Music can make even the most mundane situation that little bit more special. Sometimes it's random—the perfect song comes on shuffle, or a friend plays an album you've never heard—but sometimes its on you. With so much music being released at such a fast pace, especially in the past few months, it can be difficult not just to keep up, but to find the right situation to properly appreciate each album.
Plus, with infinite options on your preferred streaming service, when it does come time to throw an album on, how do you choose what to play? Well, struggle with indecision no more. Here are ten new albums, and the perfect time to listen to them.
J.I.D. - 'The Never Story'
When to listen: When you're tired of same-sounding trap
Atlanta is a hip-hop hub, and the sound of trap has evolved into an eclectic, genre-blending mix of sounds over the years, but when a trend in ATL takes off, we still get dozens of copycats and sound-alikes. Today, popular hip-hop in Atlanta is inundated with melody driven, hi-hat heavy music, but Atlanta's J.I.D brings lyrical ability to the table. His technically impressive rapping and beat selection set him apart from so many of the other hot rappers in Atlanta right now, and his album The Never Story is one of the best of the year so far.
Rex Orange County - 'Apricot Princess'
When to listen: On a trip back to your hometown for a high school reunion
"When we first spent the night / Nothing else would ever feel that way," Rex Orange County sings on "Nothing," the third song on his excellent Apricot Princess album. "I'm glad I'm not alone anymore / Is this too good to be true?," he sings on the next song, "Sycamore Girl."
The British singer and songwriter sings of the awkwardness of young love and captures the trials and tribulations of growing up through his intimate songs, which mix of indie rock, R&B, and melody drive ballads. The unfiltered honesty of the lyrics will have you reminiscing about high school crushes and raw teenage emotions, but it's better to confront those feelings on the way to that reunion, rather than seven drinks deep as "Don't Stop Believing" plays in a local bar.
Thundercat - 'Drunk'
When to listen: On a boat
Thundercat brought yacht rock into the 21st century with Drunk. The 20-song album is an incredible display of musicianship—Thundercat manages to make his ingenious, experimental bass lines work with contributions from all over the pop spectrum. Wiz Khalifa and Kendrick Lamar share the stage with Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, all while Thundercat is singing about cats and pachinko machines. It's a hugely ambitious project, but it still floats. The songs fly by, and even when he's at his silliest and most free, there's a depth to Thundercat's lyrics and subject matter that isn't immediatley apparent on the surface level. Equal parts thrilling and unfathomable, Drunk is required nautical listening.
Kendrick Lamar - 'DAMN.'
When to listen: Right now
Kendrick Lamar's new album DAMN. is special. His sound has evolved again, and he includes both furious rap anthems like "DNA" and smooth love songs like "Love" alongside storytelling of the very highest caliber on tracks like "Duckworth." Kendrick takes on knotty topics like his complex relationships with God, Compton, and family, but the resulting music is never weighed down by its ambition. If you don't feel something—anything—listening to DAMN., maybe you're not listening hard enough.
Johnny Jewel - 'Windswept'
When to listen: When you're in the mood for coffee and cherry pie.
Having anyone besides Angelo Badalamenti contributing to the score of the upcoming third season of Twin Peaks might sound like a bad idea at first, but Johnny Jewel of Chromatics is more than up to the task. Comprising of unreleased material, including some new songs composed for the new season of David Lynch and Mark Frost's TV show, Windswept is the perfect appetizer in anticipation for the cult show's long-awaited return.
Mac DeMarco - 'This Old Dog'
When to listen: While planting a garden
Mac DeMarco took his time with this album. Each of the 12 songs on This Old Dog shows a different side of the pepperoni playboy—dreamy, lilting romanticisms unfold like the leaves of late spring's flora.
The charming lo-fi quirks that defined his early work have been replaced by charming hi-fi quirks. This Old Dog is spectacularly produced, preserving the guitar work that is DeMarco's calling card while seamlessly integrating a new penchant for electronic flourishes.
But it's his ear for balance that makes This Old Dog such a well-tended garden. There are big juicy hits in "My Old Man" and "On The Level," but they're flanked by short, sweet leafy greens like "Sister" and "This Old Dog." There's even a crawling vine in the seven-minute "Moonlight on the River," a meandering love song that grows stronger with every listen. So get some potting soil, size up your seedlings, throw on This Old Dog, and get planting.
J Hus - 'Common Sense'
When to listen: When you're feeling like a gangster and a gentleman
The new album from British artist J Hus is brilliant. He is a genuine representation of the melting pot that is London's musical culture, from rap to grime to afrobeats to dancehall to garage. As much a singer as he is a rapper, Hus weaves melodies throughout most of his songs, whether the content is stealing your girl or putting in work on the block. For every turned up anthem like "Clartin" or "Goodies" there's something smoother like "Closed Door" or "Sweet Cheeks," so whatever mood you're trying to set, J Hus has a song for you.
Spoek Mathambo - 'Mzanzi Beat Code'
When to listen: At a late night house party
Spoek Mathamabo describes his new album as celebrating the rich and diverse culture of electronic music that exists in his native South Africa, and Mzanzi Beat Code is a wonderful record. If the words "electronic music" make you think of EDM or mega-festivals, then take some time out to listen to dance music with soul, grit, and real emotion.
Many different styles collide on the album, from house and techno to rap, folk, and soul, and the peaks and valleys are just what you need for a house party. Whether you're sweating it out to "The Mountain" or singing the gloriously uplifting lyrics of "I Found U" to your crush, by the time Mzanzi Beat Code has run its course Spoek Mathambo will have taken you on a journey through his South Africa.
Smino - 'blkswn'
When to listen: When you need some self-confidence
Smino's got the juice. The St. Louis rapper's debut album, blkswn, is packed with peerless rapping, smooth melodies, and a sense of self-confidence that is infectious. With his Midwest slang and the numerous plays on his own name (Smeezy F. Baby, Smino Di Grigio etc.), Smino's songs are endlessly replayable, but there are important messages in there too.
Be proud of who you are, and where you're from. You've got this one.
Hot Sugar - 'The Melody of Dust'
When to listen: You're looking to escape to another world.
Hot Sugar's signature style of production conjures bizarre imagery, and he seems to be more than aware of this. Releasing the album as a VR experience and a traditional release, The Melody of Dust is Hot Sugar's otherworldly escapism amplified. Even without the VR component, however, the NYC producer is able to transport listeners into a world wholly his own. It's cute, weird, and always interesting. Just try not to think of Playstation era CGI graphics in their full lo-fi beauty while listening to this.
