We are gearing up for some pretty mammoth releases for the end of the year. This week featured two major previews of that in Adele’s new video for “Hello” and Justin Bieber’s new clip for “Sorry.” But, not everything is about looking ahead — there are great releases happening right now.
DJ Khaled has another one of those star-studded blockbuster collaborations, Carrie Underwood is back for another round of catchy homespun tales, and we’ve also got new albums from Joanna Newsom, D.R.A.M., 5 Seconds of Summer, and so many more. Here are the albums you need to hear this week.
DJ Khaled – I Changed A Lot
Perhaps more than any other radio figure, DJ Khaled knows how to make moves. His albums, his eighth being I Changed A Lot, always managed to not only crack the top of the albums charts, but at least produce one incredible smash single that always seems to hang around. How has DJ Khaled managed to cultivate that special sauce to keep coming with hit after hit for nearly a decade, no one knows. Maybe he just has that ear to know what works on his compilations. Or maybe it’s because he has the largest hip-hop stars on earth like Future, Rick Ross, Fetty Wap, Jeezy, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Jay Z, Usher and too many more to name.
Oh, and maybe it’s because his album art is GOAT-worthy.
Carrie Underwood – Storyteller
Perhaps the biggest success story from American Idol (R.I.P.) besides Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood is back with her fifth studio album in Storyteller. Oddly, her major single from the album, “Smoke Break,” caught a little flack from audiences from promoting tobacco use as cool, but anyone who actually listened to the song could tell it’s a carefree anthem for getting away from all your problems. Carrie is usually pretty good at those — she has a very special knack of connecting with her listeners that few others share. Just ask any of her fans why they love “Good Girl” or “Before He Cheats,” and you’ll get an earful of reasons.
Joanna Newsom – Divers
The elusive indie-folk artist Joanna Newsom is back after a five-year hiatus with another round of ornate songs of intrigue, heartbreak and enigma. We got our first taste of Divers back in August with her “Sapokanikan” video, directed by the critically acclaimed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, and now the full album of chamber-pop compositions has arrived. Joanna is one of the more unique voices in indie folk, literally, but there’s a certain calmness to her vocals that cascades over you after the initial shock. There’s little doubt that Divers will be yet another entry of incredible tales from the West Coast songwriter.
Check out Joanna Newsom’s Divers on iTunes
Here are the rest of the week’s releases
5 Seconds Of Summer – Sounds Good Feels Good
D.R.A.M. – Gahdamn! EP
Pure Bathing Culture – Pray For Rain
Mogwai – Central Belters
Fuzz – II
DNCE – SWAAY EP
Dave Gahan & Soulsavers – Angels & Ghosts
Vanessa Carlton – Liberman
Modern Baseball – MOBO Presents: The Perfect Cast EP Featuring Modern Baseball
VHOL – Deeper Than Sky
Michael Christmas – What A Weird Day
Killing Joke – Pylon
Seinabo Sey – Pretend
Various Artists – Jem And The Holograms Soundtrack
Marianas Trench – Astoria
