness worthy of Philip Glass.

The co-star of “Stranger Things” and the new Ryan Reynolds arcade-adventure “Free Guy” talks psychedelia, porn staches, and body-painted costumes.

The composer shows off a mind for menacing, tactile music which meshes the oceanic-winded scale of the elements.

This 50th anniversary reissue adds an oomph that’s crucial to its rhythm arrangements and the tremor of Harrison’s treble-heavy guitar work.

The unearthed 2010 LP is more fun than inventive, and a whole lot of very-OK, faux-sexy, R&B rawkouts.

Martinez discusses doing his own thing on his solo debut as Bardo, “Everywhere Reminds Me of Space.”

Sly & Robbie’s Sly Dunbar and production duo Zak & Sshh talk U-Roy’s legacy and the innovative vocalist’s new posthumous LP “Solid Gold.”

Amarante’s second solo album is the work of a vexingly imaginative, subtly unpredictable, and ruminatively humorous composer.

The composer pulls from prayerful moments with voice and Wurlitzer electric organ to awe-inspiring results.

23 new releases we’re excited for during RSD Drop 2 on July 17.

The new box set celebrates Brown’s exploration of rough-hewn art rock with a twist alongside his crew Kingdom Come.

Red Hot beats as it hasn’t in quite some time, pushing its participants further than you may have imagined.

Artists, tape manufacturers, and distributors weigh in on major-label involvement in the latest trend in physical music media.

Gang of Four finally get their tribute thanks to Tom Morello and friends with “The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four.”

Tyler shows off his progress as a rapper with a power and musicality you knew he had in him, yet feared he’d let slide.

There is glee to be found in every crevice of the Bronx rapper’s immersion in house music and bossa nova.

The Mute Records founder and Depeche Mode producer talk collaboration, modular synths, and the influence of Kraftwerk on their new record.

The multimedia artist discusses his new project “Hope,” which merges music, film, and sculpture.

This edition offers more mind-expanding madness in demo form, a never-before-released live album, and explosive re-mastered sound.

Here’s 22 new releases we’re excited for with the return of RSD on June 12

This warm, mossy 50th anniversary reissue benefits from the dirtball proceedings of its homespun recording sessions and its homier, oblong songs.

The new BBE Music tribute comp and Sukita’s art book “Eternity” remember the artist as feline, fragile, and soulful.

Both records remain stunning after nearly 45 years, with neither losing their punch or import.

Germany’s beloved experimentalists get to the heart of their art with a series of never-before-released live albums kicking off this Friday.

Faithfull finds sympathetic, poetic tones and empathetic lilting melodies in the guise of producer/violinist Ellis.

The retrospective on the artist, whose work you may know from Pavement and Silver Jews album covers, has nearly reached its Kickstarter goal.

The mega-box set gives rabid fans something to hold onto, stuffing the band’s innovative discography into an immense treasure chest.

The British comedian isn’t laughing anymore (well, not while making his seriously soulful psychedelic music).

We talked to curator Lee Foster about the new site he’s running with the Johnston family to share the late songwriter’s visual art.

This posthumous LP is less a grand finale summing up a career than it is another piece of a greater puzzle.

This remastering of the ex-Beatle’s solo debut sees wealths of emotion poured out in ways previously unimaginable.

On the future-looking new releases from Dr. Lonnie Smith and Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio.