An Horse – Modern Air – Lame-O Records
FourScore
After a several-year break from touring and recording, An Horse is back with this set, which amplifies its guitar-based pop-rock into something far more complex than before. Corkscrewing around itself from song to song, each tune seems to lead into the others yet back onto itself, from the wry grit of “This is a Song” to the ’90s-inspired “Get Out Somehow,” and even the on-trend loops of “Bob Ross (Be the Water).” ***
Interpol – A Fine Mess – Matador
Confident and forceful, energetic and solid, Interpol’s latest, recorded in upstate New York and mixed by longtime band associate Claudius Mittendorfer, solidifies its place as one of indie-rock’s landmark bands. Blending Interpol’s trademark pointy-pop sound with seasonings of classic soul (“No Big Deal”), new wave (“Thrones”), and arena rock (“The Weekend”), the set is perhaps one of the best to date, ebbing and flowing through the different ambiances of each track, yet staying cohesive as one big wall of Interpol sound. *** ½
Carl Craig– Detroit Love 2 – Planet E
Following the launch of Craig’s Detroit Love label last year, Craig quickly released a standout compilation album, for which this set serves as the follow-up. Bringing together exclusive tracks from the likes of Matthew Dear (“Boss”) and Kevin Saunderson (“World of Deep,” feat. Virus J), the set also showcases Craig’s work with Green Velvet (“Rosalie”). There are 19 tracks on the digital/CD releases; eight tracks on vinyl. ** ½
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real – Turn Off the News Build a Garden – Fantasy
There are a host of special guests on Nelson’s latest set (produced by Nelson and John Alagia). Many of them are big names like Neil Young, Kesha, and Sheryl Crow. But while this is an impressive notch in the band’s belt, it didn’t seem to do much to progress their sound, which remains a retread of country-rock music (“Save a Little Heartache,” “Civilized Hell”) and still sounds like it’s stuck in the Nashville of the ’80s. * ½