Quicksand - Distant Populations - Epitaph
Distant Populations, just the fourth full-length album of Quicksand's career, comes as a comparatively swift follow-up to Interiors--which itself came a full 22 years after its predecessor, 1995’s Manic Compression. Critically lauded and deemed very much worth the wait, Interiors succeeded in reestablishing the band as the powerful and contemporary entity they had always been. Distant Populations has a punchier, more up-tempo sound than its predecessor; its 11 songs are concise, carved sonic jewels boasting not a single wasted note; and its raw power, its gripping lyricism, leaps out from the very first listening. It is a striking step up for the band.

  

Ringo Starr - Change The World EP - UMe
Change The World, recorded at Ringo Starr's Roccabella West, includes "Let's Change The World" (Joseph Williams/Steve Lukather) that delivers a welcome dose of hope and optimism, the reggae-infused "Just That Way" (Ringo Starr/Bruce Sugar,) the Country-esque "Coming Undone," Starr's first collaboration with Linda Perry who wrote and plays on the track (also with Trombone Shorty,) and Ringo rocks his version of "Rock Around The Clock" revved up by the unmistakable Joe Walsh on guitar.

Steely Dan - Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! - Geffen
Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live! is the first live Steely Dan album in over 25 years. Featuring Hey Nineteen, Aja, Reelin' in the Years & more.

Donald Fagen - Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly Live - Geffen
Donald Fagen’s acclaimed solo album performed live by The Steely Dan Band. Featuring I.G.Y., New Frontier & more.

Various Artists - I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico - Verve
I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground & Nico, is a contemporary tribute to the Velvets debut, with each of the album’s songs performed by one of the band’s noteworthy artistic descendants.  Featured artists include Kurt Vile & the Violators, Sharon Van Etten, Iggy Pop & Matt Sweeney, Michael Stipe, Matt Berninger of The National, Courtney Barnett, King Princess, Fontaines D.C. and more.

  

DJ Shadow - Endtroducing.....: 25th anniversary [Half-Speed Master 2 LP] - Mercury
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of DJ Shadow's Endtroducing..... A seminal, incredibly influential hip-hop release, Endtroducing..... is simply one of the defining albums of the ‘90s. Now available as an Abbey Road Half-Speed Mastered Edition LP.

Mickey Guyton - Remember Her Name - Capitol Nashville
Capitol Nashville’s Mickey Guyton releases her album, Remember Her Name. Mickey co-penned 15 of the 16 songs on the album. Remember Her Name follows the release of her critically acclaimed Bridges EP which included “Black Like Me” for which she went on to receive a historic GRAMMY nomination. Her performance on the prestigious GRAMMY show was the first by a black female country artist and was touted by NPR as “the night’s most affecting live performance.”

  

Carrie Underwood - My Gift: Special Edition - Capitol Nashville
Carrie Underwood releases a Special Edition of her Christmas album, My Gift. This new version includes all 11 tracks from the 2020 release as well as 3 new tracks, including “Favorite TimeOf Year,” “All Is Well,” and “Let There Be Peace/Something In The Water” that was performed on her HBO Max special, My Gift: A Christmas Special From Carrie Underwood.

Roger Taylor - Outsider - UMe
Rock icon and multi-instrumentalist Roger Taylor introduces his new solo album Outsider. With much of Outsider recorded during lockdown, this new album finds Taylor in a reflective mood, conveying a palpable sense of isolation, concerns over the passing of time, and tellingly dedicated "to all the outsiders, those who feel left on the sidelines". A highly personal project, Outsider's instrumentation is almost entirely performed by Taylor, with his vocals matching the mood-piece atmosphere.

Strand Of Oaks - In Heaven - Galacticana Records
To say In Heaven is about conquering grief would be oversimplifying everything Tim Showalter has achieved on the eighth studio album from Strand Of Oaks. A stunning, hopeful reflection on love, loss, and enlightenment, In Heaven is a triumph in music making, and a preeminent addition to the Strand of Oaks discography.