Neal Francis | photo by Liina Raud, courtesy of the artist

A new month brings… you guessed it: a bunch of cool new albums to enjoy! XPN Artist to Watch Neal Francis shows off his love for glammed-up New Orleans-style soul on In Plain Sight. After a four-decade break, Swedish pop icons ABBA reunite for their ninth (and final) studio album, Voyage. Following his latest solo release in 2020, Nathaniel Rateliff returns with the full band in tow for the ferocious Night Sweats outing, The Future. Atlanta-based soul slinger Curtis Harding‘s third solo album, If Words Were Flowers, is a sharp-edged take on psychedelic Southern R&B.

For Valentine, her second full-length as Snail Mail, songwriter Lindsey Jordan recorded with producer Brad Cook to capture her most striking material yet. New Orleans-based ÌFÉ expand their already wide-ranging sound on 0000+0000. At this point, there are few musical achievements that Diana Ross has yet to unlock; Thank You is a well-deserved victory lap for the Motown hitmaker. In collecting definitive editions of their early ’00s albums Kid A and Amnesiac, Radiohead unearth a wealth of rarities on the comprehensive Kid A Mnesia. PRESS PLAY on these new album (and lots more) below…

Neal FrancisIn Plain Sight
CHECK OUT: “Can’t Stop the Rain” “Alameda Apartments” “Problems”

ABBA Voyage
CHECK OUT: “I Still Have Faith in You” “Just a Notion”

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night SweatsThe Future
CHECK OUT: “Survivor” “Love Don’t”

Curtis HardingIf Words Were Flowers
CHECK OUT: “Hopeful” “Can’t Hide It”

Snail MailValentine
CHECK OUT: “Valentine” “Madonna”

ÌFÉ 0000+0000
CHECK OUT: “Fake Blood (feat. Robby the Lord)” “Heart Full of Love”

Diana RossThank You
CHECK OUT: “All is Well” “If the World Just Danced”

Radiohead Kid A Mnesia
CHECK OUT: “If You Say the Word” “Follow Me Around”

EXTENDED PLAYS:
Aimee MannQueens of the Summer Hotel, Alan ParsonsThe NeverEnding Show: Live in the Netherlands, Art Blakey & The Jazz MessengersFirst Flight to Tokyo: The Lost 1961 Recordings, Barry AdamsonSteal Away EP, Brian Chase, James Ilgenfritz, and Robbie LeeLoss and Gain, Brian FallonNight Divine, Chime SchoolChime School, Colin Blunstone – One Year (50th Anniversary Edition), Connan Mockasin – Jassbusters Two, Emma Ruth RundleEngine of Hell, Garbage – beautifulgarbage (20th Anniversary Reissue), Gary Numan45X15: The Singles Collection 1978-1983, Gregory PorterStill Rising, Halfnoise Motif, Hana VuPublic Storage, Hard FeelingsHard Feelings, Houndmouth Good for You, JD SimoMind Control, Jennifer O’ConnorBorn at the Disco, Jethro TullBenefit (50th Anniversary Edition), Joan as Police Woman, Tony Allen, and Dave OkumuThe Solution is Restless, Kristof HahnSix Pieces, Margo Cilker – That River, Martha and the Muffins – Marthology: In and Outtakes, Mt. JoyLive at Red Rocks, Mountain ManMade the Harbor (10th Anniversary Edition), Nashville PussyEaten Alive, Nation of LanguageA Way Forward, Noga ErezKIDS (Against the Machine), Parcels Day/Night, Penelope IslesWhich Way to Happy, serpentwithfeet – Deacon’s Grove EP, Spectres Hindsight, Springtime Springtime, Tasha Tell Me What You Miss the Most, The Aubreys – Karaoke Alone, The Black KeysEl Camino (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), The HorrorsAgainst the Blade EP, The Mary VeilsSomewhere Over the Rowhome EP, The Tragically HipRoad Apples (30th Anniversary Edition)