Joey Bada$$ - All-Amerikkkan Bada$$

Pro Era's unofficial leader Joey Bada$$ serves up his second album and not only does he shine in providing a tightly packed album with strong themes, Joey also explores some nifty musical avenues. Listen closely and you'll not only hear uplifting lyrics, you'll hear Joey's development sonicaly as he moves towards being a conductor, not solely a rapper.

White Reaper – The World’s Best American Band

Not just the best but the world’s best. And dammit if the buggers don’t make a bloody good go at it too. Their second full-length effort is full of ambition, following on from the perfectly cool garage punk sound of their last one, exploding with stadium-filling energy. Huge riffs and haymaking hooks. This is rock and roll, baby, and here’s a band with out to win it all.

The Big Moon – Love in the Fourth Dimension

Some albums are just fun. The Big Moon definitely have that going for them. The tracks are strong enough to get the head bobbing with more than a little Britpop throwback in there (and a touch of grunge) but they also know how to break it down, a pretty good sign of a band that’s gotten their reps on the come-up. That tightness and the confidence to stray from the formulaic path just enough (they could easily have filled this out with power chords but they ain’t scared of the quiet moments) makes for a rewarding trip into that fourth dimension.

Trombone Shorty – Parking Lot Symphony

Coming straight outta New Orleans is another worthy effort for the fella known civically as Troy Andrews. The dude can blow some brass, no doubt about that. His live shows are intense and joyful as he blends old school Big Easy sounds with more modern R&B trends but on record he hasn’t always been able to capture that pure energy. His first LP for legendary jazz label Blue Note makes a good go of it though. Tight but not too tight, a couple classic covers and a bunch of originals that are all kinds of funky. That’s the one, bro.

Gorillaz - Humanz

Damon Albarn's animated musical group are back. Well, they are back but as the man in charge of pulling together the world's best musicians, Albarn spreads his net far and wide, offering a different angle on Gorillaz. Every time there's a new Gorillaz album, there's a vastly different concept and although there are some weird moments, Humanz takes the listener on a journey full of noise. Gotta love noise.

Real Life Buildings – Significant Weather

With a stupid name like that, you already know that we’re dealing with some New York indie band. Real Life Buildings? What the hell, dudes. Luckily this record, the product of Matthew Van Asselt and some high profile friends (Laetitia Tamko of Vagabon, for example), is rather fantastic. In the mould of Bright Eyes and Rilo Kiley, that kinda thing. Full of words and guitar, you want it.

Alexandra Savior – Belladonna of Sadness

A debut here from this Portland songwriter, who linked up with Alex Turner to help produce the tunes. It’s a great pairing. Turner’s own vibe helps ground the dreamy, desert psychedelia that Savoir trades in and while at times it’s a little too polished and reverby, her languid vocals are always captivating. Savior held out on multiple label offers to keep a grip on creative control and it’s a good thing she did. You’ll hear plenty more of this lass over the years. Think Lana del Rey… except good.

Kweku Collins – Grey EP

Kweku is one of those dudes who struts the line between Hip Hop and R&B, between rapping and singing. The Chicago native’s Nat Love album was one of 2016’s best sleepers and the half hour of new tunes he dropped in April maintains the theory that he’s due for big things. Grey sticks to Kweku’s more melodic leanings. It’s sombre and mellow, it’s honest and affecting. Plus he spells ‘grey’ in the proper Queen’s English way, which is cool.

Willie Nelson – God’s Problem Child

Oh hell yeah! The iron-lunged legend is back with yet another album, a set of new originals, and it’s some of his best stuff in years. Willie may have just turned 84 (!) but while the voice is a little short of what it once was, his guitar playing can still dazzle in short bursts and his song-writing remains superb. There’s wisdom here about love and aging but this is also the funniest that he’s been on record in a long time. Willie for President.