New This Week July 15-21, 2008

In the end, Nas dropped the controversial title slated for his new album. According to the hip-hop icon, his original choice (call it "the N word") for the now-untitled disc was getting the wrong kind of attention. And the focus really should be on the music, considering how consistently Nas has maintained critical acclaim, lyrical consciousness, and commercial appeal (his last full-length, "Hip Hop Is Dead," entered at No. 1).

His ninth full-length -- featuring productions by Stargate, Cool & Dre and DJ Green Lantern, and cameos from Chris Brown and the almighty Last Poets -- continues the winning streak. Killer single "Hero" boasts vocals by Keri Hilson and an insistent synth riff, but the standout is "Fried Chicken," a crackling cut infused with Southern soul and a hint of reggae, with a guest spot by Busta Rhymes, and knob-twiddling courtesy of recent Producer of the Year winner Mark Ronson. No prizes for guessing who Nas supports in the November election, though; Barack Obama looms large over the crisp beats of "Black President."

David Banner, on the other hand, downplays politics on "The Greatest Story Ever Told." The Mississippi rapper and producer serves up party jams, including "Shawty Say" featuring Lil Wayne, plus a side of GLOCK talk on "9mm." Still, Banner hasn't completely vanished into hip-hop fantasyland on his fifth full-length: On "Cadillac on 22's Part 2," he takes time to praise the Lord and pray for those less fortunate. With productions on Wayne's chart-topping Tha Carter III and RZA's new Bobby Digital release, he shows no signs of letting his productivity drop off. In a recent interview with Billboard, Banner said he has two more albums in the pipeline, including a companion disc for his Adult Swim series "That Crook'd 'Sipp."

Politics are rarely far from John Mellencamp's mind. Not only did he perform for both Clinton and Obama during the primaries, he also pointedly asked John McCain to stop playing "Pink Houses" and "Our Country" at rallies. Principled to the end, Mellencamp returns with one of the best records of his career: "Life Death Love and Freedom." Produced by another man who has come to define American music -- T Bone Burnett -- the disc leans heavily on blues and old-time country timbres, featuring stripped-down settings that showcase the Hoosier State favorite's weathered voice and blunt lyrics. Unlike a lot of modern albums, which come front-loaded with strong material then taper off, this one stays strong; don't skip Track 12, the disturbing vignette "County Fair."

In 1986, Randy Travis probably could have made a serious run for the White House. That was when his breakthrough "Storms of Life" made him the first country act to achieve multiplatinum sales status. And Travis remains one of the top 10 best-selling solo country acts of all time. After almost a decade spent making gospel discs, Travis returns to the genre he helped redefine with "Around the Bend," an 11-track traditional country set that includes his current radio staples "Dig Two Graves" and "Faith in You."

O.A.R. might be an acronym for Of a Revolution, but the popular jam band tends to be more closely associated with parties in the celebratory sense. Reflecting the breadth of their appeal, and disparate musical influences, their first studio album in three years is called "All Sides." Recorded in Los Angeles, and produced by Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Blues Traveler), a few of the 13 selections will already be familiar to fans: A couple were included on their "Live From Madison Square Garden" album, while "This Town" and "What Is Mine" have been floating around official O.A.R. sites for a spell. Diehards will no doubt check out the rest of the new material at one (or more) of the 36 dates on their summerlong All Sides Tour.

Florida is always a hot spot, especially at election time. Luckily, right now, the fuss among music fans has nothing to do with polling places. Instead, it centers on young Jacksonville quintet Black Kids. After blowing up the blogosphere with their demos, the album "Partie Traumatic" lives up to the hype, doling out generous helpings of danceable rock. Freshness and enthusiasm abound on these 10 infectious tunes, even if singer Reggie Youngblood does sound suspiciously like the kid brother of Robert Smith from the Cure. Considering their almost maniacal glee, Black Kids don't necessarily sound like a group you'd want to trust with your car keys -- let alone running the country -- but they can be in charge of music all night long.