Five Albums That Deserved Your Attention This Year
As the year ends, let’s give flowers to artists who’ve put out work this year. Keep reading to see what projects stood out to me.
Renaissance - Beyoncé
We’re in the era where Beyoncé has proven time and time again that she can do anything. In her 25+ career, she has simultaneously created and surpassed the standard. Her confidence is at an all-time high with her latest project, Renaissance. And in the words of Blue Ivy, Beyoncé ain’t “never seen a ceiling in [her] whole life.” My not-so-hot-take is that Renaissance cemented Beyoncé as the greatest entertainer of modern times.
What I enjoy most about Renaissance is how timely and timeless it is. The stress and uncertainty of the past few years left a mark on us. And while this album fails to solve the world’s problems, it oozes the confidence and liberation we all need. Renaissance served as a valve release to consecutive years of frustration and grief. Songs like “Alien Superstar,” “Move,” and “America Has A Problem” serve as reminders to talk (and shake) your shit unapologetically. In addition, the lead single, “Break Your Soul,” single-handedly broke the internet and inspired people to quit their jobs in pursuit of peace.
“Plastic On The Sofa” and “Virgo’s Groove” feel reminiscent of Beyoncé's earlier R&B days. The songs are warm, sentimental, and demonstrative of her vocal prowess.
Top tracks include:
“Heated”
“Move” featuring Tems and Grace Jones
“Thique”
Black Radio III - Robert Glasper
Black Radio III lives up to its name.
It features iconic Black voices, young and old, such as India.Arie, Common, Alex Isley, Ledisi and frequent contributor - Bilal.But what I love most about this album is that it brings to life old memories of listening to R&B and Soul radio stations. ‘The Supreme Edition’ hosts a whopping 21 tracks, and while I’m generally skeptical of large bodies of work, I have to say that each track has its place.
R&B and soul radio stations were always my favorite to listen to growing up, and Glasper’s Black Radio III brings to life those memories. However, our listening habits have drastically changed since those times. We listen to less radio; we’re influenced by algorithms and exposed to a greater variety of music. While that doesn’t necessarily sound bad, I wish there were more [read: mainstream/marketed] spaces for Black music. This brings me back to ‘Black Radio III’ - this album sounds like a refuge and a reminder of home and self. It reflects the Black experience demonstrated via Glasper’s musicality by tapping into our [read: Black people] public-private stars and through the stories told (stories about love, reverence, commitment, and so many more). It’s a fantastic body of work and a favorite this year.
Top tracks include:
• “Everybody Love” featuring Musiq Soulchild and Posdnous
• “Hi” featuring India.arie
• “Why We Speak” featuring Q-Tip and Esperanza Spaulding
• “Voyage to Atlantis” featuring Bilal and Alex Isley
Whatever The Weather - Loraine James/WTW
The album mirrors the fluid and unpredictable characteristics of weather. Each track is named after a degree and fluctuates from warm to cold and back again.
The coldest temperature, “0°C,” is expectedly wintry. Embellished with static distortions and droplet sound effects, “0°C” appeals to winter tropes of reflection and stillness. Each “cool” track is marked with reflective and meditative traits. Whether that’s the haunting, dreamlike vocals featured on “4°C” or the crisp and airy melody on “6°C.”
Tracks “30°C” and “36°C” serve as beams of light breaking through clouds. Both tracks, directly and indirectly, evoke feelings of warmth. “30°C” is one of the few tracks with clear and recognizable vocals. You hear lyrics akin to affirmations - melodic, repetitious, and full of encouragement (“We see the light again”). While the whimsy synths featured on “36°C” stir up feelings of hope and wonder.
What I enjoy most about “whatever the Weather” is Loraine James’ attention to detail and commitment to creating a deeply emotional album. The weather construct is my favorite trait. It helps to characterize a mood/feeling and captures the nuances well.
If you’re an ambient or electronic music fan or want to give yourself space, I would add this to the queue.
Top tracks include:
“2°C (Intermittent Rain).”
“14°C”
“28°C (Intermittent Sun)”
FROGE.mp3 - Piri & Tommy
Piri & Tommy are a young couple reinvigorating the UK dance scene. Their debut album, Froge.mp3, nearly rivaled my obsession with Beyoncé’s Renaissance. The standout track, “Words,” was on my Spotify ‘On Repeat’ for longer than I’m willing to admit. This song, and all of Froge.mp3, reignited my love for dance music and plunged me into a new obsession: jungle and drum ‘n bass (remind me to share more about this at a later date :) )
What I enjoy most about the album is how liberating it feels. If you look beyond the explosive beats and the infectious choruses, you’ll hear deeply personal (yet widely resonant) thoughts about love, adolescence, and needs.
“Soft Spot,” “Slowly But Surely,” and “Settle” pull on my inner teenage heartstrings and tell stories of young, headstrong love. While songs like “Words” and “Say It” reveals Piri’s desires for her relationship, albeit better communication or proclamations of love.
Top tracks include:
“Words”
“On & On”
“Settle”
Quality Over Opinion - Louis Cole
See below for previous thoughts on Quality Over Opinion
“I came to know Louis Cole for his 2018 project, Time. His songs' More Love Less Hate", "Tunnels in the Air," and "Night" initially caught my attention. Cole recently released his latest project, Quality Over Opinion, which exceeded my expectations. It's both engaging and reflective from beginning to end.”
In a way, Quality Over Opinion feels like a response to the pressures surrounding artists today. Clicks and engagement are the game's name, leaving artists with the burden of garnering attention with the intention of "going viral." Louis Cole pushes back on this notion with his album and title track, Quality Over Opinion. In this 20-track project, each song stands on its own while collectively showcasing Cole's musical prowess. The album is boundless and incorporates elements found in various genres, including folk, dance, rock, and jazz. This album has no master; it's a collection of experiences that transcend any one person. The themes discussed are timely and timeless. And the production and instrumentation are otherworldly. This album feels like an album without chains. And by the end of the project, you'll be craving for more.
Top tracks include:
“Park Your Car Right On My Face”
“Don’t Care”
“Dead Inside Shuffle”