Photograph by Liz Forster
2014 was a notably poor year for new music. 2015 has done more than simply pick up the slack. Winter and spring brought in amazing records from Sufjan Steven, Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt and Courtney Barnett and this summer was no exception with great albums in rap, electronic, rock, country and R&B. The following are five amazing albums released while we were away:
Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Surf (8.4/10)
Chance The Rapper sacrificed his headlining power to give his backing band, The Social Experiment, the spotlight on Surf, the semi-follow-up to 2013’s Acid Rap. The free album is packed with an eclectic assortment of guest stars including Busta Rhymes, J. Cole, Big Sean and Migos. Given the name Donnie Trumpet, the album is brass-filled making it one of the jazziest rap albums in recent memory. Chance appears on the majority of songs on Surf and continues to bring his melodic flow and positivity throughout.
Jamie xx – In Colour (9.5/10)
Jamie xx is the silent maestro behind UK alt-act the xx. His solo career has been a slow build to his debut In Colour. The album could best be visualized as glimmers of light on the ripples of a dark lake using samples and melodies to fill silence. Colour is a tribute to London rave culture of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s, and the idea of loneliness in a crowded room. “Loud Places,” the lead single is a sonic masterpiece that is heavy with both joy and despair with countless moving parts. Colour is a leading contender for album of the year proving that electronic music carries real weight and not just build-up and drops.
Tame Impala – Currents (9/10)
Currents is the follow-up to Tame Impala’s breakthrough album, Lonerism. That statement alone describes the meta-genius of this fantastic record. Currents is the story of frontman Kevin Parker breaking up with his girlfriend and accepting life as a budding rock star. Tame Impala’s third album is a modern take on ‘70’s psychedelia as notable on “Let It Happen,” which is almost entirely synth-driven. It is easy to get lost in this 50 minute album with its almost liquid sound. Simply written and masterfully produced, Currents is a triumph for modern rock music.
Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material (8/10)
Modern country is overwrought with over-production and bland songwriting about trucks, blue jeans and beer. Kacey Musgraves strips down her sound and backpedal to country’s roots. Musgraves is the answer to Taylor Swift when she went pop. Unlike Swift, Musgraves is all about being grounded, not filling football arenas and bringing out non-musical celebrities at her concerts. (If you think the comparison is unwarranted, she takes swings at Swift and the country establishment on “Good Ol’ Boys Club.”) She sings about keeping to yourself, trusting your neighbors, and getting high. Musgraves does what other country artists won’t: keep it simple.
Miguel – wildheart (8.7/10)
Miguel’s music is undeniably sexy. Following his breakthrough on Kaleidoscope Dream, the singer turns up the guitar to make a record easily both R&B and rock. While being bedroom music, wildheart also holds political weight as Miguel explores his racial identity being both African-American and Latino in Los Angeles. It’s clear Miguel has been on his toes with competition from his two contemporaries, The Weeknd, who’s had an incredible summer with “I Can’t Feel My Face,” and Frank Ocean, whose new album has had fans anxious for a long-anticipated surprise release. Miguel has worked hard to set himself apart from those two, even to the point of him publicly stating his music is better than Ocean’s. While the verdict is still out between the three, the competition has proved fruitful in Miguel’s studio.
The last four months of 2015 have a lot of pressure to finish strong with more solid releases. In store for the fall are plenty of debuts from Young Thug, Travi$ Scott, Ty Dolla $ign and Tink. There are also plenty of new albums from established artists like Kanye West, Drake, Disclosure, The Weeknd and Frank Ocean. Certainly, there is a lot more in store.