Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

We might be getting closer to the end of 2016, but that doesn't mean artists haven't stopped churning out new music. And this week, we've got a nice mix of heavy hitters and up-and-comers. John Legend returns with his fifth album, Darkness and Light, while Childish Gambino is back with his third effort, "Awaken, My Love!". Aly Tadros returns with her new album, Hungry Ghost, and Leeds-based group Living Body with their debut record, Body Is Working. And finally, The Hamilton Mixtape also drops today (December 2)!

Find out more about this week's album releases below.

 

'Darkness and Light' - John Legend

John Legend may have focused on spreading love, especially highlighting the love her has for wife, Chrissy Teigen, on 2013's Love in the Future. John wanted to take it in a different direction, or should we say multiple directions, on the new LP, Darkness and Light. Slimming down his production team to one main man, Blake Mills, who was the producer behind the Grammy-nominated 2015 Alabama Shakes' Sound & Color. And because of this collaboration, the band's frontwoman, Brittany Howard, lends her vocals to the title track, which carries the same sultry grit that we hear from the Alabama rock band. 

"Right By You" has a smokey jazz club vibe to it while the album closer, "Marching in the Dark," floats on the a smooth groove and is reminiscent of the late Marvin Gaye, who was an influenced on this particular album. Unlike John's past work, there's definitely a lot more groove on this one, which very evident on his single, "Penthouse Floor," featuring Chance the Rapper, as well as the lead track, "Love Me Now." While we don't mind some upbeat poppy tunes from the R&B singer, the only one that seems to fall a little short is "Temporarily Painless." But we can forgive that because he's got social awareness going strong throughout the LP including the unapologetic opener, "I Know Better."

 

'The Hamilton Mixtape' - Various Artists

Lin-Manuel Miranda, better known as the mastermind behind the Broadway hit, Hamilton, always wanted to turn the musical's soundtrack into some kind of mixtape. And although fans had to wait a little more than a year for it, the final product was worth the wait.

As you go from track to track, you not only hear why Lin wanted that person to get involved in the project, but also why he or she covered a particular song. And while Hamilton purists may feel longing for the original lyrics and instrumental arrangements, that is what makes what Lin, Black Thought and Questlove did with the featured artists much more powerful.

Not only did it still keep the foundation of the original musical, but the hooks and different verses, especially on "Wrote My Way Out" by Nas, Dave East, Lin and Aloe Blacc, and K'Naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC and Resident's version of "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)," more relevance to today's current environment. While it's clear that the team behind the mixtape took care in their musical choices, there are gems that could easily stand alone as singles including Sia, Miguel and Queen Latifah's version of "Satisfied" and Andra Day's "Burn." Then there's the nice surprise of Jimmy Fallon's cover of "You'll Be Back." And how could we forget about the reunion that early 2000s kids have been waiting for — Ashanti and Ja Rule and their cover of "Satisfied." With so much to cover on this record, it could take forever. So you should just take a listen to it and let it empower, inspire and soothe you.

 

'"Awaken My Love!'" - Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino may have spent much of last year working on sets and promoting his films — The Lazarus Effect, Magic Mike XXL and The Martian. However, it looks like he's managed to take some time to work on some new music for us. Following his 2014 EP, Kauai, Gambino, aka Donald Glover, returns with "Awaken, My Love!". Although he (and his team) has been pretty good about keeping the actual music under wraps, what he's released so far shows not only how he's progressed as an artist but also where it seems music is going. In a time when artists no longer want to be tossed into a box and categorized, Gambino screams that idea out to the heavens with his two singles, "Redbone" and "Me and Your Mama," containing new rap in it. Instead, we get something with '70s soul vibe, emotion in the pockets and a side of the hip-hop artist that we've not seen until now.

"Redbone" is that throwback tune that you play when you're trying to move things from the dinner table to the bedroom. Aside from the body-roll-worthy beat, lyrics like "If you want it / You can have it" and that raspy falsetto wail throughout the middle part of the song will easily make you melt. Then there's "Me and Your Mama," which begins with a lullaby-like melody till it goes into full-blown crooner mode. With the top of the track feeling like The Temptations, the latter part of the tune throws you into a world of psychedelic rock a la Jimi Hendrix. And on top of the sonic shift, the actual songs are much longer than we've heard in years. While new music these days gives you 15 seconds of an intro and straight into the first verse, Gambino really takes his time with minute-long instrumentation in the beginning. While many who were hoping for something like "3005" or "IV. Sweatpants" will feel like Childish Gambino has jumped off the deep end with this one, we can't hate him for even taking that risk.

 

'Body is Working' - Living Body

Leeds has been known for giving us some of the UK's best sounds, and here's another one to add to the roster: Living Body. Made up of Jeff T. Smith, formerly of Juffage, Katie Harkin and Tom Evans of Vessels, along with Alice Rowan, Jenna Isherwood, Sarah Statham. The pop-rock sextet have been working for the past couple of years to bring us their debut album, Body Is Working. The music is pretty straightforward and without any frills — just good songwriting and great harmonies. While "Penumbra" and "Slowburner" will reverberate inside you, their single, "I Recollect," as well as "Last Few True" are the standouts of the record.

 

'Hungry Ghost' - Aly Tadros

Singer-songwriter Aly Tadros is no stranger to showing vulnerability on her records. However, on her latest, Hungry Ghost, she ventures into some heavy topics including overcoming alcoholism, her father's death and the ups and downs of relationships. Working with producer Kevin Salem, you hear the pains, joys and heartaches in songs like "This Is How You Lose Her," "Slow This Heart" and "Silence of the City." "Your Escape" takes you on a dark and mysterious ride while "Higher Than the Moon" is cathartic. If you're looking to tap into the feels, Aly Tadros' Hungry Ghost is the perfect medicine.

 

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