All Songs Considered

The rapper, actor and activist Common. His latest project, A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1, is on our shortlist of the best new albums out on Oct. 30. Durimel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

The Flaming Lips George Salisbury/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Gorillaz. The virtual band's latest project, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, is on NPR Music's shortlist of the best new albums out on Oct. 23. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: The Weather Station, Mary Lattimore, MILCK, Kacy & Clayton And Marlon Williams, Steady Holiday Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Black Thought. His latest, Streams of Thought Vol. 3: Cane & Able, tops our shortlist of the best albums out on Oct. 16. Joshua Woods/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from top row: Mdou Moctar, Danielle Durack, Luluc, The Antlers Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Britton Smith was a standout entrant to the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest. Hannah Sider for Boys by Girls/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Future Islands. The band's latest release, As Long As You Are, tops our shortlist of the best new albums out on Oct. 9. Justin Flythe/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Purple Witch of Culver, Sam Amidon, Palberta, Gulfer, Maren Morris Courtesy of the artists hide caption

BLACKPINK. The K-pop group's first Korean-language full-length, simply called The Album, is on NPR Music's shortlist of the best new records out on Oct. 2. YG Entertainment hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Masego, Adrianne Lenker, La Dame Blanche, Theo Alexander and Waylon Payne. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Beabadoobee, Fleet Foxes, Kurt Vile, Shamir, Darlingside Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Meaghan Maples, aka Mama Haze, was one of the standout artists in the 2020 Tiny Desk Contest. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Public Enemy. Their latest release, What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down, is on our list of the best new albums out on Sept. 25. Eitan Miskevich/Courtesy of the artist hide caption