'Portal Party' by 26 BATS!

Portal Party, the third album from Minneapolis-based 26 BATS!, is a marked shift from the jazz and r&b-inspired sounds of their previous records, Onyx and Cave Cuts. Portal Party sees the band taking more risks with unconventional song structures and layering their songs with autotune, drum loops, and synths. At its core, Portal Party is a testament to the band’s penchant for a genre-less sound and their charming lyricism covering subject matter as familiar as yearning and as obscure as portals and magic.

'I Don't Know Why I Do Anything' by LIPS

Released a decade after the band’s inception, I Don’t Know Why I Do Anything is the long-awaited debut album from LIPS. After having released infrequent singles and EPs in addition to touring internationally as directors and performers of both a play and a feature-length film, I Don’t Know Why I Do Anything sees LIPS proving they are masters of their craft. With their unique blend of familiar indie, synth pop, and new wave, LIPS capitalizes on their quirks and carves out their own sound in the crowded field of indie rock.

'Contraband from India' by DJ 2-Tone Jones

Contraband from India is nothing short of a cultural experiment — one that beautifully blends together the styles of old and new school hip hop as well as the sounds of the East and West hemispheres. Contraband from India is the result of renowned Shaolin Jazz co-founder DJ 2-Tone Jones’ month-long retreat in India where he conducted hip hop diplomacy and scoured Calcutta for rare jazz fusion and traditional Indian records. Upon returning home, Jones sent select tracks from the records he bought to legendary hip hop producers to sample from. With Jones overseeing the album’s production in a more hands-off approach, Contraband sees a super-group of producers sampling mesmerizing beats from Indian records while Asheru, Prince Po (Organized Konfusion), and several other distinguished rappers wax poetic over them, creating a once-in-a-lifetime record.

by Paul Schoening

"Life of Mammals" by Museum of Love

Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem and Dennis McNany make their debut as Museum of Love with Life of Mammals. Recorded over the past seven years in Brooklyn, the new duo’s debut album sees Mahoney putting down the drumsticks and taking on vocal duties while McNany covers production. A reflection of their individual interpersonal relationships and today’s political climate, Life of Mammals is filled with deep, thought-provoking lyricism that blends with infectious rhythm to push their exciting brand of dance music to another level.

'Death of a Cheerleader' by Pom Pom Squad

On their second full-length release Death of a Cheerleader, Pom Pom Squad stays true to their riot grrrl roots while taking their sound to a new level. Produced by Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties, this new project explores Pom Pom Squad’s frontwoman Mia Berrin’s complicated relationship with self-acceptance and the beauty in being your own cheerleader. Berrin takes us with her on this introspective journey, to the tune of Pom Pom Squad's unique style of rough-cut garage rock.

By Paul Schoening

"Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep" by Mykki Blanco

Mykki Blanco’s 5th studio album Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep pushes hip hop’s boundaries and norms all while enlisting an all-star lineup including Blood Orange, Jamila Woods, Kari Faux, and Big Freedia. With FaltyDL producing nearly the entire album and Mykki supplying the clever lyricism, Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep showcases Mykki & FaltyDL’s unique relationship and their incredible musical chemistry. While it is undeniably Mykki’s breakthrough record, Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep clearly demonstrates Mykki’s unwavering commitment to their identity and the Black LGBTQ+ community even as they start to ascend the charts.

by Paul Shoening