Music

DRAKE

Certified Lover Boy

Ovo Sound/Republic Records

Drake is back - and he’s on a hot streak. This sixth studio album sold over 500K units in just one week. It also broke Apple Music and Spotify records by having the largest streaming debuts of an album in 24 hours. We’re talking bangers back-to-back. The collaborations on the album are also fresh. Travis Scott, Jay-Z, Future, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi and Ty Dolla Sign all pop-off. Jay-Z and Drake give us all of the high-roller vibes with “Love All.” The bougie music video features Drake in his signature hoodie look in an aquarium while Jay-Z is posted up at a high-stakes poker table with Khalid intently smoking cigars. Queen B herself even materializes like magic. Other songs to instantly add to the carride-to-the-club playlist include “Champagne Poetry,” “Race My Mind,” “N 2 Deep,” “Fountains” and “Get Along Better.” Somehow, Drake keeps getting better. - Marisa Patwa

ONE REPUBLIC

Human

Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records

One Republic’s Ryan Tedder has the kind of soothing voice that could lull you to sleep. But in the best way. Ever since Gossip Girl - the original - showcased Tedder and Timbaland’s perfect storm collaborating on “Apologize” back in 2007, I’ve been locked in. I was even lucky enough to see the band in Indianapolis a few years back. Whether live or in studio, Tedder crams a symphony of emotions into each ballad as if it’s the last time he’ll be able to make your heart pulsate. This fifth studio album from One Republic is a true treat. While the band members are creative lyrical geniuses, it's also nice to hear earworm “Somebody to Love” featured. The song was written and showcased on NBC's Songland, which features Tedder as a judge. It perfectly fits their sound. Other knockouts to get in your feels, too, include “Run,” “Better Days,” and “Rescue Me.” - Marisa Patwa

LORDE

Solar Power

Universal

Lorde has proven she’s one of the “Royals” of the music industry since she was only 16 in 2013. Her debut album was an instant classic - the soundtrack to my summer as a 19-year-old in LA. Her sky-rocketing climb continued with the follow-up, Melodrama, in 2017. Now, she’s 24. This third studio album is a reflection of what she’s done during her sabbatical. Jack Antonoff, a hit-making producer and musician, flexes his musical genius as her collaborator, and the dynamic duo is back at it. Displayed is a different version of Lorde. “Solar Power” radiates charisma and soulful energy. Gone are the grunge synths - now replaced with sun-soaked acoustics. I never imagined Lorde as a Beach Boy. Somehow she masters this new happy sound with ease, as if it’s been her identity all along. The New Zealand singer also dropped a downsized EP version of this album, singing in Maori. Other standouts include “Dominoes,” “Big Star,” and “Mood Ring.” While this psychedelic pop album is not as magnetic as her previous ones, it is still a stellar way to cool down in the warmer months. Like eating lemon-flavored shaved ice. - Marisa Patwa

IRON MAIDEN

Senjutsu

Parlophone/BMG Records

Nearly 50 years into their career, Iron Maiden continues to produce new music, much to the chagrin of some long-time Maiden fans. Social media was awash in whiners when Senjutsu dropped on 9/3. Complaints ranged from “it sounds just like their last album” to “why are the songs so long?” Keep in mind that all of these grievances were offered up on Maiden fan pages! Those same critics rushed to download the album when it was released, and every single one of them purchased the record to complete their collection. Ignore the naysayers! Senjutsu is a really good Iron Maiden album. Yes, it’s another Maiden album produced by the same six guys, so it’s not that surprising that it has a distinct sound and cadence. As for long songs, yes, Iron Maiden write really long songs…since 1984 (see “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”). Get the album and decide for yourself. Standouts are “The Writing on the Wall,” “The Parchment” and “Days of Future Past.” - Matt Alschbach

KANYE WEST

Donda

GOOD Music/Def Jam Recordings

After multiple delays, three separate album release parties, and a series of performance art stunts, Kanye West finally releases Donda - a Christian rap album (with no swearing) about his mother, the late Donda West. The ambitious project is full of great songs and production and features some of the most inspired lyrics of West's career. The only criticism I have is that Donda can be quite monotonous, as the songs do little to differentiate themselves over the album's nearly twohour runtime. While Donda is not West's best, it's a step up from his last few releases and easily his best since 2013's Yeezus. - Russ Finn

WARMER MILKS

Soft Walks

Sophomore Lounge

Formed in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Warmer Milks quietly released their country-rock opus Soft Walks in 2008. Though the album generated little buzz upon its release, it has now found a home on Louisville label Sophomore Lounge. Thankfully, the label is reissuing Soft Walks 13 years after its initial release with a vinyl pressing and an updated cover by Robert Beatty. On Soft Walks, Warmer Milks deliver a niche indie-country sound with luscious, dreamy instrumentation. At their most country-sounding, they come across like a Neil Young cover band that only plays deep cuts. Outside their country-esque tunes, the band dips into avant-garde and noise rock. This cult album is only getting a limited release; if you need your fix of artsy alt-country, Soft Walks is for you. - Russ Finn

MEN WITHOUT HATS

Again (Part 1)

Sonic Envy

To paraphrase the opening line of Canadian synth-pop band Men Without Hats' enduring 80's megahit, "Safety Dance," you can laugh if you want to...but they're back and it's about time the music industry gave them some respect. Much like peers Devo are perceived as a sort of novelty act based on the wackiness of "Whip It," MWH have been stigmatized by the overwhelming popularity of one silly song that merely scratches the surface of a truly varied catalog. No matter, frontman Ivan Doroschuk just keeps delivering the goods to the faithful. And with Again (Part 1), a covers EP serving as a precursor to a brand new original album, he's brought his brother/founding member Colin back into the fold to pay homage to artists and bands that inspired them, including David Bowie, Lou Reed and The Rolling Stones. Wha-ho!! - Johnny Fletcher

RORY D'LASNOW

Songs from an Empty Room EP

Self-Released

New Jersey singer-songwriter D’Lasnow’s new five-track extended play fills the “empty room” with a bountiful amount of Americana emotion in both his vocal performances and production choices in instrumentation. Opening track “Where You Belong” sounds like a song that Ed Sheeran should be writing as opposed to his current The Weeknd tribute fare. Subtle guitar-picking, mixed with some reverb and warm analog atmosphere allows D’Lasnow’s voice to become the star of the record right from the get-go, though the song sounds more like a conclusion. “Forgotten” continues the same pace, before diving into percussion and a more live-band feel reminiscent of Lifehouse-meetsRyan Star. Standout track “Power of My Love” steers away from the vibe of the first-half of the project to hints of mid-2010's punk-rock with a more passionate and sincere core of clean vocals and an empowering message to his late father: “And I have come this far/ And when the times get tough I keep you in my heart/ When I feel like giving up." Be prepared to fall in love with D’Lasnow. - Freddie Bourne

Blues with Bragin

BRAD VICKERS & HIS VESTAPOLITANS

The Music Gets Us Thru

ManHatTone Records

A blues journeyman who's toured and recorded with the legends of the genre, guitarist Brad Vickers returns with another great collection of good-time tunes. The album opens with “Dumb Like a Fox,” an upbeat polka and zydeco-inspired offering. “Take It Slow” features Mikey Junior playing masterful harmonica as Vickers sings about not rushing things. “Please Don’t Say” is a waltz ballad that sounds like something from the 1950s with saxophones from V.D. King and Jim Davis. Charlie Burnham offers a great violin performance on “Big Wind” as Margey Peters sings about her troubles disappearing. “I’ll Never Let You Go” is a toe-tapper with stellar clarinet playing from Davis.

The surf-tinged “The Music Gets Us Thru” sounds like a party with top-notch piano playing from Dave Keyes. “Now It’s Time for Me to Sing the Blues” features Peters singing heavy lyrics about going through difficult times. Bill Rankin’s fast-paced drumming on “What in the World” pairs well with King and Davis on saxophones. Peters sings about losing a friend on “Grab My Car Keys” as Vickers accompanies her on the bottleneck guitar. “I’ll Be Sittin’, I’ll Be Rockin’” gives King a chance to shine on the accordion. The album closes with “When I Am Drinking,” a song about keeping a woman at the forefront of your mind while enjoying a beverage. - Paul Bragin