Cat Out of Hell by Fantastic Cat
Fantastic Cat’s third album is another classic, nothing but pure pop perfection. Four songwriters with distinct styles blend here in a way that shouldn’t work as well as it does — sharp and spirited in both lyric and melody. And credit where it’s due: any album title that pays sly homage to Meat Loaf earns some goodwill before the needle even drops. (more Fantastic Cat coverage)
Unhinged is unbridled rock, and Gault stakes her claim for rock record of the year with it. The guitars snarl and growl, but even that attitude gets outmatched by Gault’s songs and voice. (more Sophie Gault coverage)
The Dreamin’ Kind by Langhorne Slim
Call it angry Slim. The electric guitars run heavy and the lyrics bite, but the emotional depth and honesty are exactly what we’ve come to expect from Langhorne Slim. Even with the fury, glimmers of hope break through — songs of empowerment that make the record feel triumphant. (more Langhorne Slim coverage)
Culpepper throws down the gauntlet with his debut, setting a high bar with an R&B record heavily rooted in Alabama soul. Sometimes bluesy, sometimes restrained, and sometimes rocking, it’s a sprawling album that still manages to be cohesive — no doubt thanks to the strength of Culpepper’s voice, both figurative and literal. (more Kashus Culpepper coverage)
Best of Our Possible Lives by Boy Golden
The hooks on Boy Golden’s latest album lean into a warm, 1970s glow. Yet the songs feel entirely his own, nothing secondhand about them. The lyrics move between personal and political terrain, restless in a way that gives the record its live-wire quality. (more Boy Golden coverage)
Rainmaker by John Hollier & the Reverie
Energetic and anthemic, this is a feel-good rock album even when Hollier’s singing about heartbreak. It’s rock with a strutting groove — relaxed and fun on the surface, but this crew isn’t pulling any musical punches. They deliver with infectious swagger. (more John Hollier coverage)
Ain’t Dead Yet by Joshua Ray Walker
Nearly three years removed from a cancer diagnosis, Joshua Ray Walker continues to celebrate his recovery with a massive creative streak. He plants his country flag across mid-tempo songs like “Outlaw” and rave-ups like “Shoot Me Straight.” Walker bookends the album with reflections on his cancer experience, opening with “Ain’t Dead Yet” and closing with “Thank You for Listening,” a song written and originally released when he first shared his diagnosis. (more Joshua Ray Walker coverage)
After stepping away from music for a few years, Rhode Island’s Charlie Marie is back with Signs, her sophomore album. It’s a tour de force — reflective and uplifting, a chronicle of her personal journey that carries universal meaning. Musically warm and airy, it’s the kind of record that would make a perfect soundtrack for a road trip across wide open Western landscapes. (more Charlie Marie coverage)
World’s Gone Wrong by Lucinda Williams
Note to self: don’t get Lucinda Williams angry. The title says it all — these are Americana rock anthems that bristle with discontent and outrage, delivered with the weight only a songwriter of her stature can bring. (more Lucinda Williams coverage)
Path of Totality by The Montvales
Magical harmonies abound on Path of Totality, wrapped around catchy melodies that stay rootsy even as the duo lean into pop and rock arrangements. The record is anchored by a strong political and social conscience, but one that is filtered through a personal perspective. (more The Montvales coverage)
The Frontier of Love by Mel and the Tall Boys
Mel Johnston fuses the pop classicism of Peggy Lee with the melodic edge of Mary Weiss and the Shangri-Las. Her voice carries all the power and charm that pairing promises, whether she’s easing into a melancholy hook or unleashing full rock-and-roll fury, all packaged in a warm, retro sound. (more Mel and the Tall Boys coverage)
It’s All Good, Sugar by The Greenberry Woods
Ah, how I’ve missed you. Power poppers The Greenberry Woods return after an extended hiatus with an album of earnest, electric guitar-driven pop songs — cheerful melodies, even on the sad songs, that drip with harmonies. (more The Greenberry Woods coverage)
More Time, More Speed by Pavey Ark
Strings and restrained, atmospheric vocals set the tone for this beautiful, cinematic record. It was recorded almost entirely in a converted farm building, and that setting seeps into the music — a quiet, shifting-seasons atmosphere that holds beauty, restraint, and edge in careful balance.
Squander Your Gifts by Donovan Woods
This EP is raw and emotional — sparse in arrangement but with tremendous emotional depth, Woods’ restrained vocals adding to the weight. And its power hits even harder once you realize the entire collection is a tribute to his late friend and songwriting partner. (more Donovan Woods coverage)
Stereo Therapy by Patrick James
Patrick James’s new EP is hearty blues-based rock throughout, but never short on hooks. Listen closely and you can hear echoes of late 1950s/early 1960s rock and R&B. James isn’t here to live in the past, however; the songs crackle with a contemporary bite.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.