Review Roundup #6
Ten more albums from this year that I thought were great and deserve your attention. FYI some of these were spoiled by the “Best of 2024 So Far” list that came out two weeks ago. As always, links to the albums are embedded in the album art.
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT
Billie Eilish
Alt-Pop
Billie Eilish's third studio album showcases her expanding vocal range and maturing sound, blending her signature breathy vocals with powerful, raw takes. The album's ten tracks explore themes of fear, love, intimacy, and fame, delivering a cohesive, meticulously produced experience. It includes reflections on body image, funky explorations of queerness, and experiments with various styles, from Daft Punk-inspired clubbers to upbeat pure pop. The album is a standout for Eilish, evolving over its runtime from a melancholic ballads to powerful anthems to emotional depths. Eilish's confident artistry and intentionality make this album a significant achievement, and she’s already won two Oscars.
Highlights: “LUNCH”, “CHIHIRO”, “THE GREATEST”
Atavista
Childish Gambino
Neo-Soul
Yes, I know, this is just 3.15.20 reproduced, but that finesse and expansion of tracks makes this an entirely new experience. Donald Glover’s eclectic mix of styles, ranging from funk and glam rock to Afro-futurism help to perfectly blend his lyrical themes of personal introspection with broader social commentary. The reproduction gives many of the tracks a more complex, emotional resonance than on their initial release, and Glover’s ambition to give each song its proper due creates an overall product that is incredibly bold, endlessly creative, and wonderfully refreshing.
Highlights: “Algorhythm”, “To Be Hunted”, “Human Sacrifice”
Dark Times
Vince Staples
West Coast Hip Hop
Vince Staples' Dark Times is an introspective and cohesive album that finds the rapper reflecting on his past and present with a newfound maturity. Spanning 13 tracks (but only 35 minutes), the album delves into themes of success, guilt, and introspection, with Staples reconciling his experiences and their impact on his life. Tracks throughout highlight his storytelling prowess, blending personal anecdotes with broader reflections on fame and its consequences. The album features strong production from RAHM, Michael Uzowuru, and others, with a sound that balances atmospheric soulfulness and vintage influences. Overall, this most recent effort showcases Vince Staples' continual growth as an artist, offering a compelling portrait of his journey while continuing to develop his signature aesthetic into his very own sub-genre of the West Coast style.
Highlights: “Shame on the Devil”, ““Radio””, “Little Homies”
To All Trains
Shellac
Post-Hardcore
Shellac's To All Trains, the band's final album following Steve Albini's unexpected death, serves as a poignant yet unsentimental farewell. Maintaining their signature minimalist rock style, the album features sharp, witty lyrics and dynamic instrumentation. The album has moments that showcase Shellac’s humor and depth, while others highlight the band's raw, concise sound. Despite the urge to view it as an epitaph, To All Trains remains a testament to Shellac’s enduring spirit and Albini’s distinctive voice in the music world.
Highlights: “WSOD”, “Scrappers”, “I Don’t Fear Hell”
#RICHAXXHAITIAN
Mach-Hommy
Abstract Hip Hop
Mach-Hommy's new album is a powerful conclusion to his Haiti-focused tetralogy, which started with HBO and includes Pray for Haiti and Balens Cho. This final installment continues to explore Haiti's political struggles and cultural heritage, emphasizing the country's intellectual and artistic contributions. Mach-Hommy's intricate lyrical style and eclectic influences create a rich, layered listening experience. The album features collaborations with notable artists like Roc Marciano and Black Thought, and producers such as KAYTRANADA and Quelle Chris, adding depth and variety to its sound.
Highlights: “SUR LE PONT d’AVIGNON (Reparation #1)”, “COPY COLD”, “#RICHAXXHAITIAN”
The Dream of Delphi
Bat for Lashes
Art Pop
My love for Natasha Khan and her musica project, Bat for Lashes, is well-known here, so this inclusion of her return after five years away is no surprise. The Dream of Delphi explores the ethereal and emotional journey of motherhood through minimalist and ambient electro-pop sounds, and no one does it better. Natasha Khan blends sci-fi synths with classical instruments, creating her signature blend of cinematic and introspective. The album starts with the hypnotic title track and moves through tender, almost fragile compositions, capturing personal and universal themes of life and growth. Mmore upbeat, familiar tracks are scattered throughout, while the album as a whole maintains a delicate balance between otherworldly and nurturing. Khan’s avant-garde approach results in a deeply personal yet relatable collection of songs that transcend the typical narratives associated with childbirth and parenting. Welcome back Natasha.
Highlights: “The Dream of Delphi”, “Letter to My Daughter”, “Home”
Night Reign
Arooj Aftab
Chamber Folk
Night Reign is a captivating blend of jazz, Hindustani classical, and folk influences, creating an enchanting and mysterious atmosphere. This marks a departure from the grief-laden tones of Arooj Aftab’s previous work, Vulture Prince, moving towards themes of transformation, potential, and the beauty of the night. Some songs explore new emotional territories with playful and exploratory arrangements, while others feature notable guest contributions, including a fresh take on an old jazz standard, and an ethereal ode to a captivating woman. Overall, Night Reign is rightly celebrated for its emotional depth and innovative soundscapes, solidifying Aftab's place in contemporary music.
Highlights: “Aey Nehin”, “Na Gul”, “Raat Ki Rani”
Brat
Charli xcx
Electropop
Brat is unlike anything I’ve heard in the pop space before, and that includes Charli’s other efforts, like Vroom Vroom and Charli. It’s somehow even bolder, brasher, grittier, and experimental…-er, but at the same time feels like a return to her rave and hyperpop roots. The album blends infectious pop hooks with raw, unfiltered lyrics about fame, personal insecurities, and existential crises. It is able to be heartbreakingly vulnerable and maintain an almost-overly-innovative production style, making it Charli xcx's (now lower-case) best work to date. The big singles show off her signature high-energy style, while other tracks delve into more introspective territory. Overall, Brat is a confident and provocative statement from Charli xcx, solidifying her status as a pop innovator.
Highlights: is it even possible to narrow it down to just three? umm… I guess: “360”, “Von dutch”, “So I” (RIP Sophie 😭)
…
… but also, like, “Club classics”, “Sympathy is a knife”, “Girl, so confusing”, “Apple”, “B2b”, “365,” this album is so fucking fantastic.
Why Lawd?
NxWorries
Neo-Soul
Why Lawd? showcases the creative synergy between Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, delivering a blend of neo-soul and R&B with thoughtful lyricism and smooth production. Anderson .Paak's versatile vocals and storytelling shine, addressing themes of love, conflict, and personal growth with maturity and introspection. The album features notable collaborations, including contributions from Snoop Dogg, H.E.R., Earl Sweatshirt, and Thundercat, which add depth and variety to the project. Knxwledge's production is consistently strong, providing a rich and textured backdrop for .Paak's performances. It’s a testament to the duo's artistic evolution and chemistry.
Highlights: “Daydreaming”, “FromHere”, “WalkOnBy”
Sentir Que No Sabes
Mabe Fratti
Art Pop
Sentir Que No Sabes is a complex and textured exploration of uncertainty and existential dread, blending elements of experimental music with accessible art pop. The album, whose title translates to "Feel Like You Don't Know," features Fratti's uncanny ability to create lush, atmospheric soundscapes using her cello, layered vocals, and various electronic and acoustic instruments. The compositions often oscillate between moments of serene beauty and jarring dissonance, reflecting themes of existential and cosmic flux. Thnk: a Spanish-language Julia Holter, if that helps. Fratti's music defies easy categorization, weaving between abstract instrumental pieces and more structured songs that still subvert traditional pop norms, resulting in a uniquely immersive and limitlessly intriguing listening experience.
Highlights: “Kravitz”, “Enfrente”, “Intento fallido”
As always, happy listening!
