New Music Friday: The best releases out on Jan. 27
Kimbra's first new album in five years, A Reckoning, tops our shortlist of the best new releases out on Jan. 27. Spencer Ostrander/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
It's been five years since New Zealand singer Kimbra released her last album — and more than a decade since she first broke with her memorable feature on the Gotye song "Somebody That I Used to Know." But now she's back with her most sonically ambitious and lyrically potent work to date. With help from co-producer Ryan Lott of the band Son Lux, A Reckoning finds Kimbra both vulnerable and fearlessly defiant, with songs that are strange and alluring, but also strut with swagger and deep grooves. We give the album a spin to kick-off this week's show and talk about the ways Kimbra is, as reviewer Tarik Moody says, "an earthbound Björk."
Hear The songs
We've also got singer Sam Smith's honest and deeply moving Gloria, a brilliant new conceptual work from jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, brilliant storytelling from Samia and more. NPR's Ann Powers joins contributor Keanna Faircloth, Radio Milwaukee's Tarik Moody and host Robin Hilton as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Jan. 27.
Featured Albums:
- Kimbra — A Reckoning
Featured Songs: "la type (feat. Pink Siifu & Tommy Raps)," "save me," "foolish thinking (feat. Ryan Lott)" - Sam Smith — Gloria
Featured Songs: "Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)," "I'm Not Here To Make Friends," "Love Me More," "Gloria" - Lakecia Benjamin — Phoenix
Featured Songs: "Amerikkan Skin (feat. Angela Davis)," "Supernova (feat. Wayne Shorter)" - Samia — Honey
Featured Songs: "Amelia," "Pink Balloon," "Sea Lions," "Breathing Song" - Jonah Yano — Portrait of a Dog
Featured Songs: "Always," "So Sweet"
Lightning Round:
- Bob Dylan — Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions 1996-1997 The Bootleg Series Vol. 17
- Joe Henry — All the Eye Can See
- Nite Bjuti — "Mood (Liberation Walk)" (single)
- Popcaan — Great Is He
Other notable releases for Jan. 27:
- The Arcs — Electrophonic Chronic
- Ava Max — Diamonds & Dancefloors
- Bass Drum of Death — Say I Won't
- Elle King — Come Get Your Wife
- F***** Up — One Day
- Hammock — Love in the Void
- Meg Baird — Furling
- SG Lewis — AudioLust & HigherLove