ROCK
Elvis Costello & The Roots
“Wise Up Ghost”
Producers: Steven Mandel, Elvis Costello, Ahmir ”?uestlove” Thompson
Label: Blue Note
Release Date: Sept. 17
“Wise Up Ghost,” the accidental sequel to Costello’s “Get Happy!!” 33 years after that album’s Stax worship, is his most bracing music in years. The Roots’ ductile soul/funk reminds that they can do anything, and Costello’s gift for wordcraft and his singularly weird voice reminds he can go anywhere. Everyone’s aim is true. -Joe Gross
HIP-HOP
Deltron 3030
“Deltron 3030: Event II”
Producer: Dan “the Automator” Nakamura
Label: Bulk Recordings
Release Date: Oct. 1
The first album in 13 years from Deltron 3030 — Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Kid Koala and Dan “the Automator” Nakamura — is set in the dystopian future, but throws back with ’80s breakbeats and ’90s guests (Zach de la Rocha). Damon Albarn, Nakamura’s collaborator on Gorillaz’ first album, sings the mournful hook on “What Is This Loneliness.” -Alex Gale
FOLK
Amos Lee
“Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song”
Producer: Jay Joyce
Label: Blue Note
Release Date: Oct. 8
On his fifth album, Lee is at his best on hushed numbers like “Chill in the Air” and “Indonesia,” where his emotional evocative croon carries the music. The more upbeat tracks, like bluesy stomper “High Water” and the pop-folk “The Man Who Wants You,” are compelling but leave less of a lingering impression. -Emily Zelmer
ROCK
HAIM
“Days Are Gone”
Producers: Ariel Rechtshaid, Ludwig Goransson, HAIM
Label: Columbia
Release Date: Sept. 30
Cynics waiting for sister trio HAIM to get swallowed by the hype will have to wait: The California alt-rock act has produced a uniformly confident debut album. Previously released singles like “The Wire” still shine, but new songs — especially “If I Could Change Your Mind,” which streamlines its jittery arrangement into a wide-eyed hook — are just as good. -Jason Lipshutz
POP
Cher
“Closer to the Truth”
Producers: various
Label: Warner Bros.
Release Date: Sept. 24
More than 10 years after her last studio album, Cher returns with 11 camp-tastic dance numbers including “Take It Like a Man” (featuring Jake Shears), dramatic ballads and two tunes co-written by P!nk: the punchy, banjitar-enhanced “I Walk Alone” and the emotional “Lie to Me.” -Keith Caulfield
ROCK
Polvo
“Siberia”
Producer: Polvo
Label: Merge Records
Release Date: Sept. 30
“Siberia” is the second album after a 12-year gap for influential Chapel Hill, N.C., noise-rock act Polvo, and carries the shadowy, dissonant reverb that helped define a ’90s movement. There’s satisfying unpredictability in the serene-to-cheeky “Blues Is Loss,” medieval “Ancient Grains” and psychedelic “Changed.” -Evie Nagy