Top 5 Album Releases of the Week

If there's one thing that links this week's new music picks have in common, it is that they will immediately fill your world with good sounds and vibes. First, Lupe Fiasco returns with his new effort, Drogas Light, while Thievery Corporation show that they still got it with Temple of I and I. Sinkane is back with his new album, Life & Livin' It. Finally, there are two up-and-coming acts that are dropping their debut albums this week. Denmark's Lowly release, Heba, and Christopher Martin croons and aims to swoon with his first full-length, Big Deal.

Find out more about this week's Top 5 Album Releases below. 

 

'Drogas Light' - Lupe Fiasco

We thought Lupe Fiasco retired. Apparently he didn't. Instead he decided to go independent after parting ways with his former label, Atlantic Records, following 2015's Tetsuo & Youth. And now he's back with Drogas Light, which is part of a three-part album series that is supposed to mark the closing chapter of his rapping days. So when you've more or less put an end date on your music career, you may as well put out the best and strongest songs you have yet. But does he do it on the record?

While the beats are definitely on the catchy side, many of the tracks sound like hype tracks more than anything else. However, there are some gems on the record like "Tranquillo" with Rick Ross and Big K.R.I.T. and "City of the Year" featuring Rondo. Despite the highs and lows on this record, hip-hop fans should give Drogas Light for a spin — if not for the music, for the sake that it could be some of the last times you'll hear new material from Lupe.

 

'The Temple of I & I' - Thievery Corporation

With their lifelong love of Jamaican music, Thievery Corporation's new album highly reflects how Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are influenced by those island on their new album, The Temple of I and I.

While their opening track, "Thief Rockers," shows more of a fusion of sounds, the rest of the album will make you feel like like you're on the Caribbean island like "True Sons of Zion" and "Babylon Falling." Aside from letting the beats lure you in, songs like "Ghetto Matrix" and "Letter to the Editor" have very strong socio-political messages that leave you thinking about the bigger picture. The Temple of I and I feels more than just another album — it's like an immersive cultural experience that will leave you musically, mentally and spiritually satisfied.

 

'Life & Livin' It' - Sinkane

Sinkane won't let genre lines stop him from making the music he wants to make, and that's very clear on his new album, Life & Livin' It. Just from the title alone, it seems that the London-born, Sundanese-raised, Utah local really bridges the sonic gaps and composes a collection of tracks that will make you want to play it over and over again, like "Telephone" and "Passenger."

While "Telephone" has that '70s disco appeal for anyone who wants to get down, "Passenger" has layers of Latin congo beats that will make you want to samba around the dance floor.  Then there's the horn-driven "U'Huh," which starts off like a big band version of The Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." It then quickly changes gears but makes you want to move just the same. Although Life & Livin' It might be an energy-packed record, it ends like a workout and has its cool down period with "Won't Follow" and "The Way."

 

'Heba' - Lowly

Lowly create interesting orchestral soundscapes on the debut album, Heba.

The Danish band will make you feel like you're flying as soon as you press play on the album opener, "Still Life." With the intention of making "noise pop," the band, who all met one another in at their music academy in Aarhus, Denmark, the band explores various styles of music from the jazz-tinged "Look at the Sun" to the fuzzy guitar-led "Pommerate." Singer Soffie Viemose adds a wide-eyed gentleness with her soprano vocals but also commands our ears and attentions to pay attention to what she has to say, especially on tracks like "Prepare the Lake" and "Word." It's really hard to pinpoint where Lowly fit in the musical spectrum, but after listening to Heba, that will no longer matter.

 

'Big Deal' - Christopher Martin

With Valentine's Day coming in a few days, it seems Christopher Martin will be able to take care of your soundtrack with his debut international release, Big Deal. Known in his native Jamaica since winning Digicel (the country's version of American Idol), his Caribbean crooning ways shine through on this album.

And although the title track, which opens the album, might make you think otherwise, the rest of the record is full of songs like "Better Than the Stars" and "Under the Influence" that not only will entice you to get hot and heavy with your other half but also want to cuddle after the fact. With a hefty set of 16 tracks, there are a variety of beats, melodies and reggae rhythms that will get you moving. But he also tries throw out a few cautionary tales on there with "Cheater's Prayer" and "Magic," which looks at infidelity and temptation. Christopher also closes the track with the calming "Easy Liike Sunday Morning," which takes inspiration from the original Commodores' track, "Easy." If you're looking for some good vibes in the coming week, this is the record for you.

 

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