It seems like 2017 has just begun, but so much new music has come out recently that it seems like the new year was forever ago. From artists coming back into the music scene to musicians just continuing to showcase their musical talents; they all have outdone themselves this year in music. Here are just a few of those talented individuals who have just recently exposed their hard work.
Lorde: “Green Light”
This single from the 20-year-old sensation, Lorde, was a very pleasant surprise to fans and, just about, everybody. Lorde hasn’t released a proper album or single since 2013 beside her songs for “The Hunger Games” trilogy soundtracks. The track’s soft beginnings gradually lead into the upbeat chorus, setting the mood for the song, as well as her career. You think this will be a piano ballad in the beginning, but it builds into something much more larger and faster than you thought it ever would. I was worried that this wouldn’t be a very good song to come back into the spotlight to, but I was proved wrong. It’s so interesting to see how Lorde has grown as an artist since she released her debut album, “Pure Heroine,” when she was just sixteen years old. The artist says that her sophomore album is nearly finished. Expect a whole lot more from this new and prosperous artist soon.
If you like songs that build, you would also like:
Old: “Let it Grow” – Eric Clapton
New: “Past Lives” – BØRNS
Ed Sheeran: “÷”
Ed Sheeran’s new album, “Divide,” has a little bit of old style mixed with a sort of new sound. The album really showcases his talents. This album is diverse with upbeat guitar hits, such as “Galway Girl,” while also having the ability to slow it down and smooth the sound with songs such as “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here.” I thoroughly enjoyed this album and thought Sheeran stuck to his classic sound while also adding just enough new flare to diversify his discography. This album highlights his quirky and romantic personality through both his sweet and bitter lyrics. The sweetness shines through songs like “Supermarket Flowers”; as for the bitterness, “New Man” shows that well. Don’t be misled by the title of this album, Ed Sheeran’s feelings and talent multiply and add up to create this incredible album for just about everyone to enjoy.
If you like acoustic indie-pop albums, you would also like:
Old: “Bryter Layter” – Nick Drake
New: “9” – Damien Rice
Conor Oberst: “Salutations”
Conor Oberst’s fifth album as a solo artist just proves how lyrically talented he is. This album, now streaming on NPR’s website, features studio versions of a few of the songs he released in the raw on his 2016 album “Ruminations,” such as “Gossamer Thin” and “Barbary Coast (Later).” The Omaha native and former frontman of Bright Eyes has been releasing music since his teen years and doesn’t seem to be stopping. I thought this album was raw and melodic with thought provoking lyrics that left me amazed. He is a true poet in the way he writes both his lyrics and melodies. Most of the songs on this album are soft and smooth, like in “Tachycardia,” but there are some of these songs that seem to have a bit of a faster beat to them, like “Counting Sheep.” His Nebraskan folk undertones will always be somewhere in there behind his insightful lyrics, while he also has to have that melancholiness that makes you feel bad for him. Oberst’s hauntingly beautiful “Ruminations” album seemed like it couldn’t get any better, but the additional tracks released just months later on “Salutations” are the icing on the cake.
If you like albums with insightful lyrics and folk tones, you would also like:
Old: “Transformer” – Lou Reed
New: “The Wild Hunt” – The Tallest Man on Earth
