What is the range of difference between one artist with an appealing, clever voice and a fluent guitar with attitude and another? Well, taking in Marika Hackman‘s sophomore album, I’m Not Your Man, gives some idea.

North American audiences—if they’re old enough—might respond hesitantly with “The Only One I Know” if the U.K.‘s The Charlatans are brought up. That song from 1990 is arguably the group’s high point on these shores. But on their native soil, The Charlatans are not only current and relevant but held in the highest esteem.

Land of Talk, the brainchild of Quebecois Elizabeth Powell, digs fresh and deep on the band’s first album since 2010’s Cloak and Cipher. We forgot how much Powell could rock in the minor key.

The Meetings of the Waters, Fionn Regan’s first album in five years, is a gathering place for his folk roots and sonic experimentations.

New Order is not a stranger to the live concert album with five or so underneath its belt to date. The legendary Manchester group’s latest live album, NOMC15, is a 19-track affair captured the second of two sold-out nights at Brixton Academy, London, November 2015.

Since their 2010-released breakout album, King of the Beach, Wavves has served one main function: as a hook delivery system. This system’s been going strong now for several years.

ermont native Sam Amidon is the son of two folk artists in the Bread and Puppet Theater. He picked up the fiddle at the age of three and at age 13 started a band with pianist Thomas Bartlett, a prodigy in his own right, called Popcorn Behavior.

Philadelphia-bred Alex Giannascoli (aka (Sandy) Alex G) has been slyly releasing albums from his bedroom on Bandcamp since the ripe old age of 17.

After her previous band Grass Widow’s breakup, Hannah Lew formed Cold Beat in 2014. With two albums and several singles already under their belt, Chaos by Invitation is their third full-length and it’s an absolute stunner.