The 7 albums defining this week in music: Rap, Rock, and everything between

This week’s release calendar feels less like a Friday drop and more like a flood. From Earl Sweatshirt’s dense, lo-fi wordplay to Deftones’ genre-bending heaviness and Mac DeMarco’s stripped-down return, the slate cuts across rap, rock, pop, and experimental sounds.

Whether you’re after nostalgia, raw grit, or fresh invention, these 7 albums map out the late-summer soundscape.

Deftones Release Private Music

Marking their 10th album and first in five years, Deftones’ Private Music continues their evolution at the edge of heavy rock and experimental pop.

With shimmering production and thick, drawn-out chords, critics say the record balances Meshuggah's aggression with atmospheric textures more akin to Sunn-O.

Earl Sweatshirt Returns With Live Laugh Love

Rapper Earl Sweatshirt unveiled Live Laugh Love, his first solo record since 2022’s Sick! and a follow-up to last year’s collaborative Voir Dire with the Alchemist.

The new project leans into Earl’s trademark lo-fi and sample-heavy sound, drawing comparisons to 2018’s Some Rap Songs. Contributors include producers Navy Blue, Theravada, and Black Noi$e, while Erykah Badu lends vocals on the closing track “Exhaust.”

Nourished by Time Expands His Vision

Baltimore’s Nourished by Time (Marcus Brown) dropped The Passionate Ones on XL Recordings, further solidifying his reputation as a rising voice in avant-pop.

Known for blending influences from Prince and King Krule to Anita Baker, Brown pushes his sound into more ambitious territory on tracks such as “Baby Baby,” a swirl of indie-pop, rap, and synth-punk.

Mac DeMarco Strips Down on Guitar

Indie favorite Mac DeMarco has returned with Guitar, a back-to-basics project that signals a return to songwriting after a series of instrumental experiments.

Positioned as the spiritual successor to 2019’s Here Comes the Cowboy, the album features minimalist singles like “Holy” and “Phantom,” along with the Beatles-inspired “Home.”

Ghostface Killah Finally Drops Supreme Clientele 2

More than two decades after the first installment, Ghostface Killah has officially released Supreme Clientele 2.

The long-awaited sequel brings collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon, Method Man, GZA, Nas, Styles P, and Conway the Machine.

Water From Your Eyes

As Water From Your Eyes, Rachel Brown and Nate Amos create art-pop that is both thought-provoking and intense, combining complexity with exuberance. "It’s a Beautiful Place," the follow-up to the 2023 breakout album "Everyone’s Crushed," embodies the adventurous maximalism reminiscent of King Crimson or Built to Spill.

The album features quick, dense earworms, with Brown’s deliberate melodies interwoven with shifting riffs and bursts of global rhythms.

Kathleen Edward’s Billionaire

There was an eight-and-a-half-year gap between Total Freedom and its predecessor, Voyageur. In comparison, the five years between albums for Kathleen Edwards now seems like the blink of an eye.

For her latest album, Billionaire, the Ottawa musician collaborated with producers Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson to create 10 tracks that feature energetic rock music and sharp, insightful songwriting.