With Offset stepping away from Migos for the foreseeable future, Quavo and Takeoff are continuing on as a duo. Only Built for Infinity Links is the first full-length project under the new arrangement for the Atlanta rap superstars. Prior to today’s release, they shared the singles “Hotel Lobby,” “Us Vs. Them” featuring Gucci Mane, “Big Stunna” featuring Birdman, and “Nothing Changed.” Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Endlessly charismatic Puerto Rican reggaeton superstar Ozuna shares his fifth studio album today. “Mañana,” “Te Pienso,” “Cupables los Dos,” and “La Copa” were released as singles. The 18 track release features J Balvin, Arcangel, Danny Ocean, Pedro Capó, TINI, Nessi, and more. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music The member of the Smith clan who’s best at channeling their anger into something constructive, Willow has become one of the key figures in the emo-pop revival with songs like “Transparent Soul,” “Meet Me At Our Spot,” and “Emo Girl” with Machine Gun Kelly. Her sixth solo album follows last year’s Lately I Feel Everything. “ Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Alvvays, a Canadian group that’s garnered a significant following for their fun and feisty indie rock, return today with their third studio album and first since 2017’s Antisocialites. We heard “Pharmacist,” “Easy On Your Own,” “Very Online Guy,” and “Belinda Say” as singles prior to today’s release. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Caribou’s Dan Snaith returns for his first new album as Cherry since 2017’s Joli Mai. Snaith took his time creating the music for Cherry, and its singles so far have been tender, infectious, and exceedingly well-crafted blends of techno and house. “It’s weird that when the tracks were put in what felt like the right order it took on a new coherence” Snaith said in a press statement, “where it pings quickly from one idea to the next and, at least for me, hangs together in way that feels unified. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music The Chicago rapper continues to deal with the trauma that came with the violence and mayhem of his upbringing, a backdrop that molded him into one of the godfathers of drill music. The features on the album reflect the respect Herbo has garnered since those early days: A Boogie, Future, Meek Mill, Kodak Black, Gunna, Young Thug, Jeremih, Offset, Conway, and Benny Da Butcher show up for verses on the project. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Jean Dawson introduced himself as a rap misfit with Bad Sports, but 2020’s Pixel Bath suggested that he was capable of coloring even further outside the lines. He’s grown into a full-blown enigma with his third full-length CHAOS NOW*, with songs that range from Bon Iver-rap (“PIRATE RADIO*“) to math-rock/post-punk/hip-hop (“THREE HEADS*”). Earl Sweatshirt and Isaiah Rashad feature. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Apparently, living in the capital of a rapidly declining empire during a pandemic can make for useful inspiration when writing a rock record. Who knew? “If our first version of London in [Sorry’s 2020 album] 925 was innocent and fresh-faced,” the band’s Louis O’Bryen says, “then this is rougher around the edges. It’s a much more haggard place.” Sorry recently shared the indie sleaze delights of “Closer” and announced the album with a stomping art-punk track called “Let The Lights On.” Stream: Spotify | Apple Music For Flohio’s follow-up to 2020’s No Panic No Pain, the London rapper decided to tap into the carefree days of her past. “I grew up around the time of games like Playstations and Nintendos,” Flohio said in a press statement, “I’m bringing back the nostalgia of me in my living room playing games with my friends at age 10. Game soundtracks like Final Fantasy and Super Mario. I wanted [Out of Heart] to speak to my inner child and where it all started while bringing me back to now and who I am today.” To get a sense of her direction, check out the synth-streaked beats of lead single “SPF,” perfect for the rave or the arcade. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Chicago-based singer-songwriter NNAMDÏ dropped an instrumental project called Krazy Karl in 2020, making Please Have A Seat his sixth studio album. “I Don’t Wanna Be Famous,” “Anti,” and “Dedication” showcased the new frontiers of his progressive pop sensibilities. “I realized I never take time to just sit and take in where I’m at,” NNAMDÏ said in an email. “It’s just nice to not be on ‘Go, Go, Go!’ mode, and reevaluate where I wanted to go musically. I wanted to be present”. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music A former touring member of Jimmy Eat World and 2020 Grammy nominee for Best Americana Album (Old Flowers), Courtney Marie Andrews returns today with her ninth studio album. Loose Futures was produced by Sam Evian (Big Thief, Cassandra Jenkins) and recorded in Cape Cod. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Indigo Sparke’s sophomore album is produced by Aaron Dessner, co-founder of The National and producer for albums by Taylor Swift (evermore) and Sharon Van Etten (Tramp). “I just had a really strong intuitive gut feeling that I would do this album with Aaron,” Sparke said. “When we first talked, we talked about co-writing from scratch, I did have a big folder of demos but was nervous to share them, but after he heard them he said, ‘There’s so much to work with in here already.’” “Pressure On My Chest,” “Blue,” and the album’s title track gave us enticing previews of the album’s windswept sound. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Since the breakup of Chromatics, the band’s lead vocalist Ruth Radelet has nurtured a sound beyond the vintage Italo synth-pop of her former group. She says that the new EP The Other Side “represents a side of my personality as an artist that most people haven’t seen until now,” and tracks like “Stranger,” an achingly lonely orchestral ballad, confirm the new direction. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music Philadelphia, the last collaboration from sophisti-pop duo Joseph Shabason and Nicholas Krgovich, was one of our favorite albums of 2020. We’re still grooving along to “In The Middle of the Day,” a song we premiered last month. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music London-based experimental producer Loraine James’s new project is a collection of reinterpretations of the works of Julius Eastman, an important and deeply overlooking figure in modern composition. James’s album uses “samples, melodic motifs, themes and imagery, and inspiration” from across Eastman’s surviving body of work. Stream: Spotify | Apple Music The new compilation from Good Music assembles artists like Pearl Jam, David Byrne, Soccer Mommy, Mac DeMarco, and many more. 100% of the profits from sales of this 49-track collection of demos, remixes, covers, and unreleased songs will be donated to abortion rights groups in the United States. It’s only available for 24 hours, so get it now. Purchase: BandcampThe 16 projects you should stream right now
Quavo & Takeoff. Image via Motown/Quality Control.
