Guru and DJ Premier of the hip-hop group Gang Starr, pictured together in 1991. The duo’s first new album in 16 years is One of the Best Yet.
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Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
Our shortlist for the best albums out this week includes the legendary hip-hop duo Gang Starr’s first new release in 16 years. One of the Best Yet reunites DJ Premier and MC Guru, drawing on a trove of recordings the late rapper made before his death in 2010. We’ve also got humor and heart from country singer Miranda Lambert, Michael Kiwanuka’s most ambitious and accomplished album yet, the latest in the Bob Dylan Bootleg series, R&B singer R.LUM.R and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Nov. 1.
Featured Albums: Jeff Lynne’s ELO — From Out of Nowhere
Featured Song: “From Out of Nowhere” Bob Dylan — Travelin’ Thru, 1967 – 1969: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 15
Featured Songs: “Ring of Fire” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright/Understand Your Man” Miranda Lambert — Wildcard
Featured Song: “Holy Water” Gang Starr — One of the Best Yet
Featured Song: “Bad Name” Michael Kiwanuka — KIWANUKA
Featured Song: “Rolling” Vetiver — Up on High
Featured Song: “The Living End” A Winged Victory for the Sullen — The Undivided Five
Featured Songs: “The Slow Descent Has Begun” and “The Haunted Victorian Pencil” R.LUM.R — Surfacing
Featured Songs: “Boys Should Never Cry” and “Making a Choice”
Other Notable Releases For Nov. 1: Cate Le Bon & Bradford Cox — Myths 004 (EP); Cold War Kids — New Age Norms 1; CUP (Nels Cline & Yuka Honda) — Spinning Creature; Highly Suspect — MCID; Hootie & The Blowfish — Imperfect Circle; Jeff Goldblum — I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This; Josh Rouse — The Holiday Sounds of Jeff Rouse; Leif Vollebekk — New Ways; R.E.M. — Monster 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition; Sudan Archives — Athena; Turnover — Altogether; Ty Segall — Pig Man Lives Volume 1.
