“Misadventures of Doomscroller” is an ambitious redefining of the band’s sound

Dawes

“Beatopia” is a confident and endearing second album

Beabadoobee

The third album by Soccer Mommy, ”Sometimes, Forever” is the perfect follow-up to the groundbreaking second album from 2020.

Soccer Mommy

“Orange Blood” delivers on the promise of their first two albums with positive, carefree messages wrapped inside psychedelic, folk tinged arrangements

Mt. Joy

“Chicamacomico”is a life saving station on the Outer Banks and a metaphor for the heart wrenching songs on this North Carolina band's album.

American Aquarium

“Welcome 2 Club XIII” is the band's 14th album

Drive-By Truckers

“Cruel Country” is the best sounding country rock album since the band’s beginnings.

Wilco

The band's Bridie Monds-Watson let it be known publicly that they are non-binary and that revelation informs the subject matter of their third album “If I Never Know You Like This Again”

SOAK

“WE” perfectly captures the mixture of emotions going through and coming out of the pandemic.

Arcade Fire

The Va. Beach band's fourth album “Darkness and Rainbows” is a combination of the layered guitar work of guitarist/singer Tom Southern and his sophisticated, original songs.

Suburban Key Party

All week, on each edition of Out of the Box, listen for songs from one of the best albums that’s just hitting stores and hear Paul Shugrue's review of that album.

I listened to this religiously when I lived in Norfolk and have followed him from California to Florida. It’s been 10 + years of being a fan.

Love Out of the Box

This show had me listening to music I might have never given a chance otherwise.  A great program!

Great show

Out of the Box Album of the Week with Paul Shugrue

Brandi Carlile

Her sixth studio album "By The Way I Forgive You” is an exercise in using forgiveness as a source of strength and the past to prove her right.  She is in a strong place and ready to sing about it.

John Mayer

Paradise Valley is his sixth studio album and as he channels his lifestyle into his music he defines himself as an utterly contemporary singer songwriter.

Damien Rice

After an eight year absence the Irish singer songwriter returns with an album of songs that play like a personal message to his long lost muse.

Like it’s title suggests “Colors" is not only a return to the exuberant dance pop that made him famous in the nineties, but an album with a relentlessly optimistic outlook on the future.

Beck

Their first album in six years “Father of the Bride” reflects a lot of changes within the band that results in an 18 song tour de force of irresistible, imaginative and trend setting music.

Vampire Weekend

Ray Davies

The recently knighted Sir Ray Davies has always had a love hate relationship with America and on his new solo album "Americana" he expands on his fascination with this country.

Patty Griffin

American Kid is her first album of original songs in six years and perhaps because it is inspired by the death of her father, its her best album yet.

Songs of Innocence is the anti-cd of the week since it is only available as a free download at I-tunes. The rock legends overcome the hype with their tradeMark anthemic sound.

Her self titled, tenth studio album comes after a frightening bout with cancer and serves as a kind of musical rehab, allowing her to relate her own life to the greater truths and experiences that she sings about.

Since their last album rock and roll hasn’t had much to rally around, but “Let’s Rock” shows the way forward with it’s fuzz guitar riffs smothered in digital processing, vocals overdubs that capture the frenzy of the moment and a voodoo bass and drum rhythm section.

The Black Keys

Sigur Ros

The one time ambient, symphonic chillout band has erupted with an agressive, startling and ultimately grand spacerock album.

Richard Thompson

Electric is the folk rock pioneer's 31st solo album skillfully balancing his english roots with Americana.

Guy Clark

My Favorite Picture of You is the latest album from one of the lone survivors of the pioneering wave of artists who defined Americana Music.

Andrew Bird

Are You Serious has an optimism evident in every song that makes it one of his most lyrically direct and possibly, best album of his twenty year career.

Jim James

The third solo album from the leader of My Morning Jacket has a title that perfectly describes it. “Uniform Distortion” is a collection of guitar ready rockers   about the digital age and it’s darker side.

“I Am Easy To Find” is the eighth release for this brooding and melancholy band and, if possible, their music has become even more cinematic with the addition of an Oscar winning filmmaker overseeing the production.

The National 

The band has been so good for so long and on their ninth album “Thank You For Today” they continue that string of excellence.

Death Cab For Cutie

On his new album “The Prodigal Son” there are eight covers of old Blues and Gospel songs and three new originals, illustrating his view of himself as a caretaker of American roots music, one who has returned  to where he started more than 50 years ago.

Ry Cooder

Stories Don't End is the third album by this California band, honing the sound originated in the famed Laurel Canyon.

David Byrne

The former Talking Heads leader has released his first true solo album in 14 years “American Utopia” and says “These songs attempt to depict the world we live in now. Many of us ask ourselves-well, does it have to be like this?  These songs are about that asking.”

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