The veteran songwriter’s new album colorfully dramatizes the reptilian autocrats of American society, but suffers from the literalism that affects much politically reactive art today.

The Irish rap trio capitalizes on its notoriety with a savage second album that offers more sophisticated songcraft, a wider range of beats, and a sharpened political bent.

The Chinese-born, London-based musician’s leftfield dance music has turned tougher in recent years, but her latest album lurks beguilingly in the overlap between dub techno and ambient.

The TooManyStrikers-affiliated rapper-producer sharpens their sound on their latest album, with punchier low end and brattier energy that occasionally resembles the moshpit-ready rage rap.