'New Amerykah, Part Two: Return of the Ankh,' Erykah Badu

Five albums in, Badu is still playing and experimenting.

'Under Great White Northern Lights," The White Stripes

'Geneva,' Russian Circles

'I Learned the Hard Way,' Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Reverent recreation of an era and great music all its own

'Have One on Me,' Joanna Newsom

'July Flame,' Laura Veirs

An otherwise impressive record gets bogged down by Veirs' nature obsession

'Trinity,' Harvestman

The best soundtrack to an Italian horror movie you've ever heard

'Everyday Chemistry,' The Beatles

But wait — this ain’t no typical Beatles mash-up.

'Strange Keys to Untune Gods’ Firmament,' Skullflower

Like cramming an entire arena sound system into an apartment bathroom

'The Brutalist Bricks,' Ted Leo and the Pharmacists