The National“Hairpin Turns”I Am Easy to Find (out 05.18 on 4AD)My god, the Brooklyn mainstays have been on a hot streak in the last few years. Just two years since their excellent return to form, “Sleep Well Beast,” the brooding brownstoners are back with what looks set to be another compelling project. “Hairpin Turns” poetically picks through the bones of a relationship on the brink, dissecting the fear and confusion that comes with a turbulent present and an uncertain future.

Cat Power“Horizon”Wanderer (out now on Domino)One of the standouts from Chan Marshall’s 2018 return to form, “Wanderer,” gets deeply personal, stirring visuals. Beside the touching familial lyrics and the delicate, cyclical melody, the really magic of “Horizon” is in the way Marshall harmonizes with various forms of her own voice. The layers are subtle, yet majestic and build a sense of community, even in a solitary performance.

Big Thief“Open Desert”U.F.O.F. (out now on 4AD)The subtly sublime centerpiece of the Brooklyn quartet’s wonderful third LP features some of the most beautiful guitar playing this side of prime Mark Kozelek. Over a carefully arpeggiated, open-stringed melody, vocalist Adrianne Lenker paints beautifully impressionistic lyrics. Though she’s often been known for her unflinching, emotionally direct lyrics, “Open Desert” finds her wandering across a vast open plane and uncovering a lot more questions than answers.

No Rome“Rimbaud, Come Sit for a While”Crying in the Prettiest Places (out now on Dirty Hit)I’m not sure this tears of a fuckboi ballad is quite as good as that album title, but that is a pretty damn high bar. The Filipino artist’s second EP is a solid step forward from 2018’s RIP INDO HISASHI. Though things still feel quite low-stakes, Rome really knows his way around an ear-worm and has a knack for making subtly sweet sad songs like … →

Bruce Springsteen“Hello Sunshine”Western Stars (out 06/14 on Columbia)The Boss rolls back the years and delivers a vintage performance in the shape of this haunting road song. The first single from his first studio LP since 2014, “Hello Sunshine” unpacks Springsteen’s long, now public battle with depression. Backed by gorgeous keyboard and slide guitar filigree and a rolling bass-line, Springsteen basks in the open road’s healing properties, hoping to hold on the freedom and relief it delivers long after his journey … →

Sevdaliza“Martyr”Digital SingleThe Tehran native continues to pump out brilliant, fascinating tracks that defy categorization and always have something to say. Taut and quivering with tension, her newest single, “Martyr,” has touches of peak Portishead with its pulsing baseline and pounding drums, and is injected with clever Middle Eastern-tinged, stringed counter melodies. Vocally, she’s so expressive, slithering through the beat dramatically and pulling so much emotion out of every word. Truly one of the best making music today.