You don’t just hear The King, you experience The King. Fearless and haunting, Anjimile follows his debut, 2020’s lauded Giver Taker, by boldly veering from the light. Dappled by nimble finger-picking and euphoric chorales, there’s a bigness to this album—remarkable considering it’s composed almost solely of Anjimile’s voice and an acoustic guitar. The power and emotion from his unflinching verity of what it means to be a Black and trans person in a country of racial unrest expands it further still. The King is a tour de force. If the title track somehow doesn’t give you goosebumps, keep going. –Carlee McManus
