New Albums – Music blogger

New Album Picks

July 11, 2017by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment

The Japanese House – Saw You In A Dream

Distilled vocals and extended guitar riffs compile a gorgeous EP worthy of every summer sunset. Title track “Saw You In A Dream” is a romantic pop montage, while “Count to Nine” is a borderline indie hit infused with modern electronics. Lead singer, Amber Bain’s voice is as breathy as a summer breeze reminiscent of the eclectic Imogen Heap.

Top songs: “Saw You In A Dream” and “3/3”

LANY – LANY

16 tracks make up this epic electropop fusion of music. LANY have started to make a name for themselves with the unique soft edged voice of Paul Jason Klein leading the group onto the charts. His voice glides along any riff, melting into your ears. Exploring every element of love and relationships, the band tackles it head first.

Top songs: “Super Far” and “Hericane”

Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1

Far from his “Feel So Close” days, Harris shakes his EDM brand. With a plethora of cameo’s, Funk challenges what we’re used to hearing on pop radio from the UK native. Each song has an underlying funk layer stacked with top R&B/hip-hop slayers like: Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott, Pharrell, and more. “Rollin” is your car jam and “Feels” is your Friday night turn-up.

Top songs: “Prayers Up” and “Feels”

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5 New Albums to Look For This Year

January 3, 2017January 3, 2017by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment

Kehlani: SweetSexySavage, Jan. 27

My prediction? She will become a leader on the R&B charts, dominating every spot. Her raw honesty and sense of self made her a frontrunner in music this past year. Keeping simple R&B sounds with spicy lyrics that fit the bill (listen to “Distraction”). SweetSexySavage, will be what you’re bumping going into 2017.

Big Sean: I Decided, Feb. 3

It’s been a minute since his last album, Dark Sky Paradise (2015) which was flooded with all-star cameo’s like Ariana Grande and Kanye West. The rapper has slowly been releasing singles throughout 2016 with, “Living Single,” “Bounce Back,” “Moves,” and “No More Interviews.” Big Sean told Entertainment Weekly the album is focused on rebirth, saying “Sometimes I feel like I was an old man and didn’t succeed in life and asked for a second chance, and this is my second chance.”

The XX: I See You, Jan 13.

Mumbled rhyme schemes and pulsating guitar riffs litter every XX track. After their hit, “On Hold,” fans became once again addicted to the distinct XX sound. “There was so much pressure from ourselves about: What do people like about us? What makes us sound like us? What do we need to hang onto?” member Oliver Sim told Pitchfork. The trio remains out of the limelight as much as possible holding onto their privacy as much as they can. I See You could be their best yet.

Katy Perry: ??

It is rumored that Ms. Perry is back in the studio again working on new music. We haven’t heard much from the singer since her laid back 2013 album, Prism; garnering hits like, “Birthday,” “Dark Horse,” and “This Is How We Do.” Will she continue her pop-happy radio domination in 2017? Only time will tell…

Ed Sheeran: ??

Sheeran has been MIA for quite some time, perhaps perfecting his acoustic/pop sound? The crooner shared an Instagram with fans hinting that new music would be released this Friday (1/6). An album? single? music video? We just have to wait and see. In the past, he’s mentioned his progress on his third album (reportedly titled “÷”- following the numeric theme he’s titled past albums) calling it, “The best thing I have made thus far.”

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Mac Miller’s Love Bible: The Divine Feminine

September 16, 2016by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment

Mac Miller just came back in a big way. Dating pop’s favorite high-profile princess and releasing a brand new album, collabing with Ty Dolla $ign, Kendrick Lamar, and even Ariana Grande herself. Turning down about ten notches, The Divine Feminine proves to be one of Miller’s calmest efforts yet. The tracks are more of a deep eclectic compilation, making you feel warm and cozy instead of ready to pick up a solo cup.

Fans had a taste of this musical shift early on with the vibey summer single, “Dang!”

featuring soulman Anderson Paak. It feels like Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” mixed with Motown, mixed with Big Band, mixed with R&B, and dipped in a vat of soft rap. Nothing’s aggressive and the musicality is at its peak. The verses are sweet & sour, making you pay attention to every word for fear you’ll miss the point. This is the Mac we should all be listening to.

Ty Dolla $ign assists on standout track, “Cinderella” where Miller focuses on a woman he’s in love with. A melancholy riff repeats itself as mellow hip-hop beats ooze into your body. “You in my dreams that’s why I sleep all the time, just to hear you say I love you, just to touch you,” Miller cohesively spits out.

Ripping a page out of rap master Kendrick Lamar’s book, “God is Fair, Sexy, Nasty” feels like a deep cut from Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Miller went on Zayne Lowe Beats 1 Radio Show and commented on the album closer saying, “It sounds like being in the ocean, relaxing, calm, floating and just like there and comfortable in your thoughts, and that’s how the record ends, which is so awesome.”

Divine [dih-vahyn] – “Of or relating to a god, especially the Supreme Being.” There’s no doubt this album is an ode to not only women everywhere (thanks Mac!) but little Miss Ariana Grande. He drops Hansel & Gretel hints of her on almost every song, making you wonder if she was the sole muse of this project. Opening track, “Congratulations” features what sounds to be clips of her infamous child-like giggle along with another female voice saying, “The Divine Feminine, an album by Mac Miller.” Romantic piano notes then guide Miller’s soft vocals. This theatrical opener already sets Feminine apart from his previous work.

Miller admitted Feminine was inspired by love, telling billboard.com, “On the last album, I realized there’s no love songs, and I wanted to do a project based around that.” He also mentioned his duet (“Favorite Part”) with his girlfriend; “I wanted a foundation to paint on, something very simple with her.”

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Ariana Grande: Armed & Dangerous

May 21, 2016May 21, 2016by Blondie and the BeatLeave a Comment

“Something bout you, makes me feel like a dangerous woman,” are the words slithering out of Ariana Grande’s plump pink coated lips. Her third album titled Dangerous Woman branches away from her past musical endeavors as Ms. Grande is now a full grown woman, although she remains at a tiny 5′ 0″ tall with a net worth of $25 million.

Grande has been doing pop right since day one; catchy lyrics, a hop on the EDM wagon, pop synths for days, and flawless harmonies. Dangerous Woman is a lethal album, torching every other pop sound in the way. With the help of musical God Max Martin, who’s worked with almost every pop artist in the game (Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, etc), Grande’s album is destined for success.

Add guest artists like Lil Wayne, Future, Nicki Minaj, and Macy Gray, and the album becomes a show of who can Ariana NOT sound good with. She pushes her musical limits mixing more dance/hip-hop/r&b elements than we’ve heard from the singer before. She also keeps her vocal runs we so desperately crave i.e. “Dangerous Woman,” “Be Alright,” and “Greedy.”

Not only is the album a slice of musical heaven, but the advertising behind it was brilliant in every way. Ariana had originally planned on calling her album Moonlight, then decided to change the name to Dangerous Woman, highlighting the changes she’s gone through over the past year. After posting pictures and quotes of dangerous women in history to motivate, fans became more excited for the album. Her style shifted to more of an edgy vibe; something that suits her well. The cover artwork for Dangerous Woman is Grande in a black latex cat face mask, showing a sexier side of the singer.

It’s very easy to put Grande in a category with every other pop star, but we shouldn’t. Woman is proof of her own sound; romantic pop. Each song takes you on a gorgeous journey through love and relationships. She swoons over her crushes, pain, and longing for real love. “Thinking Bout You” takes on the theme of loss as Grande sings, “I don’t have you here with me, but at least I have the memory.” Her voice couldn’t be more impeccable if she tried. Everything about Dangerous Woman is an addicting force in the music world.

Ariana Grande: The reincarnated pop Queen our kingdom has been longing for.

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Talking Is Hard, so just listen

December 7, 2014December 7, 2014by Blondie and the Beat1 Comment

Walk the Moon’s second full length album just dropped this week. It’s titled, Talking Is Hard and I couldn’t agree more. The guys take a musical journey on this album, venturing out of their usual beach-pop sound to a more sophisticated alt/rock band. There are so many new elements that were tested on this album and Walk the Moon prevailed.

Songs like “Sidekick,” “Shut Up and Dance,” and “Avalanche” are classic Walk the Moon sounds. This band has mastered the short guitar riffs and have let them infest these tracks in the coolest way. Lead singer, Nicholas Petricca’s vocals are unique, high-pitched at times, and shout-y but in the best way possible. If you’ve ever watched any of the bands Instagram videos you would know that every band member has a fantastic singing voice and they all harmonize together beautifully.

http://instagram.com/p/sLt_RyywRR/ -You’re welcome

This band has truly come into their own on this album. The song “Up 2 U” shows WTM fans that they can freaking rock. The song slowly builds up to an absolutely electric chorus, you can’t help but say “No way is that Walk the Moon?” Petricca takes a hint from The Black Keys and belts into a muffled microphone as guitar’s wail violently behind him. Near the end of the song, the band truly goes insane playing a massive guitar solo, including stop-time (an essential rock staple), and making fans drool to hear this song live.

Petricca and bassist Kevin Ray tear up a live performance. Image via bing.com — Petricca and bassist Kevin Ray tear up a live performance.
Image via bing.com

“Portugal,” delivers powerful lyrics highlighting the reality of growing up, losing friends, and losing love. Petricca backed by the other men, sings, “You grow up when you’re not looking, we grow up but without knowing, and all of a sudden I’m leaving.” Synthesizers layer on the edge of hidden haunting piano chords. This song in its entirety is trance-like, almost as if you could listen to it all day. The band harmonizes/chants different phrases from the song, which tie the song together to create what is an absolute stand-out track off the album.

Another new sound off this album is heard on, “Come Under the Covers” the boys bring back a solid guitar riff and show off their more alternative side. Petricca’s vocals are smooth to the point where he could melt you into a puddle. Verses seem reminiscent of a soaring guitar U2 vibe, that can make anyone feel enlightened. The song is a masterpiece start to finish. Walk the Moon knows how to use imagery in their lyrics to the point where it’s almost magical; “Tiptoe, down the hall from where you live, these floors are talkative.” “Come Under the Covers,” expresses a passionate love and the physical aspect that comes along with knowing and loving someone so much. The lyrics are modest without going overboard, but gives fans enough of a sultry taste into the story Walk the Moon is trying to tell; “Come under the cover, ’cause I wanna leave you satisfied tonight.” This song makes you want love.

Talking Is Hard is a true passion project. Walk the Moon makes you feel so much in only a matter of 12 songs. I am so proud of this album and the true artistry Walk the Moon has expressed.

-Abbey

Tag: New Albums

New Album Picks

5 New Albums to Look For This Year

Mac Miller’s Love Bible: The Divine Feminine

Ariana Grande: Armed & Dangerous

Talking Is Hard, so just listen

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