Vintage with soul; dystopian hip-hop

Aaron Frazer, “Introducing …” (Dead Oceans/easy Eye Sound):

Some may remember this Baltimore-bred musician as the co-lead vocalist and drummer of classy soul throwbacks Durand Jones & the Indications. Now on his debut solo album, produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, the singer exudes a couth 1950s aesthetic, touching on doowop while also pulling from ’60s soul, ’70s gospel and early disco. The arrangement featuring flute, Rhodes piano and bass, alongside Frazer’s falsetto, on “Bad News” sounds instantly vintage, and the breakneck rhythm of “Over You” has a contemporary love song palette.

Wax Tailor, “The Shadow of Their Suns”: The French trip-hop producer returns for his first album in five years, and it comes with a post-apocalyptic through line. The album’s many featured guests include musical polymorph Mark Lanegan on “Just a Candle” and Oakland rapper Del the Funky Homosapien on the track “Everybody,” which also features equally loquacious rhyme spitter Mr. Lif. The video for lead single “Misery” paints a dystopian picture of an oppressive dictatorship where people would wear their disdain on their face if it wasn’t hidden behind emoticons.

Song of the moment

SZA, “Good Days” (Top Dawg Entertainment): “Good Days,” which features musical wunderkind Jacob Collier as a co-writer and backup vocalist, has a gorgeous acoustic guitar melody running through it as SZA looks toward a hopeful future. She sings:

“Gotta let go of weight, can’t keep what’s holdin’ me / Choose to watch while the world breaks up in front of me.” It’s a relatable and epic song that will definitely keep fans wanting more from the sensational singer as the year unfolds.

Cover song

Kevin Bacon, “Creep” (Radiohead): Kevin Bacon is not just a dynamite actor who can be connected to any other actor in the history of Hollywood in six degrees or less. He’s also a folk-rock musician who has released six albums with brother Michael as the Bacon Brothers, including 2020’s “The Way We Love.” Going solo here, the Golden Globe-winning star’s latest offering — posted on Instagram just a couple of days before the new year — provides a great moment of Zen. A blue jeans-andflannel shirt-clad Bacon takes a seat in a barn among two of his frolicking pygmy goats as he plays (for them) a lovely acoustic guitar cover of Radiohead’s classic 1993 track “Creep.” One of the goats even starts nibbling at Bacon’s shirt, but the consummate professional doesn’t break stride.