New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out Oct. 11

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Our shortlist of the best new albums out this week incudes a moving commentary on humanity and collective unease from Big Thief, veteran rapper Lil' Kim's first new studio project in 14 years, a solo album from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, the completely bonkers, genre-busting thrashing of Japan's Baby Metal and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Lars Gotrich, Marissa Lorusso and Stephen Thompson as they share their picks for the best new albums out on Oct. 11.

Featured Albums:

Elbow — Giants of All Sizes

Featured Song: "Dexter & Sinister" Big Thief — Two Hands

Featured Songs: "Wolf" and "Not" Kim Gordon — No Home Record

Featured Song: "Sketch Artist" Lil' Kim — 9

Featured Song: "You Are Not Alone" Lightning Bolt — Sonic Citadel

Featured Song: "USA is a Psycho" Babymetal — Metal Galaxy

Featured Song: "Da Da Dance"

Other Notable Releases For Oct. 11: Allah-Las — LAHS; Art Alexakis — Sun Songs; Cursive — Get Fixed; Emily King — Change of Scenery (EP); Ensemble Resonanz & Moses Sumnney — Dessner: Tenebre; Freddie Mercury — Never Boring (Box Set); Joseph Arthur — Come Back World; Mark Kozelek & Petra Hayden — Joey Always Smiled; Matt Pond & Chris Hansen — An Orchestrated Impulse; Son Little — Invisible (EP); Starcrawler — Devour You; Wale — Wow ...That's Crazy.