Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best music released in the last week.
This week saw Offset completing the Migos solo album trilogy, Gary Clark Jr. redefining his sound, and Tierra Whack proving that she can be just as captivating over several minutes as she is over a single minute. Yeah, it was a pretty great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.
Offset — Father Of 4
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The final member of Migos to deliver a solo might result in its strongest entry. It has wild cover art, an incredible guest list (including Cardi B, Gucci Mane, J Cole, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage), and a song that’s already made news for its handling of Offset’s personal woes. Solo albums shouldn’t be a competition, but if it is, Offset is playing to win.
Gary Clark Jr. — This Land
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From guitar prodigy to a full-blown star. Don’t let Austin rocker’s Saturday Night Live appearance or massive upcoming tour dates, including a headlining slot at the Hollywood Bowl, do all the talking, his new album does plenty of that.Gary Clark Jr‘s new album incorporates hip-hop like never before, resulting in a singular work that redefines who he is as an artist, and what he is capable of.
Kehlani — While We Wait
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The impending birth of her first child has not slowed Kehlani’s creativity down in the slightest. In fact, her latest mixtape is being called by the artist her “most serious” offering yet, that’s “basically a gift to her daughter.” Fortunately, the gift extends to her fans, too, with collaborations with 6lack, Dom Kennedy, and Ty Dolla Sign figuring into the collection.
Lil Pump — Harvard Dropout
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Lil Pump’s long-anticipated record finally sees its release. The collection offers up the massive “Esskeetit” along with features from Offset, Quavo, Lil Wayne, and Lil Uzi Vert. Of course, his Kanye West-featuring “I Love It” anchors the album.
Julia Jacklin — Crushing
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Australian singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin follows up her 2016 debut Don’t Let the Kids Win with another full-length that runs the emotional gamut. In a statement about the new collection, she said, “This album came from spending two years touring and being in a relationship, and feeling like I never had any space of my own. For a long time I felt like my head was full of fear and my body was just this functional thing that carried me from point A to B, and writing these songs was like rejoining the two.”
Alex Lahey — “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself”
Speaking of Australian songwriters, Alex Lahey also marked her triumphant return this week with the peppy, infectious single, “Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself.” Writing about the tune, Uproxx’s Leah Lu wrote, “‘Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself’ is an homage to ambition. The track does the rare work of giving success the recognition it deserves, but it also serves as a flip of the bird to our productivity-obsessed, burnout-inducing culture.
Strand Of Oaks — “Ruby”
It’s not surprising that Strand Of Oaks mastermind Timothy Showalter collaborating with most of My Morning Jacket has resulted in music that sounds like, well, vintage My Morning Jacket. What is surprising is how that has brought out the best in Showalter, who feels more at peace in his art than ever before. He says this is the “happiest song” he’s ever written, and that alone is reason to cheer.
Maren Morris — “The Bones”
We’re just a couple weeks from Marren Morris’ most high-profile album of her career, Girl. The releases all have a grown-up-pop vibe, with pristine production and easy-to-digest songwriting. “The Bones” follows this formula, and as Uproxx’s Chloe Gilke says, “Morris can obviously belt power notes like no one else (we’ve all heard “The Middle”), but a mellower, more downtempo song like this showcases the versatility of her voice.”
John Mayer — “I Guess I Just Feel Like”
John Mayer can do it all. Last year, we were wowed by his soft rock glory. Now, he’s a little bit country in this gem. In a statement, Mayer said he wrote the song very quickly following a bout of writer’s block. Some of the best creative works come from instant inspiration, and this appears to be one of those cases.
Tierra Whack — “Only Child”
Coming in at nearly four minutes in length, “Only Child” is practically expansive by Tierra Whack’s standards. Her last album featured exclusively minute-long songs, but here she spreads herself out and soaks up the sun. As our own Aaron Williams writes, the song “features a mellow, woozy beat and a compelling mix of lighthearted singing and punchy raps… finding Tierra confronting a selfish, disappointing lover, positing that he must be an only child due to his selfish ways.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. .
