King Hannah weaves between meditative pop and expansive, sonorous landscapes brimming with darkness, wit, and wry humor. Merrick’s smoky vocals are perfectly complemented by the bluesy canvases Whittle masterfully paints beneath them as they effortlessly transition from post-rock expansiveness to evoking the sensation of Springsteen straying onto a gritty side-street off his highway to freedom.

Ship to Shore is classic Thompson, the songster of misery and despair who doesn’t often change that tune while always delivering something tasty, fresh and new. It’s a deep and diverse collection that pulls from various styles: rumbling, Motown-style rhythm, straightforward riff-rock, 1600s-era European music, and glammy, cabaret-like melodies.

Dreamachine rises beyond the critically acclaimed five-piece’s garage rock roots, drawing on a mix of post-punk, experimental pop, and vintage disco, all filtered through the band’s love of Middle Eastern psych music. Each song is its own distinct world, hypnotic and driven by lush synthesizers, sinewy guitars, and a muscular rhythm section– equal parts fearless and enthralling.

Named for the “honeylike” state of being in love (“like all the jagged thoughts and fears and anxieties in my brain are slowly smoothed out, until my mind is coated with warmth and sweetness,”) the album was Executive Produced by Dave Cobb, written with notable songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Natalie Hemby, and Alex Hope, and sees Ben exploring a more understated, folk-leaning sound.

Almost 40 years in, New Zealand rockers Crowded House are still adding rooms to their musical mansion. Gravity Stairs continues the sophisticated Beatlesque pop the band’s lead songwriter, Neil Finn, has always been known for. It’s the kind of album that rewards repeated listening with Finn’s songwriting opening like flower, and the band’s musical choices complementing his genius at every turn.

Believe Me Now? sees Hill digging deeper into her life-long passion for underground dance music and club culture. Whether she’s drawing from the worlds of drum ‘n’ bass, anthemic house, techno or atmospheric trance, Hill’s flair for blending the heart of such genres with her powerhouse vocal has produced an album that’s rich with credibility and personal integrity, yet with immense global appeal.