"Music Reviews": Who Came Out on Top for May 2015?

By Sarah Christine Davis on May 29, 2015

Music reviews for the albums that came out last month are pretty much necessary, since the month of May introduced us to such a wide assortment of new albums. We heard new albums from both up-and-coming artists and already-established artists. Some of the artists we know and love took a new turn with their albums – who would have expected that indie-rock megastar Mumford & Sons would take a turn towards pop music with their new album?

We were excited to finally hear back from Scottish psychedelic rock band Django Django, whose debut album was ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 50 best albums of 2012. We also scored some music from hip hop and rap legends like A$AP Rocky and Snoop Dogg. Regardless of your taste in music, May was sure to offer something to please your music taste buds. Let’s take a closer look at what this month had to offer.

A$AP Rocky’s At.Long.Last.A$AP: 6/10

It’s hard to believe that At.Long.Last.A$AP is only A$AP Rocky’s sophomore album, especially since it is loaded with collaborations from huge artists such as M.I.A., Kanye West, and Schoolboy Q. A.L.L.A. comes after the young death of A$AP Rocky’s close friend and crewmate A$AP Yams, an event that possibly contributed to a different aesthetic than we’ve seen from A$AP Rocky in the past.

In a heartwarming move, A.L.L.A. includes former homeless performer Joe Fox a shocking five times. According to AllHipHop.com, the pair met on the streets of London where Joe Fox sold his mixtapes to make a living. One of the most impressive songs on the album is Jukebox Joints, which features both Joe Fox and Kanye West.

This one gets a 6/10 – it didn’t offer much that was new, but its goodness is visible and we have to give it to A$AP Rocky for getting Joe Fox off the streets and into the music scene. It also features an excess of dialogue that can be distracting. Listen to the album on Spotify.

Django Django’s Born Under Saturn: 8/10

Pitchfork says that Born Under Saturn is “a demonstration of what Django Django can do rather than what they have to say or how they feel.” This may be true – and the feelings associated with music are what make it what it is – but that doesn’t make the album any less impressive. Born Under Saturn certainly shows off the band’s wide range of musical abilities and creative talent.

Drummer Dave Maclean explained to 930 that the band members found that as they were writing the album, they discovered that in “the lyrics there were a lot of references to rebirth,” proving that the lyrics were in fact taken into consideration and are a supplementary reflection of the band members’ states of mind.

A catchy tune that I found myself dancing to is “4000 Years,” one of the songs that proves that Born Under Saturn is akin to the band’s debut album, which The Guardian described as “updated psychedelia that beguiles and delights.” The album is both musically and lyrically impressive, and for that, it receives an 8/10. Check out the album on Spotify.

Mumford & Son’s Wilder Mind: 7/10

You’ve surely heard “Believe,” the single from the (former?) banjo-lovers’ new album. The intriguing music video shot from a first-person perspective with some captivating digital edits. However, the new sound is the most attractive part of the package. The album is composed of electric sounds and inspired by Radiohead and Led Zeppelin, characteristics that are noticeably showcased in “Believe.”

This song is sandwiched between “Tompkins Square Market,” a sad love song that builds up to a catchy beat, and “The Wolf,” which takes the cake as one of my favorites on the album. Another favorite is Snake Eyes, a powerful song with impressive lyrics and a musical sound similar to that of Arcade Fire. This one gets a 7/10 rating! I miss the old sound of Mumford & Sons, but I would listen to this album regardless of who created it.

Lucky for you, the album is available for streaming on Spotify!

My Morning Jacket’s The Waterfall: 9/10

The Waterfall has a distinctly psychedelic sound complete with synth and the use of a wide variety of instruments. Compound Fracture showcases this perfectly. Tropics (Erase Traces) is a must-listen with impeccable guitar-playing that just makes you feel good. You’ll notice if you clicked either of those links that they are labeled visualizers.

My Morning Jacket uploaded every song to YouTube with an accompanying visualizer, each of which features a flowing waterfall, beautiful natural vibes, and entrancing color schemes. I love the throwback to electronic ’80s music that the music industry is seeing today, and I especially love that My Morning Jacket is taking advantage of this trend while still keeping it original.

This one gets a 9/10. Be sure to check out the songs and the visualizers on YouTube!

Snoop Dogg’s BUSH: 8/10

Snoop has certainly been doing some self-exploration over the past few years, going from the infamous title Snoop Dogg to the enlightened reggae-lover Snoop Lion followed by a return to good ol’ Snoop Dogg once again. That makes it clear that the legend has been around for a while, especially when one thinks back on his classics like “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin And Juice.”

BUSH is sure to produce some similar masterworks. “Peaches N Cream,” featuring R&B singer Charlie Wilson, is already the artist’s #2 most listened-to song on Spotify, surpassing the two classics previously mentioned. BUSH is also dripping with collaborations from other great artists, such as Gwen Stefani and Kendrick Lamar.

The album offers a delectable blend of futuristic and old-school vibes that only Snoop Dogg could bring. Of course, he didn’t do this alone; BUSH was produced by Pharrell, whose distinct style (who could forget that sky-high hat?!) and ’70s vibe clearly contributed to the album. This one gets an 8/10 for its new sound and for its impressive collaborations. Check it out on Spotify.

twenty one pilots’ Blurryface: 10/10

It’s about time for a new twenty one pilots album! Their last album in 2013 really kicked off their career, and Blurryface is sure to increase their fame even more. In fact, the duo’s album is already #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The difficulty in pinning down twenty one pilots’ genre of music (pop-rap, perhaps?) clearly hasn’t hindered this surge in popularity.

Radio.com suggests that perhaps the duo is “winning hearts and minds at an impressive rate because they’re just as passionate and confused about life as the fans to whom they’re singing.” Blurryface also offers some different sounds than we’ve heard on previous albums, including some reggae vibes that surprisingly fit perfectly.

The album’s title itself is also intriguing, but in an interview with MTV news, band member Tyler Joseph explains that Blurryface is a character who “represents all the things that [people] are insecure about” and a “feeling of suffocation” created by stress and the pressure of creating things. The character of Blurryface is clearly portrayed in the new song “Stressed Out.”

twenty one pilots are on the road to success with their never-before-heard sound and deeply honest ideas. Blurryface is getting a 10/10! Check out the album on Spotify as soon as possible.

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