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Sturgill Simpson &bull; <i>Sound + Fury</i>

Sturgill Simpson • Sound + Fury

Simpson made a name for himself with introspective Americana, but this injects a confusing high-energy EDM element, with mixed results. I imagine die-hard ZZ Top fans felt the same way about “Eliminator”.

Wine Lips • <i>TV Dinner</i>

Wine Lips • TV Dinner

Like the whoomp from pouring too much firestarter on and throwing the match in, this band is in your face, exciting and a bit scary at the same time, with its snarling guitars, sneering vocals, and the heft of every possible item in the garage.

Meridian Brothers + Mexican Institute of Sound • <i>Ruido Tovar</i>

Meridian Brothers + Mexican Institute of Sound • Ruido Tovar

Camilo Lara teams up with some influences from the southern hemisphere to bring about this collection of decidedly cumbia-inflected tracks. The sounds lean heavily towards the casiotoned but are expertly counterbalanced with orchestral decorations.

TOO MANY ZOOZ • <i>Hip Hop Instrumentals</i>

TOO MANY ZOOZ • Hip Hop Instrumentals

The necessities of busking NYC subways gave birth to this trumpet-sax-drums trio, and on this outing they turn their ears towards the honks and thumps of the boom-bap, building up a collection of soulful and engaging loops out of brass and skin.