The Day Before Halloween

Minneapolis hip-hop duo Atmosphere’s 11th album (and third in as many years) arrives with a cheeky title referencing its release date—but it goes well beyond literalism, too. Rapper Slug and producer Ant’s latest is drenched in sounds ripped straight from classic horror film soundtracks: John Carpenter-esque synths, creaking beats, and spooky vocal samples that go bump in the night. Even as Ant explores new sonic territory, though, Slug offers the same lyrically dextrous musings he’s become renowned for. Whether he’s ruminating on heartbreak (“She Loves My Not”) or cracking jokes about Funkmaster Flex tattoos (“The Future Is Disgusting”), Slug retains the honest intensity that Atmosphere was practically founded on.