Popular culture doesn’t have use for hedged bets or measured responses these days. And so far, 2018 has been filled with bold, well-executed visions from veterans and stunning, fully formed debuts.
1. David Byrne, “American Utopia” (Todomundo/Nonesuch): David Byrne sings about life in America today from the points of view of a chicken, a dog and a bullet. But it’s the inclusive Afrobeat anthem “Everybody’s Coming to My House” that conjures up both thoughts of Talking Heads and the return of the American dream.
2. The Carters, “Everything Is Love” (Parkwood/Roc Nation): The arrival of “Everything Is Love” seems to confirm that when Beyonce and Jay-Z decided to work out their marital issues they also crafted a strategy as secretive as the Robert Mueller probe. Beyonce’s “Lemonade” album arrived first to reveal the problems. Jay-Z followed with his apology album “4:44.” And now, we have The Carters as a happy couple once again, with warm Daptone soul as a backdrop and hip-hop so well-crafted it shines as brightly as it cuts.
3. Tracey Thorn, “Record” (Merge): Thorn has never sounded timelier. “Sister” is a rallying cry for the #MeToo movement that works well with the sinuous groove from Warpaint and vocal support from the great Corinne Bailey Rae. And, like the rest of “Record,” “Sister” makes a strident point without getting preachy.