When I was at Outside Lands this year, there was a teeny tent where artists would play a handful of songs prior to their sets on the big stages. One of these artists was Natalie Prass, who I have written about a number of times on this blog.

It was Prass, her guitarist, and no more than twenty of us watching. I was an arm’s length away from her, and her delicate voice and stripped down renditions of her tracks was subtly beautiful.

Prass’ debut album is easily one of my favorite albums this year, and she just released an EP (recorded live at her record label’s studio in Richmond, VA) which includes one of her best songs from her debut, “My Baby Don’t Understand Me,” and a few covers from the likes of Anita Baker, Simon & Garfunkel, and Grimes.

Which segueways perfectly to the incomparable Grimes. I haven’t written a lot about her new album Artangles. It’s an album NO ONE else could have made. She is an original melding genres in a kaleidoscope of sounds. If you’d like to get into the mind of one of the most brilliant and innovative artists out there right now, listen to this album.

She’s also respected and beloved by fellow artists as the cover by Natalie Prass would indicate. I included both the original Grimes song as well as Prass’ cover.

I stumbled upon Mutemath accidentally, and I'm really digging their electro-pop sound. Check this album out if you like this mainly instrumental track (the other songs have singing!).

Last but not least is Freddie Gibbs, the rapper from Gary, Indiana. His new album, Shadow of a Doubt, is one of the better rap albums this year. Gibbs initially made a name for himself with a ton of mixtape but started to get a little more critical attention with his collaboration with Madlib on the crazy spacey, Pinata. I think he’s furthering his case as one of the best rappers out there.

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!