A new concept that I have decided to do is a monthly music review on the newest releases. Personally, I am constantly searching for new albums and artists to listen to including both covers and originals. While I'll do my best to keep the content isolated to within that month, if I have an album from before then that I just need to write about, I'll be putting them in their own "Honorable Mention" category. On that note, here we go!
Want You Back
5 Seconds of Summer
This long awaited release is by far my personal favorite from this list. After being on a 2 year hiatus from releasing music, 5SOS took their audience on an adventure with this completely new sound. With their upcoming album being their first since every members reaching adulthood, it was only expected that their sound would change too. No more are the young teenagers singing about girls in their underwear and dressing up figurative superheroes. The band has decided to take a more mature approach to their third album, unofficially named 5SOS3. While the band released this single, 5SOS also announced a 3 month promotional tour hitting smaller venues across the world. This track will give you serious Coldplay-meets-The1975 vibes for sure and the F-bomb in the first verse lets the listeners know they aren't boys anymore. All in all, I may have shed a tear or twelve listening to this for the first time as I've followed their journey in music since the beginning of high school. I couldn't be more proud of where they're going not only in thier careers but who they have become as people.
Aurora
Bea Miller
After releasing a series of EP's Bea Miller has finally released her second studio album. She has transformed into an artist who sings of heartbreak, budding romance and just being a woman. Much like the previous band, she has taken on a much mature sound. Her song "S.L.U.T." takes a stand for empowering yourself be changing the derogatory term into "Sweet Little Unforgettable Thing" which is seriously dope. Aurora consists mostly of sons from previous released over the course of 2017 such as "Song Like You" and "Buy Me Diamonds". Her soulful voice takes listeners on a journey that they'll surely love.
Man Of The Woods
Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake released his latest studio album which happens to be his 5th as an independent artist. Far from his boy band days, Timberlake is another artist that takes on a new sound. This album is a perfect merge between traditional and modern music. While his R&B sound mixed with pop isn't an entirely new concept, he makes it unique. After his Super Bowl performance that received mixed reviews (still don't understand why there was no NSYNC reunion but thats besides the point), all eyes were on Timberlake. Man In The Woods was widely criticized but also received praise among millions, including myself.
Honorable Mentions
The Greatest Showman (December 2017)
Various Artists
This... This is where I get emotional. Not only was this movie the best I've ever seen, the soundtrack as well is out of this world. In a world full of fighting for the underdog, this album embodies that concept perfectly. "This Is Me" takes the term "Anthem" to an entirely new level. That song alone brought the album up to #1 on the charts and has literally became an anthem for millions of listeners. It is up for numerous awards including Best Original Song which is insane. I can't say enough about Pasek and Paul and their song composition skills. They wrote the soundtrack for The Greatest Showman before La La Land which is when they first received high praise. Other tracks like "The Other Side", "Rewrite The Stars", and "Never Enough" are personal favorites of mine. This entire soundtrack is heartfelt, catchy and has had a positive impact on the lives of many.
Entertainment (January 2018)
Waterparks
One of the hardest things for artists to do, is to overcome the "sophomore slump" of a second album... Waterparks quickly overcame that. Entertainment is the type of album with a song for every mood. From pop rock to electronic to punk, this album literally has everything. Waterparks strives on constantly changing up their sound and thinking outside the box". This album is equally both interesting and entertaining. I guess the title is more than fitting.
