Pitchfork

On their masterfully knotty fifth album, Vampire Weekend go on a self-mythological journey into old sounds, old haunts, and old cities to find something new within.

The country crossover star’s excellent songwriting is raw and evocative, and though he continues to hone his sound, the total emotional experience of the album sometimes wears a bit thin.

Annie Clark’s self-produced seventh album goes for a hard reset on the St. Vincent project. She retains her sharp edge as a songwriter while making the music sound exalting, inspiring, and thoroughly romantic.

Claire Cottrill’s third album sinks deeper into a soft-rock sound as her songwriting takes on an understated new confidence.

The singer-songwriter’s third album is her strongest yet, the sound of a wise, clear-eyed, melodious prodigy coming into her own voice.

Sturgill Simpson’s outstanding album under a new stage name expertly balances cosmic and outlaw country and reintroduces himself as the premier Nashville outsider.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit the apex of the infamous UK band, a hedonistic and sampledelic Madchester masterpiece that reinvented post-punk for the rave era.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit the subversive 1984 debut from the UK synth-pop group, an exquisite-sounding album that snuck an ode to amyl nitrate and orgasms onto pop charts around the world.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit a foundational new age album from 1975, an alluring, slightly fried soundscape channeled directly to its composer from an inter-dimensional entity named Vista.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit Ice Cube’s 1990 debut solo record, a groundbreaking piece of hard and funky reality rap that introduced the tabloid decade.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit Cyndi Lauper’s massive debut, a slyly feminist new wave pop record whose undeniable singles helped usher in the MTV era.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today, we revisit Judy Garland’s mythical 1961 live album, a late-career triumph that helped to outline the shape of queer fandom for decades to come.