In November, I published an article about some of my favorite albums to listen to. Since November, there have been so many amazing albums released that I feel compelled to curate another list of five albums that I think are worth listening to. Some of these albums are older albums that I never spoke about originally, and others are newer albums that have been released since I published that last article. So, without further ado, here are five more albums that I recommend you give a listen.
1. “Lemonade” by Beyoncé
Honestly, chances are you know the name of this album all too well thanks to its sudden release and HBO film special. To refer to “Lemonade” as solely an album is a huge disservice to the creativity behind what I refer to as an art piece. Not only does the album transcend genre boundaries, but is does it well. Oftentimes when artists try to dabble in other genres the results are very polar. Either the experimentation goes well or it is a catastrophe. “Lemonade” has proved that Beyoncé is not only an astounding singer, dancer, and performer, but that she is also an artist with a creative mind and clear vision of what she wants the world to see.
2. “Smoke + Mirrors” by Imagine Dragons
After the success of their first album, “Night Visions,” Imagine Dragons’ overnight success faded away, but that did not stop them from creating another fantastic, yet risky collection of music. There are tracks on the album that sound exactly like Imagine Dragons songs like “It Comes Back To You” and the title track, “Smoke + Mirrors,” but the risky tracks are what really make this album so worth listening. “Friction,” which utilizes a wide variety of foreign and percussion instruments, is a stand out track. It mixes hard rock and heavy metal elements with odd instrumentation that make it so interesting to listen to in both an active and passive sense. This uniqueness is varied from track to track on “Smoke + Mirrors.”
3. “Badlands” by Halsey
If you’re perception of Halsey’s music is only based on her radio hit, “Closer,” with the Chainsmokers, throw away any preconceived idea of who she is. Halsey’s music, unlike her collaboration with the EDM duo, is edgy and rebellious. “Badlands” is nothing short of uniquely cinematic. Halsey capitalizes on the use of manipulated volumes and layered orchestration on tracks like “Gasoline” and “Control” to that weave movies inside of your mind; a feat not easily achieved in a world of occasionally numbing pop music.
4. “Now That the Light Is Fading” by Maggie Rogers
While this assortment of music is not a full length album, it’s a special five-track EP. Maggie Rogers, a budding young artist mentored by Pharrell Williams, has an audible aesthetic that she is shooting for when she puts out a piece of music. “Now That the Light Is Fading” is no doubt lyrically vague, but finding the hidden messages and stories in her music backed by atmospheric production and foggy harmonies is an adventure in itself. I see Rogers going nowhere but up in her career after listening to this EP.
5. “Excommunication” by Tyler Glenn
If you enjoy the eighties inspired sound of Tyler Glenn’s band, Neon Trees, you will surely enjoy his latest solo album titled “Excommunication.” After coming out as gay and leaving the Mormon Faith following the church’s change in policy regarding homosexuality, Glenn released a solo single called “Trash.” The song which became the lead single for “Excommunication” describes his struggle with be excommunicated for his sexuality and maintaining his faith. This theme is the main topic discussed in this album which features 13 tracks. It’s incredibly interesting to listen to his rough journey from feeling worthless to self-acceptance from track one to track 13.
