Open Mic Eagle, “Anime, Trauma, Divorce”
The Chicago-born, LA based rapper, thinker and costar of Comedy Central’s “The New Negroes” is one of the most insightful lyricists in the business. His previous album, “Brick Body Kids Still Daydream,” explored his life growing up in a South Chicago housing project.
Various Artists, “The Harry Smith B-sides”
The Atlanta archival imprint Dustto-digital describes this set as “the closing of a collector’s circle.” Drawing
The latest from Damon Albarn’s shape-shifting animated troupe is a collection of tunes created as part of his rolling multimedia Song Machine project. But the smart-alecky spirit and spooky-festive sound are classic Gorillaz, as is the delightfully random guest list, which includes Beck, Elton John, Schoolboy Q, St. Vincent, the Cure’s Robert Smith and the late, great Tony Allen.
Bruce Springsteen, “Letter to You”
Springsteen tends to release albums right at moments of national crisis. His
For his 33rd studio album (give or take) since 1977, the British bard went to Paris where, over two days just before the coronavirus ruined everything, he worked with an ensemble he named “Le Quintette Saint Germain.” In addition to longtime collaborator Steve Nieve on piano, Costello gathered a trumpeter, a woodwind player, a cellist and a drummer. Recalled Costello in pre-release notes: “I sang live on the studio floor with the ensemble playing everything I wanted to hear and nothing that I didn’t.”
Rico Nasty, “Nightmare Vacation”
Like some wild convergence of Missy Elliott, Bjork, Danny Brown and
Will country music’s most impressively bearded traditionalist jump on the Fleetwood Mac bandwagon that’s been rolling through Nashville of late? Seems unlikely — though Stapleton’s new one does feature a cameo by Mike Campbell, the longtime Tom Petty sideman who stepped in for Lindsey Buckingham on FM’S last tour.
Josh Groban, “Harmony”
America’s cuddliest baritone is back this fall with a new studio album (his first since 2018’s “Bridges”) and a series of virtual concerts in which he plans to revisit his favorite show tunes and his most treasured holiday songs. As always with Groban, the music’s quality will increase in direct proportion with how much of his oddball sense of humor he lets in.