Album

Dreamy debut from American singer with perfect pop voice

Successor to 2000's Ghetto Love debut by 23-year-old soul great in waiting. Mary J Blige guests

Hailing from the same US stable as The Mendoza Line, the Austin, Texas quartet Shearwater embrace a drowsier strain of melancholy on their second LP—all shuffling shades of piano, picked guitar and stings. Producer Brian (Daniel Johnston) Beattie filters just enough light to ward off any impending claustrophobia, while the contrast between ardent ornithology student Jonathan Meiburg's falsetto and Okkervil River moonlighter Will Robinson Sheff's upbeat crackle adds a subtle duality.

1995 outing from The Independent's resident poet, with extra material

Overdue collectors' B-sides bonanza

Entire studio output of psychedelic orch-pop band on CD for first time

Fourth LP from purveyors of Hispanic-Americana

Two EPs from modern-day Bob Dylan

Subtle, simmering 'new acoustic' debutThese gentle, vaguely retro acoustic stylings from British songwriting duo Hudson and McDevitt exude real charm, evoking melancholy memories, tempered optimism and warm pints in cold country pubs. Reference points include a less tortured Turin Brakes or less populist David Gray, though ticking clocks, babies' cries and the mesmerising "For You" will have you digging out your crusty copy of Floyd's Wish You Were Here. Bursts of energetic violin from Chris Goddard give it an extra edge. Pastoral peaks.

Excellent, if creepy, lo-fi folk