19-year old Swedish pop artist Zara Larsson enters the global public consciousness in a major way with her sophomore album So Good, in the wake of numerous international successes and her first US hit "Never Forget You". Accompanied by a massive team of some of the best pop writers and producers both local and international, the … Continue reading Zara Larsson – So Good
Month: March 2017
Drake – More Life
Singer, rapper, OVO label boss and debatable biggest artist in the world Drake defies the typical strategy of release once again, unleashing his fourth project in about a 2-year span on his adoring fans and dubbing it a "playlist", inventing a new category between the mixtape and the album. As the speed of his projects … Continue reading Drake – More Life
Tennis – Yours Conditionally
Husband and wife duo Tennis release their fourth studio album, continuing their streak of consistently delivering catchy retro-pop sounds. I was introduced to this lesser-known band as the opening act for pop-rock sister trio HAIM at an event which perfectly captures their essence - an outdoor summer concert. Both acts were clearly inspired by early … Continue reading Tennis – Yours Conditionally
Charli XCX – Number 1 Angel
Burgeoning pop superstar turned experimental indie-pop darling Charli XCX continues the wave of alternative and quirky beats and melodies kickstarted by last year's Vroom Vroom EP. Working once again with the talented producers at PC Music, she begins to swing back in the direction of commercial viability, finding a happy medium between the two styles released … Continue reading Charli XCX – Number 1 Angel
Khalid – American Teen
19 year old R&B singer Khalid, whose debut single "Location" is currently flying up the charts due to the assistance of one Ms. Kylie Jenner, drops an accompanying album that shows off his unique voice despite its lack of originality. Like the genre's fellow upstart Texan Leon Bridges, Khalid's vocals are deep, soulful and layered … Continue reading Khalid – American Teen
Ed Sheeran – ÷
British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, the man capable of selling out a stadium with nothing but a guitar and a loop pedal, firmly establishes himself as one of the leading presences at the forefront of pop music with his third studio album and first #1 hit single ("Shape Of You"). It's been a steady rise to … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ÷
Thundercat – Drunk
Virtuoso jazz-funk bassist Thundercat, now exposed to a wider audience due to his outstanding work on Kendrick Lamar's magnum opus To Pimp A Butterfly, unleashes his third studio effort and first since 2013. The album is sprawling, conceptual and incoherent in the best way, musical tidbits flying past you before you even have a chance to … Continue reading Thundercat – Drunk
Little Big Town – The Breaker
Now deep into their careers, harmonious country quartet Little Big Town recruit some of their genre's best songwriters and right the wrongs of their Pharrell Williams-assisted bubblegum pop misfire of 2016, Wanderlust. While there may not be anything on the project that stands out quite like their Grammy-nominated ballad "Girl Crush", there is more than enough … Continue reading Little Big Town – The Breaker
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 