While Adam Levine once sang in the 2011 hit “Stereo Hearts,” that “good music can be so hard to find” I disagree. Good music is incredibly easy to find with the right resources, and that was especially true this summer.
James Blake set the precedent in May with his album “The Colour in Anything,” a drearily gorgeous and calming 76 minutes that makes you want to sip coffee and contemplate your existence while staring out the window of a dark bedroom. Within 24 hours of James Blake’s release, Radiohead dropped a dreamy and somewhat less cynical album “A Moon Shaped Pool.”Contemplative tracks like the punchy fan favorite “Burn The Witch” and eerie “Ful Stop” make for an exhilarating new twist from Radiohead.
A change of pace from James Blake’s and Radiohead’s calming and dreary tones, Chance the Rapper’s “Coloring Book” intertwines gospel and rap, and—as a result—digs a little deeper than his previous albums. Featured on the track “Blessings” is Jamila Woods, another Chicago singer-songwriter who released succulent jams this summer. In July, Woods released her debut album“HEAVN,” a soulful, protest-oriented project surrounding the experience of growing up as a black female through a playful delivery.
New self-classified country soul band Whitney, comprising a former Smith Westerns’ guitarist and an Unknown Mortal Orchestra drummer, joined with their easygoing debut album “Light Upon the Lake.” The wistful album encapsulates the pain of loneliness and solitude in songs like “No Woman,” while tracks like “No Matter Where We Go” emphasizes a more momentous and buoyant approach to simplicity. A horn-accompaniment sprinkles the album to take it to the next level.
While they have yet to release new albums, Warpaint and Father John Misty each dropped a single this summer. Warpaint’s self-explanatory “New Song” is more upbeat and dance-y than their previous dark and expansive 2014 album “Warpaint.” The “New Song” teases their third album “Heads Up,” which will be released Sept. 23. While Father John Misty hasn’t officially announced an upcoming album, he did come out with the surprisingly jubilant single “Real Love Baby.”
As the WGRE staff continues to sort through an abundance of new releases to be added to our airwaves, keep your ears open for new tunes from these artists and more—such as Aphex Twin, Young the Giant, and Ladyhawke—on the radio this semester.