Stephen Malkmus

Stephen Malkmus Samuel Gehrke/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Best known as the frontman of '90s underground powerhouse Pavement, Stephen Malkmus explores folk on his new album Traditional Techniques. "It's almost scary, the naked quiet," he says. SamuelGehrke/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Jhené Aiko. Her new full-length, Chilombo is on our shortlist for the best albums out on March 6. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Danger Mouse (left) and Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O collaborated on Lux Prima, one of the albums on our short list for the best new releases out March 15. Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Stephen Malkmus Giovanni Duca/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Dirty Projectors, Stephen Malkmus, Red Baraat, Valley Queen Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. Leah Nash hide caption