Last summer Jay-Z & Kanye West released Watch the
Throne, as two of the hottest emcee’s in hip-hop, it was safe to say the
“Throne” was theirs, however, thanks to Nas’ latest, it is time for Jay &
‘Ye rewatch the throne as QB’s finest comes out swinging and proves to be a
strong contender. In one of the greatest comeback albums of all time and one of
the best hip-hop records of the year and of his career, Nas hits on every verse and track for the first time since his 90’s prime. Mixing styles heard today in
most contemporary artists in the genre, his own blend of lyrical power and a
return to form that made him a household name two decades ago, Nas spits on
everything from social issues, his public break-up with Kelis (even showing off
her wedding dress on the front cover), being a father, battling record labels
and most of all, showing and proving he still has got it. With some help from
Large Professor, Rick Ross, Swizz Beats, Miguel, Mary J. Blige and the late Amy
Winehouse, Life is Good is a record that needs to be heard.
FINAL GRADE: A+
Firing on all cylinders like Ayrton Senna, Gaslight Anthem
brings the fury and power on their new record. New Jersey’s hometown heroes
return with their fourth album and take a much more mature approach to the
sound that has gained them international attention. For Handwritten, The
Gaslight Anthem went to Nashville to write and record and while there, they
took inspiration from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam and the music
Nashville has to offer. Still sticking to the roots of Bruce Springsteen and
Bouncing Souls, Brian Fallon and the boys add onto what they have cultivated
and show progression in all the right ways and craft one of the best of the
year and one of the best of their career. Handwritten is a simply stunning rock
and roll record.
FINAL GRADE: A+
The Odd Future crooner finally releases his long awaited
solo debut and shows it was worth the wait. Frank Ocean has had a lot riding on
Channel Orange, not only was he one of the breakout stars of Odd Futures mass
collective, he was also tapped by Kanye and Jay-Z to appear on Watch the Throne
then became someone the fashion world looked to for inspiration then took a
daring step to come out of the closet. Channel Orange proves he not only can
live up to the hype and fame, but can also exceed expectations with his fine
R&B style.
FINAL GRADE: A
Much like Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash, Jimmy Cliff links up
with Rancid’s Tim Armstrong to give homage to the artists that came after him
and rejoin the mainstream. In his first album in nearly a decade, reggae
superstar Jimmy Cliff opens up a new chapter and fanbase in his long career
that has taken him from Jamaica to around the world. Rebirth is Cliff doing
what he does best, being himself and pouring his heart and soul into his world
and craft.
FINAL GRADE: A
The chomping metalheads return with a new record that might
be one the finest metal and loud rock records of the year. Much like Mastodon,
Baroness take cues from metal’s past and progress in a fashion all their own
and make no apologies for it, Yellow and Green is a reign of raucous riffs,
pounding rhythms and in your face loud rock.
FINAL GRADE: A-
George Lewis, Jr. aka Twin Shadow returns with Confess and
showcases his ability to be a one man TV on the Radio. Confess, the sophomore
release from Lewis brings new wave, indie and electronica together and defies
the sophomore slump only to be far superior than his 2010 debut, Forget.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Dylan Fox and the Wave – Move on Instinct EP
The California garage band returns with a much more crisper
and cleaner produced EP but still manage to hold onto the great grit and DIY
enthusiasm of their past releases.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Drowning Men return with their new record, All of the
Unknown and showcase their intense passion for music and sound again. All of
the Unknown picks up where their last record, Beheading of a Songbird left off
and brings together M83 style dance rhythms, the brooding appeal of The
National and filters it through with a furious combination that bands like
Manchester Orchestra and Archers of Loaf have mastered over the years. This is
a record not to sleep on.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Brooklyn indie favs return with album number two and
bring forth interesting and intricate sounds, catchy hooks and clever,
passionate lyrics. Swing Lo Magellan hears Dirty Projectors build on the
acclaim they began three years ago and give fans a reason to smile.
FINAL GRADE: B
The sophomore release from one of Britain’s most adored
singer / songwriters, Sam Duckworth aka Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., picks up
where his self-titled debut left off. More of the same passionate songs about
England, growing up and the childlike innocence that brings us back to
nostalgia.
FINAL GRADE: B-
The legendary DIY outfit returns with Unsound and as it only
adds to more music to their catalogue, it does not add a new chapter to their
garage sound.
FINAL GRADE: B-
In his first release from jail for gun possession, one of
Mobb Deep’s most distinctive voices comes back with the third installment to
his H.N.I.C. series and while production is up to par, his lyrics on the other
hand, do not. Not adding or capitalizing on what he should, Prodigy falls flat
and trying to stay current with artists like Wiz Khalifa, T.I., and Esther, he
only brings the record into more of a forced commercial hip-hop record.
FINAL GRADE: C
While Marina and the Diamonds did not take off in the U.S.
the way they did in the rest of the world, Electra Heart will not help her case
in America. Her follow-up to 2010’s The Family Jewels, is not only a desperate
attempt to sound shocking and relevant like some of her contemporaries Lady
Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, it only showcases her lack of wanting to say
anything interesting at all even more. With production that sounds too similar
to The Family Jewels, it just sounds like a forced radio friendly record that
will not help her build and capitalize on her career.
FINAL GRADE: D
