Here’s a rundown of the essential albums available online and in record stores today:

• Calexico, Carried to Dust
  Folk-rock impressionists trace poignant cross-country journey.(READ REVIEW)
  Listen to “Two Silver Trees”
  

• Common Market, Tobacco Road
  Gritty Seattle hip-hoppers at play in the fields of the Lord.(READ REVIEW)
  Listen to “Tobacco Road”
  

• Gym Class Heroes, The Quilt
  Emo-rap crossover crew gets retarded in here.(READ REVIEW)

• Okkervil River, The Stand Ins
  Texas storytellers return with a magnificent Act Two. (READ REVIEW)
  Listen to “Lost Coastlines”
  

• Kimya Dawson, Alphabutt
  If you can’t afford a creepy birthday clown, put this on! (READ REVIEW)

Read reviews of seven other vital albums also out today on page 2.

PLUS: Last Week’s Best New Albums

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• Bound Stems, The Family Afloat
  History teacher’s heartfelt tales get a focused, melodic punch. (READ REVIEW)

• Bart Davenport, Palaces
  Cali indie popper unexpectedly reaches smooth-groove bliss.(READ REVIEW)

• Fujiya & Miyagi, Lightbulbs
  The funkiest soundtrack to a cultural studies seminar ever.(READ REVIEW)

• The New Year, The New Year
  Indie rock’s answer to Ambien: You rest well, but sheepishly.(READ REVIEW)

• Parenthetical Girls, Entanglements
  Sweeney Todd make you wanna cut your own throat? May we suggest… (READ REVIEW)

• Shaky Hands, Lunglight
  Jumpy indie kids enthusiastically imitate crabby, world-weary burnouts.(READ REVIEW)

• The Subways, All or Nothing
  Former first couple of NME punk-pop embrace their teen spirit.(READ REVIEW)

PLUS: Last Week’s Best New Albums