It’s a good bet lately that when I initially scoff at the news of a new release, you should place your bets against me. Cases in point:

Me, scoffing: “Dave Alvin’s doing a psych-rock album? Smells desperate. Reality: I can’t believe I’ve played this five times in three days. (Note: it’s also a covers album, which is something that always both intrigues me and smells funny, but Alvin and his Campers knock all but the 13th Floor Elevators tune out of the box.)

Me, scoffing: “A Moses Sumney double-album? I couldn’t get through one last time–too sensitive for me. Reality: He’s on some serious new shit.

Me, scoffing: “Two Princess Nokia albums at once? She couldn’t quite sell an EP last time, and who does she think she is, Axl Rose? Bruce Springsteen? Reality: Dude, do you even remember 1992?

Me, scoffing: “Do we really need another complaining grrrrl punk outfit that didn’t check that other acts are called Mr. Wrong? Reality: YES.

I could end up having been correct on my first impulse, but I doubt it. Nothing below’s been FULLY road-tested but the top seven.

1. Gil Scott-Heron and Makaya McCraven: We’re New Again–A Reimagining
2. Kesha: High Road
3. Grimes: Miss Anthropocene
4. Fat Tony and Taydex:Wake Up
5. Various Artists: New Improvised Music from Buenos Aires
6. Princess Nokia: Everything Sucks
7. The Good Ones: RWANDA, you should be loved
8. K Michelle: All Monsters are Human
9. The Third Mind: The Third Mind
10. Mr. Wrong: Create a Place
11. Princess Nokia: Everything is Beautiful
12. Moses Sumney: grae
13. Mythic Sunshine: Changing Shapes–Live at Roadburn
14. Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats: UNLOCKED
15. Jennifer Curtis & Tyshawn Sorey: Invisible Ritual
16. Shopping: All for Nothing
17. Natural Child: California Hotel
18. Etran de L’Air: Music from Saharan WhatsApp, Volume 1 (EP)
19. MONO: Before The Past
20. Swamp Dogg: Sorry You Couldn’t Make It
21. Colin Stetson: Color Out of Space (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
22. Various Artists: Soul Jazz Records Presents Black Riot—Early Jungle, Rave, and Hardcore
23. Wayne Phoenix: Soaring Wayne Phoenix Story The Earth
24. Moses Boyd: Dark Matter
25. Oumou Diabate et Kara Show Koumba Frifri: Music from Saharan WhatsApp, Volume 2 (EP)