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From left to right: Taiwo and Kehinde Hassan of Christian Rich.

From left to right: Taiwo and Kehinde Hassan of Christian Rich. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy of the artists

First Listen: Christian Rich, 'FW14'

Best known for hard-hitting hip-hop beats, the Nigeria-raised, L.A.-based production duo uses its debut album to showcase its ability to flip the script — again and again and again.

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Mick Jenkins' new mixtape, Wave[s], is out August 21.

Mick Jenkins' new mixtape, Wave[s], is out August 21. Lawrence Agyei/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Lawrence Agyei/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Mick Jenkins, 'Wave[s]'

The Chicago rapper's latest H2O-themed project is evidence that being smart doesn't have to mean being stiff.

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Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' self-titled album is out August 21.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats' self-titled album is out August 21. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Nathaniel Rateliff, 'Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats'

Rateliff is an accomplished solo singer-songwriter of the introspective, acoustic variety. The Night Sweats' music is where he unleashes his swaggering, after-dark persona.

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Advance Base's new album comes out August 21.

Advance Base's new album comes out August 21. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Advance Base, 'Nephew In The Wild'

Once known as Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Owen Ashworth explores vivid and morose detail in the second album by his newest project.

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The Foreign Exchange's new album comes out August 21.

The Foreign Exchange's new album comes out August 21. Chris Charles/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Chris Charles/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: The Foreign Exchange, 'Tales From The Land Of Milk And Honey'

The duo delivers an R&B album that is as fun as it is grown-up.

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Arturo O'Farrill's new album, Cuba: The Conversation Continues, comes out August 21.

Arturo O'Farrill's new album, Cuba: The Conversation Continues, comes out August 21. Laura Maria/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Laura Maria/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Arturo O'Farrill, 'Cuba: The Conversation Continues'

The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra's perfectly timed collaboration between U.S. and Cuban musicians features cutting-edge works by a carefully selected group of composers.

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Grace Potter's new album, Midnight, comes out August 14.

Grace Potter's new album, Midnight, comes out August 14. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Grace Potter, 'Midnight'

On the singer's new album, a departure from the rootsy sounds of her albums with the Nocturnals, pop-rock music gets a real kick in its cherry-red pants.

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CFCF's new album, The Colours Of Life, comes out August 14.

CFCF's new album, The Colours Of Life, comes out August 14. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: CFCF, 'The Colours Of Life'

On his new album, Montreal musician and producer Michael Silver brings his diverse sounds together to form a sumptuous whole that draws extensively on the music of the 1980s.

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Palehound's new album, Dry Food, comes out August 14.

Palehound's new album, Dry Food, comes out August 14. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Palehound, 'Dry Food'

Ellen Kempner and her band document a fraught transition from childhood to adulthood — and do a great job, in part because they're still living through the process.

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Royal Headache's new album, High, comes out August 21.

Royal Headache's new album, High, comes out August 21. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Royal Headache, 'High'

The Australian band's soulful, Motown-worthy punk poetry sounds simple and direct on its second album, whose innate momentum makes even the calmest moments feel tense.

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