SOUL
Earth, Wind & Fire
“Now, Then & Forever”
Producers: various
Label: Legacy Recordings
Release date: Sept. 10
Earth, Wind & Fire’s first new studio album in eight years — led by the single “My Promise” — is resplendent with the legendary band’s lush soul-funk-fusion sound topped with the falsetto vocals of Philip Bailey. Longtime fans will welcome the 10 new songs steeped in the best soaring funk traditions of the 44-year-old band. -Yinka Adegoke
ROCK
Arctic Monkeys
“AM”
ProducerS: James Ford, Ross Orton
Label: Domino Records
Related
Release Date: Sept. 10
Arctic Monkeys’ fifth studio effort culls from a number of influences: There’s the Zeppelin-esque classic rock of “Arabella,” the mellow Velvet Underground vibe bathing “Mad Sounds” and the sexy, sludgy groove of “Do I Wanna Know.” Frontman Alex Turner is at his storytelling best, and “AM” is the band’s strongest since its breakout debut. -Jill Menze
ELECTRONIC
Goldfrapp
“Tales of Us”
Producers: Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory
Label: Mute Records
Release Date: Sept. 10
There’s a deeply melancholy vibe to Goldfrapp’s sixth album, comprising 10 songs with first names as titles, that veers away from the U.K. duo’s more boisterous work. “Thea” propulsively pairs Alison Goldfrapp’s airy vocals with chugging beats, while closer “Clay” is a hushed ballad. It all arcs to create a vast, emotional landscape. -Emily Zelmer
HIP-HOP
2 Chainz
“B.O.A.T.S. II #METIME”
Producers: various
Label: Def Jam Recordings
Release Date: Sept. 10
2 Chainz’ sophomore solo album is filled with quotable, straight-forward raps carried by addictive beats courtesy of Mike Will Made It (“Own Drugs,” “Fork”), Pharrell Williams (“Feds Watching”), Mannie Fresh (“Used 2”) and more. “#METIME” finds the rapper self-aware of his success alongside collaborators in the same vein (Fergie, Drake, Lil Wayne). -Erica Ramirez
COUNTRY
Chris Young
“A.M.”
Producer: James Stroud
Label: RCA Records
Release Date: Sept. 17
Young possesses one of the strongest, most distinctive voices among country’s current crop and puts it to good use on this sturdy set of tunes. From the aching ballad “Goodbye” to the wistful reverie of “Lighters in the Air,” Young consistently turns in performances that resonate with honest emotion. -Debroah Evans-Price
ROCK
Body/Head
“Coming Apart”
Producers: Kim Gordon, Bill Nace
Label: Matador Records
Release Date: Sept. 10
Kim Gordon’s post-Sonic Youth, post-marriage, post-breast cancer improvisational partnership with free-noise guitarist Bill Nace is a fully liberated experiment. The deep-drone, meditative tracks come in cleansing waves, sometimes carrying a single lyrical idea, such as “I can only think of you in the abstract,” or confident declarations of body ownership. -Evie Nagy