New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On June 12

Enlarge this image

Chloe x Halle's Ungodly Hour is on our shortlist of the best new albums out June 12. Robin Harper/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Robin Harper/Courtesy of the artist

Chloe x Halle's Ungodly Hour is on our shortlist of the best new albums out June 12.

Robin Harper/Courtesy of the artist

We start off the show this week with a reflection on black life in America from jazz trumpeter and bandleader Ambrose Akinmusire. Savages' leader Jehnny Beth releases her first solo album, which she was partially-inspired to make after David Bowie's death in 2016. We'll dig into new music ensemble Eighth Blackbird's Beatles-inspired album, Norah Jones' seventh full-length studio album and more. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson, Ann Powers and Tom Huizenga, along with WBGO's Nate Chinen, share their picks for the best new albums out on June 12.

Featured Albums:

1. Ambrose Akinmusire — on the tender spot of every calloused moment
   Featured Song: "Tide of Hyacinth"
2. Jehnny Beth — To Love Is To Live
   Featured Song: "Innocence"
3. Gia Margaret — Mia Gargaret
   Featured Songs: "Body" and "Lesson"
4. Chloe x Halle — Ungodly Hour
   Featured Song: "Baby Girl"
5. Eighth Blackbird — Singing In The Dead Of Night
   Featured Songs: "These Broken Wings" and "Singing In The Dead Of Night"
6. Naeem — Startisha
   Featured Songs: "Simulation" and "You And I"
7. Norah Jones — Pick Me Up Off The Floor
   Featured Song: "Hurts To Be Alone"
8. Noveller — Arrow
   Featured Song: "Pre-fabled"

Notable releases for June 5: The Prison Music Project — Long Time Gone; Katie Malco — Failures; Groupe RTD — The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti; Hinds — The Prettiest Curse; Daniel Carter, Matthew Shipp, William Parker & Gerald Cleaver — Welcome Adventure Vol. 1

Notable releases for June 12: GoGo Penguin — GoGo Penguin; Coriky — Coriky; Sammy Brue — Crash Test Kid; Momma — Two Of Me