It seems that highly prolific DJ and electronic musician Diplo’s mind is in the right place when it comes to his approach to crafting an album while working in his genre – he’s made quite a few comments lately about the futility of crafting a truly engaging electronic album from front to back, opting instead … Continue reading Diplo – Diplo
Self Titled
Vince Staples – Vince Staples
With each new project, you can always trust Long Beach rapper Vince Staples to hit an engaging middle ground between delivering the classic grim, unfazed delivery and detailed street stories he rose to fame on and switching up the style or concept to something completely new. After moving from the hyperpop and dance-influenced Big Fish … Continue reading Vince Staples – Vince Staples
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
UK throwback R&B artist and signee to DJ Mustard’s label Ella Mai explodes onto the scene with her debut self-titled studio album, after breaking through in a big way with the unlikely success of excellent single “Boo’d Up” – which has what is easily the cleverest flip of a lyric this year had to offer. … Continue reading Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts
Now that I've finally caught back up to the present with these reviews, I'll be returning to the original, longer format and hopefully returning to a consistent release schedule starting next week. Jorja Smith review coming shortly, then back to Tuesday/Thursday or something similar. I'm also going to be back on Instagram, follow me at bensbeatmusic! Here are … Continue reading Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts
Rapid Fire Reviews (Shawn Mendes, Father John Misty, Kanye West)
Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes Shawn Mendes releases his third self-titled studio album at the age of only 19, expanding his musical influences to explore genres past his trends of safe, acoustic pop balladry. Working with a high-profile set of collaborators, Mendes delivers a solid set of pop tracks that splits about half and half with … Continue reading Rapid Fire Reviews (Shawn Mendes, Father John Misty, Kanye West)
BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2017
Without further ado, here are my favourite projects of 2017. Happy new year! Honourable Mentions: blackbear - digital druglord Migos - C U L T U R E Tove Lo - Blue Lips [lady wood phase II] Halsey - hopeless fountain kingdom Betty Who - The Valley Kelly Clarkson - Meaning Of Life Bleachers - … Continue reading BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2017
Fifth Harmony – Fifth Harmony
Fifth Harmony's third studio album and first as a quartet comes only 15 months after last year's 7/27. Self-titling their album in an attempt to reclaim identity as a group after the departure of Camila Cabello, Fifth Harmony offers more of the same on this project. Similarly to all of their past projects, the album contains … Continue reading Fifth Harmony – Fifth Harmony
Mura Masa – Mura Masa
21-year-old Guernsey-born DJ Mura Masa's debut studio album is a multicultural and genreless mashup that takes listeners on an exhilarating ride through the twists and turns of his unique style. He states that his biggest influence is Gorillaz and you can clearly tell. The ability to pull aspects from such diverse musical worlds and unbridled … Continue reading Mura Masa – Mura Masa
Future – FUTURE
Wildly successful Atlanta rapper and reigning president of trap music Future continues his prolific output, surprise dropping this 17-track self-titled effort. The project is technically his fifth studio album and first since last year's EVOL, but counting the mixtapes that get just as much attention it is stunningly his ninth body of work since 2014. Understandably … Continue reading Future – FUTURE