Every year artists fight to land their musical projects in the Grammy music archives. In the week leading up to the August 31 deadline, which marked the end of the release eligibility period, a plethora of recording artists released albums. To help navigate through the avalanche of new music, A&E put together a list of some of the top album drops from the week before the cut off.
“Whole New Mess”
Angel Olsen
Must listen: Summer Song
Olsen opens an entanglement of emotions with her new album, “Whole New Mess.”
Last year’s album, “All Mirrors” was a self-reflective masterpiece. This album highlights her indie music platform with twangy guitar chords and the ability to well verse her life’s journey.
“Shabrang”
Sevdaliza
Must listen: Oh My God
Sevda Alizadeh’s sophomore album, “Shabrang,” is titled after an old folktale about a Persian horse named Shabrang Behzād.
Known for her play with metaphors, her latest ensemble continues to encapsulate the feeling of magic. The tracks are layered with auto-tuned R&B vocals and classical instruments transformed into experimental electronica.
“Renaissance”
Aluna
Must listen: Body Pump
Aluna’s debut album, Renaissance, has already caught fire in the dance pop music scene.
Aluna Francis, half of the duo group AlunaGeorge, took on her own endeavor with this offering. The album was produced to feel like a celebration, and it perfectly fits that mold.
“CTV3: Cool Tape Vol.3”
Jaden
Must listen: Cabin Fever
Throughout Jaden Smith’s career, the pop singer’s romantic trap themes have stayed consistent, and this newest drop is no different. He dispels intellectual empathy in each track in a similar manner to his summer 2019 album “ERYS.”
Smith’s cover art always sets the tone for that project’s sound, and CTV3 paints the most colorful cover yet, with his classic pink sunset background, rainbow, old-timey car and blooming garden.
“ENERGY”
Disclosure
Must listen: Douha (Mali Mali)
Disclosure blew up in 2013 with their debut album “Settle,” putting themselves on the map with their dance club-like electronics.
“Energy” is far less lyrical than previous albums and almost solely draws the listener into the duo’s technical production knowledge. Many fans have not taken kindly to the change, as the duo heads deeper into the world of non-lyrical electronic play.
“Inner Song”
Kelly Lee Owens
Must listen: Melt!
The United Kingdom’s Kelly Lee Owens exudes lyrical wisdom on her newest album, “Inner Song.”
Owens exhibits comforting vocals and synth beats on each of the album’s tracks. “Inner Song” signals a shift in Owen’s career, making her out to be a new indie mainstream pop up.
“The Third Gleam”
The Avett Brothers
Must listen: Victory
Seth and Scott Avett, alongside Bob Crawford, again tap into their beautiful northern wilderness, mountaineer, front porch sitting tunes with a storytelling theme, on “The Third Gleam.”
The lyrics display the artists’ vulnerabilities such as in their songs “I Should’ve Spent the Day With My Family” and “I Go to My Heart.” Each track shares an aspect of the trio’s laid back lifestyle.