SZA – Ctrl
The long-awaited debut from Top Dawg Entertainment’s top
queen has finally arrived and SZA slices through every stigma any woman in
hip-hop has ever faced. Arriving with one of the best debuts in recent memory,
the rapper blends R&B, soul, funk, into her autobiographical LP. Featuring
Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Isaiah Rashad, among others, she pulls her
influences from Tupac to the Fugees to Odd Future to give the new school a
taste of the old in an artistic manner.
FINAL GRADE: A
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Murder of the Universe
The second of three albums coming this year from the
powerful and masterful Australian psyche band hears them progressing their
vision just a bit further.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Portugal. The Man – Woodstock
It has been over four years since Portugal. The Man have
released a new record which makes it the longest gap between music releases
this band has had. That being said, the band take all of their influences from
The Beatles, Oasis, and Wu-Tang and blend them together while still using their
musical fingerprints to create a solid record that attracts new fans and
pleases older ones.
FINAL GRADE: B+
The Drums – Abysmal Thoughts
Hands down the best Drums record since their fantastic 2010
debut. Johnny Pierce brings his surf rock meets 80s New Wave sound to new
heights and clarity with his most succinct and sharpest lyrics as of yet. A
perfect record for fun in the sun and sulking in a corner – which is the total
opposite but Pierce makes it possible.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Color Film – Living Arraignments
Glassjaw, United Nations, Head Automatica frontman Darryl
Palumbo debuted Color Film in 2014 and since then, the project has remained
quiet until earlier this year when they announced they were finally putting a
record out. Living Arraignments is a New Wave record done right for the 21st
Century. Unlike the poppy neo-New Wave sound he created in Head Automatica,
Palumbo makes Color Film’s music a bit more dramatic but just as interesting.
FINAL GRADE: B+
London Grammar – Truth is a Beautiful Thing
The long awaited sophomore record from the moody London trio
has arrived and singer Hannah Reid sores beyond all expectations on how she
utilizes her voice. The lengthy record is a lot to digest in one sitting and her
lyrics about breakup and hope resonate with anyone but it is how she showcases
that unique voice of hers that captures everyone’s attention. The record does need a song that needs to be
not dramatic and a pop single but maybe we can hold out hope for those on album
No. 3.
FINAL GRADE: B
Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life
It was pretty bold for Del Rey to name her third record
after the iconic Iggy Pop album of the same name but she separates herself from
the pack. She still brings the moody and dark tones of her previous LPs but
this record does project the sound of hope and someone yearning to be heard.
FINAL GRADE: B
Beth Ditto – Fake Sugar
The long awaited debut album from the former Gossip
frontwoman gives us something that is not only her most personal work to date
but something of a glam, funk, country, pop record. Ditto tries it all on Fake
Sugar and succeeds most of the time.
FINAL GRADE: B
Roger Waters – Is This The Life You Really Want?
After nearly 20 years, the former Pink Floyd bassist has
returned with a new solo album and it comes at the perfect time. Waters’ timing
could not be more perfect. With everything that is going on in the world, the
outspoken activist has channeled his anger in a record that is both a gift to
fans but much needed for our era.
FINAL GRADE: B
Slowdive
After 22 years, Slowdive return with a new album that marks
their unique shoegaze sound going into a new era.
FINAL GRADE: B
Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark?
The British rock duo return with their second record and
pick up right where they acclaimed debut left off. Packed with more thunderous
riffs and stadium sized songs, Royal Blood are one of the only true new rock
and roll bands around and they don’t even have a guitar.
FINAL GRADE: B
Ride – Weather Diaries
21 years since they last graced us with their pioneering
shoegaze sound, Ride returns right where they left off. This go around,
however, it feels as if Andy Bell took some of the queues he got while playing
in Oasis and crafted some anthems for the jilted generation.
FINAL GRADE: B
Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up
The Seattle lo-fi band return with a record that makes you
wonder if nature had a soundtrack what would it be? The answer: Crack-Up.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Dan Auerbach – Waiting on a Song
The Black Keys frontman goes solo for the second time with a
blues record that gives him a little more room to breathe from his main band.
Auerbach has a command over his songwriting but still sticks to the style we
have all grown accustomed to.
FINAL GRADE: B-
KMFDM – Yeah! EP
The fact that KMFDM are still creating pulse pounding beats,
songs, and heavy riffs as they get older is an accomplishment on its own. The
German industrial legends return with an EP that still sticks to the blueprint
of what they have created over the years but also pushes them into the modern
era as well as making them one of the most aggressive and loudest acts still
around.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Jeff Tweedy – Together At Last
The Wilco frontman goes solo and crafts an Americana record
that only he could make.
FINAL GRADE: B-
Alt-J – Relaxer
It is a new Alt-J record. Have you heard the previous two?
Well, then you also heard their latest.
FINAL GRADE: D
Phoenix – Ti Amo
The French alternative rockers return with a new record and
take inspiration from Italian disco, which they carry, that motif out through
their entire collection of latest tunes. However, the issue with this album is
that they should have hired Giorgio Moroder or Nile Rodgers to aide them with
how to create a funky sound because this record not only lacks energy it takes
such an exciting subgenre that is full of life and kills it.
FINAL GRADE: D