Record Shop is a weekly Tomorrow’s Verse column to help readers find the best new music out each Friday.

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – I Told You So

Combining funk, soul and jazz, Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio deliver an irresistible fusion of styles nearly impossible not to enjoy. The band’s third album, I Told You So, finds the band continuing to grow within their distinct yet nostalgic sound, this time with a new drummer.. Over the course of nine songs, you’ll find terrific, jazz-inflicted runs on organ balancing slightly psychedelic guitars, deceptively difficult music for how easy it is to listen to. Yet another great addition to the band’s catalog, DLO3 remains an underrated and too often overlooked part of the instrumental music scene. 

LNZNDRF – II

Consisting of Scott and Bryan Devendorf of The National and Ben Lantz and Aaron Arntz of Beirut, supergroup LNZNDRF follow-up their self-titled debut with the aptly-titled II. The band embraces a fairly straightforward indie sound, with Bryan’s drumming often offering the same chugging energy he offers the National, while both Beirut members remain experts at layering a variety of instruments, sounds and melodies. An album not intending to reinvent the wheel, but seeming more of a creative outlet for these extremely talented musicians, LNZNDRF is beyond a pleasant listen, and an absolute pleasure. 

Lucero – When You Found Me

Longtime alternative-country staples Lucero return with their 12th full-length release, their first since 2018. When You Found Me has everything that has made the band such a success over the years – punk-inspired energy disguised in gritty, country songwriting, the distinctive vocals of Ben Nichols, personal songwriting and soaring riffs – but dials it back a little, perhaps do to its concept. According to label Rough Trade, “the album reimagines family stories as modern fables, with young heroines and storybook lyrics inspired by the fairy tales lead singer Ben Nichols’ reads with his four year old daughter at bedtime.” Indeed, it’s another extremely creative and inventive release from the ever-changing band, and one that’s worth your time. 

Phish – Kansas City August 1993

The most recent LivePhish archival release pulls a Kansas City show from one of the band’s cleanest and arguably best eras. Featuring a mammoth 19-minute “David Bowie” appearing out of a “2001” followed by “The Horse > Silent In The Morning > Rift” and eventually a “You Enjoy Myself > Purple Rain > Hold Your Head Up,” the second set alone is a must-hear run for any Phish fan. Kansas City 1993 finds the band in top shape and, above all else, having a lot of fun on stage, and will remain an essential archival listen. 

Madlib – Sound Ancestors

The newest release from hip-hop beat-making master Madlib was created with help from British producer Kieran Hebden, better known by stagename Four Tet, and the collaboration works wonderfully. Madlib continues to use his unparalleled abilities to sample obscure songs, from soul and funk to psychedelic rock, reggae, jazz and more, but Four Tet’s ability to create spacious soundscapes is present as well. Both of their renowned production techniques shine especially bright here, as the album delivers a non-stop Madlib listening experience, with no other outside guests present. For once, Sound Ancestors is a true Madlib solo album, which is as great as it sounds. 

Langhorne Slim – Strawberry Mansion

The newest album from Americana songwriter Langhorne Slim collects 22 songs written between March and May of 2020, the beginning of lockdown due to the COVID pandemic, shortly after finding sobriety following a diagnosis of clinical anxiety disorder. Unlike many quarantine albums, Langhorne Slim almost excels in a stripped-down setting, and the number of songs he began producing supposedly even surprised him. Melodic, catchy tunes with down-to-Earth songwriting, Strawberry Mansion is as worthy an album as any in his discography. 

Tony Trischka – Shall We Hope

One of the world’s greatest banjo players returns with an insanely ambitious new album. Tony Trischka’s Shall We Hope is a concept album rooted in the civil war, using the era to draw attention to problems of the past and present. Featuring a number of guests, including Guy Davis, Van Dyke Parks, The Violent Femmes, Catherine Russell, Phoebe Hunt and more, it’s a fascinating revisiting of historical perspective set to a backdrop of incredible music from some of the most talented artists in the scene. 

Ani DiFranco – Revolutionary Love

Prolific singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco returns with Revolutionary Love, her 20th studio album to date. Recorded over a mere two days, the 11-song album features a terrific cast of musicians, including members of Hiss Golden Messenger, Megafaun, The Mountain Goats, and Mipso. Musically, the songs remain rooted in soulful folk-rock, with the primary focus on DiFranco’s lyrics and seasoned delivery, which has an almost soothing quality. A great set of songs from a great songwriter, DiFranco remains on top with Revolutionary Love. 

Weezer – OK Human

To even begin judging a new Weezer release, listeners have to begin by accepting it isn’t the same band that created the beloved 90s gems Pinkerton and The Blue Album. Even 2005’s “Beverly Hills” sounds great compared to a lot of the band’s recent tongue-in-cheek overproduced bubblegum pop-rock releases over the last decade. With that said, OK Human, one of two albums Weezer plans on releasing this year, is arguably the best work of this second era. The songs are still rooted in pop, and still express a slight humor, but the production is toned down significantly. Perhaps most important is the band’s use of orchestral strings throughout, offering a softness that would usually be consumed by overproduced guitars. OK Human is a melodic, fun offering, and it feels like an achievement Weezer has been working toward for a decade. 

The Notwist – Vertigo Days

Influential German band The Notwist have been melding indie, electronic, krautrock and more for more than 20 years now, creating an impressively coherent and sophisticated body of work. Their tenth full-length, Vertigo Days, shows the veterans continuing to explore this blend, with 14 news songs moving in and out of genres, creating a patchwork of musical textures built around delicate songwriting. Guests vocalists appear occasionally, only adding further depth to the record’s kaleidoscopic feel. Vertigo Days sits amongst the band’s best work, which is no small feat. 

Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams

After finding viral success with her first singles, London singer-songwriter Arlo Parks finally releases her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams. Blending pop and R&B with a soulful sophistication, the 20-year old’s work sounds far beyond her years. Given her age, the songs offer a poetic, heartfelt view of adolescence and growing, written from an honest perspective. Elements of storytelling seem to find Parks learning lessons in each song, and truly let the listener into her world, especially in spoken word passages that appear throughout. An incredible debut, Arlo Parks just may be the next big thing. 

Baio – Dead Hand Control

Dead Hand Control is the fourth album from Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio. The project finds the multi-instrumentalist continuing to explore indie-pop, mining 80s music heavily for influence. Named after an automated Soviet-era missile system rumored to still be in existence, the songwriting balances apocalyptic paranoia with a lively sense of self-acceptance. Musically, the tracks transition seamlessly, ranging from short ideas to nine-minute dance tracks. An obvious outlet to explore genres and concepts beyond his primary band, Dead Hand Control is a fantastic listen from start to finish.