M. Ward – A Wasteland Companion
A new M. Ward album has become something of a warm blanket for music lovers. They’ve become as reliable
as the promise of the morning sun, and on A Wasteland Companion, Ward rises to the occasion. In recent years, his niche audience has grown cautious as he’s churned out records seemingly tailored to the hip soccer mom set under the She & Him moniker. With this latest outing, Ward lays all those fears to rest by putting forth one of his best solo efforts, while still incorporating the elements that made She & Him such a crossover success (aka nostalgia-drenched pop songs and Zooey Deschanel’s vocals). Read the full review on Consequence of Sound

Trampled by Turtles – Stars and Satellites
I’ve had this album for over a month whenever I’m at a loss for what to listen to, I’m drawn to Stars and Satellites like a moth to a flame. The songs, playing and production are all stellar. I could bore you by breaking every song apart but that seems unnecessary. Let’s just say this: Mostly due to their preview of “Widower’s Heart” in our live session with Trampled By Turtles, I have looked forward to this album as much as any album in years past. It delivered and then some. Read the full review on HearYa

Pelican – Ataraxia/Taraxis
Ataraxia/Taraxis is a concise, yet remarkably diverse, collection of compositions that manages to cram all the drama of 12-minute epics into more manageable timeframes. That the four tracks were recorded in four different studios is hard to tell; not only is it concise, but Ataraxia/Taraxis is surprisingly cohesive, despite its frequent dynamic contrasts. Read the full review on Drowned in Sound