First up is the latest with N.E.R.D. with Nothing, which was supposed to come out in the summertime, but ended up delayed till this Tuesday. Pharrell and the boys are at it again with hip-hop/rock fused sounds and it is more of what you expect from them delivering some bangers like the lead single "Hot N Fun" featuring Nelly Furtado and the first track in the album, "Party People." There are some surprises though with the Daft Punk produced "Hypnotize U" and more, but this album is just another feel good one to blast on a drive around the city.
We are going from Miami to Ibiza with my next pick, Until One by Swedish House Mafia. Other than their two joints, the one I just mentioned and the smash hit, "One" featuring Pharrell, this album is pretty much a mix of some of the big house joints in recent years in one album mixed by them. Some of my house favorites and obligatory club joints are in there with "Leave the World Behind" by Axwell and "Show Me Love" along with other joints by David Guetta, Daft Punk, and others you would probably know from the house scene. Since I'm still in my house music phase, this album has been in heavy rotation in case I feel like going nuts and plus, its pretty much a lite version of the "Ultimate Club G Mix" I put together. So if you feel like getting hyped in the clubs, Swedish House Mafia is arguably the best option out now for your house music needs.
Time to get funky with one of my favorite artists ever, Jamiroquai, with his new album Rock Dust Light Star. This album came out of nowhere for me since he is not that big here in the States as he used to ("Virtual Insanity" is still one of my favorite songs of all-time) in years past. New Jamiroquai material is always good stuff as it provides chill vibes at any time of the day. "White Knuckle Ride," the lead single (video above) is just a reminder how good he is to this day delivering good music all around. In addition, it makes you wonder that there should be artists like him in today's world of music, but he is still holding it together for many years since he started back in the mid to late 90s.
Last but not least is the highly anticipated sophomore album by Kid Cudi with Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager. This album is out next Tuesday and after the amazing album that was the first Man of the Moon, it has been interesting to see how Cudi can avoid the sophomore slump with his latest. If you're expecting it to be more of the same that his debut album provided, you might be disappointed because just by the title alone, the darker tone and focus makes The Legend of Mr. Rager feels like its own album than trying to repeat the same success. "Erase Me" as the lead single can hit or miss for that crowd that loved his stuff from the first album because of how more "rock" it is compared to his other stuff, but the album as a whole is another classic from beginning to end. Cudi has outdid himself again by making another complete album with no stinkers I can think of after numerous listens. "Mr. Rager" has single potential and the shift in tone about his darker moments in the past year has paid off amazingly. Also, it makes you feel like you have to be high just to share the same sentiments as him when listening to it, but of course you don't have to. While it won't likely top his first album among critics and fans, Cudi is not showing signs of slowing down with The Legend of Mr. Rager as it is another classic and probably best listened when in the right mood if you know what I mean. Then again, maybe not in the mood he's in the video below...
That's it for now... expect more music roundups especially this month with big releases by Rihanna, Nicki Minaj's debut album, and the man himself Kanye West with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as it is already my pick for album of the year.
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