A lot of musicians, mostly rappers, appear all the time, and I can confidently say that not all of them have Trady's level of elegance. Trady is a rapper from the United Kingdom, specifically Billingham. His lyrical style reminds me of the early days of Eminem, the great slim shady. It's no surprise that he cited Eminem as an influence, along with Joyner Lucas...

Bolidde's new album, Rainbow Galaxy, doesn't so much arrive as it does seep into the room, a ten-track document of flight powered by rock and roll muscle. Here is a veteran of the French scene who understands the architecture of a great pop hook, but who uses that knowledge not to build a summer villa, but a high-speed getaway vehicle. The album’s energy is...