FLOOD

On their sixth LP, the industrial duo tones down the electronic tendencies of their past decade of output as they revisit to the gloomy post-punk and atmospheric shoegaze of their origins.

Destruction and decay may be the themes explored by the unlikely collaboration of a noise-rock band and a folk guitarist, but instrumentally, they make it sound beautiful, lush, and gentle.

The Nashville punks’ second album is less sonically gritty than previous projects, but has an added intensity largely stemming from an expanded studio band and sleeker production.

On their polished, hopeful third album, the LA synthpop trio increases the empty sonic space as they move away from the cluttered, rough edges of lo-fi punk.

The electronic trio’s Sub Pop debut is both introspective and danceable, combining the languid, mellow tendencies of its predecessor with the more pop-infused style of their earlier work.

The YouTuber-turned-rapper’s production style reaches a new zenith, with the LP’s intensity perfectly complementing Benjamin Lasky’s verses exploring obsession, alienation, and self-destruction.

On the follow-up to his 2021 debut, Dijon Duenas lays glitchy, psychedelic textures atop his familiar alt-R&B sound to evoke a fractured internet-like aesthetic that’s often mesmerizing.

After 15 years of writing and developing verses, the Dreamville rapper has become a master of the form on his fourth album as he finds resolution and comes to recognize his purpose.

Released for the first time on vinyl, the Austin drone duo’s dark, raw debut elicits awe, wonder, and terror all at once as it confronts listeners with the darker aspects of existence.

Will Anderson’s debut with a full band exhibits his fondness for crunchy shoegaze while incorporating a stripped-down, folk-referencing sound tinged with melancholic guitar.

The product of a fractured personal and professional relationship, the UK rapper’s sixth album feels like an unexpected new growth blooming on the same familiar plant.

The London-via-Singapore alt-pop songwriter continues to experiment on their fifth album, with the heaviest and weirdest moments also feeling the most authentic and energizing.

The tension between the bright, post-punk guitars and the darker aspects of the psyche expressed in the lyrics create something new and interesting for the LA trio’s third LP.

On their second album, the Toronto band taps into the fury of their post-punk forebears with a polished set of psychological insights that feel angry in all the right ways.

Compelling yet uneven, the strongest compositions on the Phoenix shoegazers’ sophomore EP are often also the most experimental.

The Southeast LA band takes bold risks on their sophomore LP, blending Latin soul, Motown blues, psychedelic rock, bolero, and just a bit of their punk roots with a vintage production sheen.

The NYC-based rapper’s ninth solo album toes the line between lo-fi, soul, jazz, and ambient electronics, adding a newfound sense of resolve to the grief explored on recent release.

Reissued in honor of its complementary anime film’s 20th anniversary, the French house duo’s breakout LP feels like a time capsule for a brief period of pre-9/11 optimism.

The Lowertown member’s second melancholic solo record feels more polished and cohesive than her previous output, yet emanates the energy of a beautifully sculpted demo tape.

Refitting the yacht rock and Laurel Canyon sounds of the ’70s and ’90s country for the modern bedroom-pop era, the songwriter’s willingness to experiment keeps her fourth LP interesting.