Rapper Lil’ Kim performing at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. Her new full-length, 9, is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Oct. 11.

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Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage

Our shortlist of the best new albums out this week incudes a moving commentary on humanity and collective unease from Big Thief, veteran rapper Lil’ Kim’s first new studio project in 14 years, a solo album from Sonic Youth‘s Kim Gordon, the completely bonkers, genre-busting thrashing of Japan’s Baby Metal and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich, Marissa Lorusso and Stephen Thompson as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Oct. 11.

Featured Albums: Elbow — Giants of All Sizes
Featured Song: “Dexter & Sinister” Big Thief — Two Hands
Featured Songs: “Wolf” and “Not” Kim Gordon — No Home Record
Featured Song: “Sketch Artist” Lil’ Kim — 9
Featured Song: “You Are Not Alone” Lightning Bolt — Sonic Citadel
Featured Song: “USA is a Psycho” Babymetal — Metal Galaxy
Featured Song: “Da Da Dance”

Other Notable Releases For Oct. 11: Allah-Las — LAHS; Art Alexakis — Sun Songs; Cursive — Get Fixed; Emily King — Change of Scenery (EP); Ensemble Resonanz & Moses Sumnney — Dessner: Tenebre; Freddie Mercury — Never Boring (Box Set); Joseph Arthur — Come Back World; Mark Kozelek & Petra Hayden — Joey Always Smiled; Matt Pond & Chris Hansen — An Orchestrated Impulse; Son Little — Invisible (EP); Starcrawler — Devour You; Wale — Wow …That’s Crazy.

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