Carnival of Soul

Andy Shauf. His latest full-length, The Neon Skyline, is on our shortlist of the best albums out on Jan. 24. Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist

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Colin Medley/Courtesy of the artist

You might find a few discoveries on our shortlist for the best new albums out this week. The Riverside, California rapper known as Hook has a debut full-length called Crashed My Car that’s both menacing and vulnerable. The singer and multi-instrumentalist known as Khushi has finally released his debut – a stunning, slow-burning album of electro-soul ballads that was nearly a decade in the making. We’ve also got new story-songs from Andy Shauf that are as beautiful as they are sinister, the wonderfully messy garage rock of Black Lips, a solo album from Tortoise guitarist Jeff Parker and more. NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson joins host Robin Hilton, along with Nate Chinen of WBGO and Jazz Night In America, and NPR Music contributor Mano Sundaresan as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Jan. 24.

Featured Albums:

1. Black Lips — Sing in a World That’s Falling Apart
   Featured Song: “Angola Rodeo”
2. Ethan Gruska — En Garde
   Featured Songs: “On the Outside” and “Haiku 4 U”
3. Hook — Crashed My Car
   Featured Song: “Yes Man”
4. Andy Shauf — The Neon Skyline
   Featured Song: “Things I Do”
5. Khushi — Strange Seasons
   Featured Song: “This Is”
6. Jeff Parker — Suite For Max Brown
   Featured Songs: “Build a Nest” and “Fusion Swirl”
7. Yorkston/Thorne/Khan — Navarasa: Nine Emotions
   Featured Songs: “The Shearings Not For You” and “Sukhe Phool”
8. Bonny Light Horseman — Bonny Light Horseman
   Featured Song: “The Roving”

Other notable releases out on Jan. 24: Lola Marsh — Someday Tomorrow Maybe; October Drift — Forever Whatever; Okay Kaya — Watch This Liquid Pour Itself; Pet Shop Boys — Hotspot; Sarah Mary Chadwick — Please Daddy; Wire — Mind Hive; Wolf Parade — Thin Mind.