New music
Blackpink, “The Album” (YG/Interscope): The Korean girl group sold more than 750,000 copies of “The Album” within a week after accepting preorders. The lyric video for the second single “Ice Cream” features Selena Gomez and was streamed almost 250 million times in its first three weeks. The foursome is likely to be inescapable for the near future.
Bon Jovi, “Bon Jovi: 2020” (Island): Two songs relevant to the year have been added to the track list since the band delayed the record from its May release date to October: “Do What You Can,” about banding together to fight COVID-19; and “American Reckoning,” about the death of George Floyd.
Aloe Blacc, “All Love Everything” (BMG): “All Love Everything” is the soul singer-songwriter’s first album of new material in seven years. His eclectic sonic palette is apparent in the Caribbean vibes of “Nothing Left But You,” the country-blues of “Corner,” and folkie album closer “Harvard.” He has said that he considers his songwriting to be less about a specific genre and more about an overarching anthemic feeling; “My Way,” with its gospel choir and uplifting chorus, fits the descriptor perfectly. coincide with the new season of his podcast “Digging Deep With Robert Plant.” The 30 tracks will contain three new songs, including a duet with folk singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, and the first single from Plant’s forthcoming album.
His 2015 dancepop album “Ratchet” garnered a lot of praise, but it’s his career since that’s been more interesting. With a turn toward the fuzzy guitars of indie rock, then a sort-of genreless gumbo (“Other Side” on the new album is a country song bathed in distortion), this self-titled