Stream three new albums in their entirety (visit NPR’s First Listen page) before they hit stores on June 28th!
1) 'Rave on Buddy Holly': a tribute to the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, features Holly covers by Paul McCartney, The Black Keys, Modest Mouse, Cee Lo Green, Fiona Apple, and many more. The album’s A-List artists make up a rather impressive and diverse collection, and all prove to be a remarkable fit for Holly’s timeless tunes.
2) 'Red Hot + Rio 2': from the Red Hot organization, Red Hot + Rio 2 seeks to raise AIDs awareness with collaborations from Cults and Superhuman Happiness, Beck and Seu Jorge, Of Montreal and Os Mutantes, and David Bryne and Caetano Veloso, with additional solo tracks by John Legend, Beirut, and many others. This album is a tropicalia compilation. Tropicalia is one of the most significant cultural movements in Brazil that arose in the late 1960s and encompassed theatre, poetry, and music. The Brazilian sound mixes blues, rock, electronica music, and Brazilian folk, and is also described as a way of thought: challenging societal norms, pushing boundaries, and delivering powerful messages of hope and inspiration. Set to release in stores on June 28, this installment serves as a testament to the original sonic beauty of the tropicalia movement.
3) Shabazz Palaces, ‘Black Up’: Shabazz Palaces is a Seattle-based avant-rap group, led by Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler, former MC of the hip-hop act called Digable Planets. This mysterious artist used to operate under the pseudonym Palaceer Lazaro, declining interviews and performing behind a headscarf and sunglasses. With two self-released, critically-acclaimed albums under his belt, it is still difficult to find information on Shabazz Palaces, as Butler will not name anyone else who is involved in the group. The album has an edgy spin, with unexpected beats that are as discordant as they are intriguing and rich.
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