The Lead Sheet ~ 5/20/2025

The Lead Sheet is your guide to this week’s new music - taking a look at newly released albums, who made them, and how listeners are responding. 

Music group Sleep Token’s genre is distinctively difficult to pin down, and their new album Even in Arcadia certainly continues that ambiguity. While technically released more than a week ago, it deserves recognition here as this unique album has blown up all the way to #1 on Billboard’s top 200 this week, just ahead of Kali Uchis’ Sincerely at #2. It’s not that Sleep Token has no genre, it’s that it features a diverse range of style and sound that it’s hard to say what the default is. Often metal, but also indie, gospel, electronic, and on this new album something akin to “chiptune” (think the soundtrack to your favorite Gameboy Color game). The members of Sleep Token, taking a leaf from Daft Punk,  are anonymous -  performing in masks to keep their identities secret. What’s not a mystery, is how this album has wowed listeners, whether they are familiar with Sleep Token’s discography, or discovering them for the first time. 

The Callous Daoboys (you read that correctly) recently dropped their new concept album, I don’t Want to See You in Heaven. The Atlanta-based mathcore band has recently signed to MNRK records and See You in Heaven is their first release under the new label. Featuring Carson ”Big Animal” Pace’s high energy vocals, thrashing drums and overdriven, chugging chords, this album would make a great addition to any pre-workout playlist. The final track, “Country Song in Reverse” is nearly a 12 minute masterpiece, and takes its time to earn its staggering climaxes, bringing in orchestral elements like horns and strings to drive home its grandeur. 

The singer/rapper/songwriter and recently, actor, Rico Nasty released her third album, Lethal this week. Lethal is an exercise in confidence. Nasty explains, “if you have low self-esteem, you’re going to feel triggered”. After listening to the album, I see what she means. Her lyrics, most of which are too explicit to share here, celebrate the self and demand what is due.  Lethal suggests that a little selfishness is sometimes the right thing to do. Such as in the track “Can’t Win ‘Em All”, in which Nasty describes a relationship where she didn’t assert herself, causing heartbreak and pain. The album to me isn’t about bragging, but crediting the self. This is the type of album you can listen to before a job interview, audition, or when you need a musical pep talk. “They cannot touch me (Huh) Who is the best? Me (Woo) Who do I love? Me (Yeah) Who wanna test me?.”

If these first few albums have given you high blood pressure, this next album will help you relax and unwind.  Speaking as a recent jazz convert, Matt Maltese is a delightful new discovery. His newest album, Hers, is a beautiful, buttery, mellow project that is perfect for meditating and night-driving. The music itself is accessible, but not bland. This is Maltese’s 6th album, but first entirely self-produced. Hers borrows classic jazz techniques, things like 2-5-1 progressions and clever tight voicings, but it also feels contemporary. “Eternal Darkness of the Spotted Mind” has a dreamy melancholy that can be found in jazz ballads like “Old Cape Cod” and “Moon River”. Easy listening has never been easier. 

Chuck D’s name garners respect in hip-hop - his iconic voice spans several decades, and his music goes beyond beats and rhymes; it advocates for social change and political awareness. His new solo album Enemy Radio:  Radio Armageddon is no exception, and is rife with funk influence, catchy drum loops and plenty of record scratches. D teams up with hip-hop talent new and old; up-and-comers like Miranda Writes, as well as established legends like Donald D and DJ Too Tuff. Together, they make observations about hip-hop and culture, for example, “New Gens” speaks about a generational divide in hip-hop, but listening to the track, it’s clear D doesn’t want to alienate young musicians, but wants them to respect the important pioneers that came before them. “I been your age, you ain't been mine yet and don′t forget, new gens, I love y′all, have a ball”. “Black Don’t Dead” explores how all too often, black identity gets reduced to stereotypes, and the important issues get lost in the fray.

New Albums for the week of 5/19/2025: 

Sleep Token - Even in Arcadia

Released  May 9th

RCA records

The Callous Daoboys - I Don’t Want to See You in Heaven

Released May 16, 2025

MNRK Music Group 

Rico Nasty - Lethal

Released May 16, 2025

Fueled by Ramen

Matt Maltese- Hers

Released May 16, 2025

Self Produced

Chuck D - Enemy Radio: Radio Armageddon

Released May 16th, 2025

Chuck-D PS/ Def Jam Recordings