Carnival of Soul

Charli XCX. Her latest release, Charli, is on our shortlist for the best new albums out on Sept. 13. Courtesy of the artist

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Courtesy of the artist

Charli XCX makes wildly warped, genre-bending songs that are artful and adventurous but can still top the charts. On the English singer’s latest album, Charli, she collaborates with Troye Sivan, Lizzo, Haim and more for a sound that moves pop firmly into the future. On this week’s New Music Friday we dig into that release, along with an ambitious concept album by the foot-stomping band The Lumineers, the euphoric, soul-stirring songs of singer Emeli Sandé, Sampa The Great and more. NPR Music’s Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson join host Robin Hilton to share their picks for the best new albums out on Sept. 13.

Featured Albums:

1. The Lumineers — III
   Featured Song: “Gloria”
2. Charli XCX — Charli
   Featured Song: “Click”
3. Bethlehem Steel: Bethlehem Steel
   Featured Song: “Govt Cheese”
4. Emeli Sandé — Real Life
   Featured Song: “Survivor”
5. Microwave — Death is a Warm Blanket
   Featured Song: “Leather Daddy”
6. Chelsea Wolfe — Birth of Violence
   Featured Song: “Deranged for Rock & Roll”
7. Sampa The Great — The Return
   Featured Song: “Mwana”
8. Jeremy Ivey — The Dream and the Dreamer
   Featured Song: “Story of a Fish”

Other Notable Albums Out On Sept. 13: Alex Cameron — Miami Memory; Belle & Sebastian — Days of the Bangold Summer; Chasity — Homemade Satan; Devendra Banhart — Ma; Goo Goo Dolls — Miracle Pill; Gruff Rhys — Pang; Hobo Johnson — The Fall of Hobo Johnson; Jenny Hval — The Practice of Love; Joseph — Good Luck Kid; Long Beard — Means to Me; Pixies — Beneath the Eyrie; (Sandy) Alex G — House of Sugar; Shawn Colvin — Steady On 30th Anniversary; Trupa Trupa — Of the Sun.