New Music Friday: The top 5 albums out on Feb. 25
Robert Glasper's Black Radio III top's our shortlist for the best new albums out this week. Mancy Gant/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Ten years ago this month, Robert Glasper released his groundbreaking album Black Radio, a breathtaking fusion of jazz, rap, hip-hop and R&B. This week, Glasper continues to explore and refine that intricate marriage of sound with Black Radio III, an album that not only champions Black music, but also Black love and resilience in deeply troubled times. We open this show with a look at Glasper's extraordinary vision and generosity as a collaborator, and how his mission as an artist has become more urgent in the past decade.
Also on the program: SASAMI stakes a claim for herself in the loud and raging world of metal; the Atlanta hip-hop duo EARTHGANG connects the past with the present on their new one, Ghetto Gods; we've also got new ones from Sevdaliza, Emily Wells and more. WBEZ and Vocalo Radio's Ayana Contreras joins NPR Music's Jerusalem Truth, WBGO and Jazz Night In America's Nate Chinen, NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Feb. 25.
Featured Albums:
- Robert Glasper — Black Radio III
Featured Tracks: "Why We Speak" and "In Tune" - SASAMI — Squeeze
Featured Track: "Say It" - Sevdaliza — Raving Dahlia
Featured Track: "Everything Is Everything" - EARTHGANG — Ghetto Gods
Featured Track — "Amen" - Emily Wells — Regards to the End
Featured Tracks: "All Burn, No Bridge" and "David's Got A Problem"
Other notable releases for Feb. 25:
- Aspidistrafly — Altar of Dreams
- Avishai Cohen — Naked Truth
- Avril Lavigne — Love Sux
- Bambara — Love on My Mind
- Basia Bulat — The Garden
- caroline — caroline
- Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few: "Lift Every Voice" (single)
- King Hannah — I'm Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me
- Superchunk — Wild Loneliness
- Tears for Fears — The Tipping Point