NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers survey the new albums out Aug. 9, including Ravyn Lenae's focused R&B, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's scuzzed-up glam-rock. They also cover an elegant solo piano album recorded by Japanese pop star and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto just months before his death in 2023.
Later, they cover the stirring album made by 39-year-old American bassist esperanza spalding and 81-year-old Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento, leading to a discussion of other collaborations across generations. They listen back on Rick Rubin's work shepherding Johnny Cash's late-career American Recordings albums. They consider Olivia Rodrigo sharing a stage with Billy Joel, whose music she references in her own, and inviting '90s alt-rock icons The Breeders to open shows on her Guts tour. What are the rules for these kinds of collaborations? What makes them work, and who benefits more — the elder or younger artist?
Featured albums out Aug. 9
- Ravyn Lenae, Bird's Eye
- Beabadoobee, This Is How Tomorrow Moves
- King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Flight b741
- Latto, Sugar Honey Iced Tea
- Ryuichi Sakamoto, Opus
- Oso Oso, Life Till Bones
- Thee Marloes, Perak
- Milton Nascimento & esperanza spalding, Milton + esperanza
Other notable albums out Aug. 9
- Logic, Ultra 85
- Big Sean, Better Me Than You
- Amos Lee, Transmissions
- J Balvin, Rayo
- Quivers, Oyster Cuts
- Polo G, Hood Poet
- Spice, Mirror 25
- Asake, Lungu Boy
- F***** Up, Another Day
- Google Earth, Street View
- Mavi, shadowbox
- Peter Cat Recording Co., Beta
Links from this episode
- Sidney Madden's interview with Latto from season 2 of Louder Than A Riot
- Ann Powers reviews Zach Bryan's Springsteen-mythologizing album The Great American Bar Scene
- Watch a Tiny Desk (Home) concert by Milton Nascimento and esperanza spalding recorded in Nascimento's living room in Rio de Janeiro
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