April is ending on a high note with lots of new music to be listened to. But after pouring through what seems like an endless list of new albums dropping this week, we've narrowed it down to our favorite five. First up, there's the long-awaited Gorillaz record, Humanz. Sylvan Esso are back with their latest album, What Now, while Lea Michele serves us up some feelings with her new record, Places. Cataldo returns with Keepers, and Little Cub makes their LP debut with Still Life.
Learn more about this week's new music picks below.
'Humanz' - Gorillaz
It's been a while since The Fall released. And when we thought that the Gorillaz were going to bed for good, whispers started sparking the return of the animated band. Though it seemed too good to be true, Humanz is finally here, and fans all over the globe are ecstatic for it. Just look at the the millions of views that their audio clips have been getting on their YouTube channel, and that's without the full record releasing yet.
Let's also not forget the group of Gorillaz fans who made it to Brooklyn earlier this week to see Damon Albarn and co. share the new tunes, along with the classics. So after all the waiting, is it worth it? Ask a Gorillaz devotee, and you'll get a resounding "Hellz yeah!"
Hardcore fans aside, you can't deny that Humanz is a solid piece of work that is not only full of great beats, but also strong messages. Lyrically tackling sociopolitical issues, the band — animated or not — push the limit on what they have to say, which we get from "We Got the Power" and "Ascension." Perhaps the only thing that can make the Gorillaz purist a bit conflicted is the inclusion of so many collaborators. From Vince Staples and Danny Brown to D.R.A.M. and Jehnny Beth of Savages, were there too many cooks in the kitchen? I'll go ahead and say that I welcome the different vocals and avenues the songs take. But don't just take my word for it, give Humanz a listen and tell us what you think.
'What Now' - Sylvan Esso
When Sylvan Esso brought the world "Coffee" in 2014, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn brought an interesting blend of sounds that can be best described as "electronic folk."
And yes, while folk, at its heart, has that acoustic element to it, the timbre in Amelia's voice lends itself that natural rawness that we get from folk music that sounds so interesting on top Nick's beats. Trying to imagine that going together without giving What Now or their old stuff a listen will definitely not give you the sonic genius that beams from these two. The new album showcases their more modern sound mosaics like "Die Young" and "Kick Jump Twist" — a song that would be perfect in a Nintendo game. But that's not all.
The new record also offers more melodic pop songs that melds the different sounds together rather nicely. Take "Song," for instance. There's something very carefree and fun about the tune. "Rewind," the album closer, also has a nice tone that will soothe anyone's mind at the end of the day like a light spring shower in the middle of the afternoon. And if you've ever seen Sylvan Esso live, you've seen how hard they like to hit the stage. With What Now, the new songs will add more energy and dynamic to their live set, which I, for one, can't wait to see.
'Places' - Lea Michele
Lea Michele is back with her sophomore album, Places. And if you gave her first solo record, Louder, a listen, you'll be relieved to know that Lea has returned in the best way possible.
While Louder wasn't a bad album, there was something that seemed to take away from what Glee and Broadway fans loved about her: that voice. And with Places, it sounds like she realized that, too. Each of the 11 tracks on the album brings us the power of her vocals and reintroduces the singer as a power balladeer. "Run to You" is like a orchestral embrace while "Sentimental Memories" takes back in time. And even though "Believer" has more of that mid-tempo pop feel, it still rings like epic anthem.
Places makes me feel the same way i listened to Celine Dion's 1996 album, Falling Into You. So Places gives us this generation's Celine in Lea. And as a friend pointed out to me, there's definitely a group of people who thrive on that emotional, belt-worthy tunage — regardless of what age you are.
'Keepers' - Cataldo
After releasing his record, Gilded Oldies, Cataldo is back with a new set of tunes that are not only bigger, but will also fill a room.
Keepers will add more spring to your steps with lots of instrumental layers that make many of the songs sound like anthems. This is an interesting contrast to frontman Eric Anderson's laissez faire approach to the microphone. It's this relaxed tone that take the album from being too much or all over the place. And although there are softer sounds like "A Short Goodbye to No One in Particular," "Photograph" and the rock jam "Willow Tree" will get you hopping around. While Cataldo and Keepers may not be for everyone as they showed in this "market research" clip, there is something fun and quirky to love about this record. So take it for a spin and decide for yourself.
'Still Life' - Little Cub
After giving Little Cub's Still Life a listen, you'll be surprised to know that this is the South London band's debut album. Each song carries its own message and instrumental arrangement yet flows so fluidly from track to track. And while it might be their first effort at this whole LP business, it was their choice to take their time to put together a set of songs that tell a cohesive story — their stories.
But the time it took from the time they started collaborating back in 2013 to now wasn't all because of creative freedom. Producer Duncan Tootill was in the US while Dominic Gore and Ady Acolatse were in the UK. The transatlantic situation may have delayed new material for the fans they've garnered, but seems to have helped Still Life's cohesive sound.
Little Cub has done a good job of getting the feel of the dark and somber tones of British pop music while keeping things current with its beats. And as your swept away in the music like on "Closing Time" or "My Nature," you start to let the lyrics, which actually started as poems, and learn the messages that Little Cub is aiming to put out. Lyrically inspired by their every day lives, it is their soundtrack and hopes to get you to make it yours, too.
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