Our Best Albums Of January

OUR BEST ALBUMS

OF JANUARY

Every week of the year, a bunch of records are thrown into the world, portraying the singular influences, universes and sounds of artists. Do you get lost in the numerous releases? On The Move Mag is here to help. This month, as always, we opened our ears and dove into what matters most : music! Whatever genre suits you, you’ll find something new to discover... Here are our favourite albums released in January.

31Backstreet’s back! Even though they spent the last two years filling the hearts of millions of teenagers with nostalgia with their «Larger than Life» Las Vegas residency, the 90’s boysband has been working on a brand new album, «DNA». Introduced by the leading single, «Don’t Go Breaking My Heart», the album stays true to their harmony-driven pop sound while also evolving their tracks into a much more modern production, fit for today’s radio landscape. With «Breathe» and «Chances», the 5 boys also tried to push their boundaries by bringing in some The Chainsmokers and Martin Garrix vibes. Fortunately, these new sounds don’t overshadow the boys’ unchanged powerful voices. If you’re a die-hard fan of the Backstreet Boys, it’s time to rock your body one more time!

Top 3 tracks: Chances, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, No Place

BACKSTREET BOYS - DNA

Almost 4 years after «That’s The Spirit» who already marked a slight departure from the band’s metalcore roots, Bring Me The Horizon resurfaced with their sixth album called «amo», probably the boldest and most daring album of their whole 15-year-discography. This record is clearly experimental (we’re plunged deep into experimentation as soon as the aerial intro «I apologize if you feel something» begins), flirting with pop melodies on «in the dark», hip-hop on «heavy metal» (we got that mind-blown effect!) or even transcendental electronic music from the 90s on «nihilist blues». Those new influences are wildly emphasized by the diverse and unique collaborations the band offers: Canadian singer Grimes, metal singer Dani Filth as well as beatboxer and rapper Rahzel. Neatly produced by keyboardist Jordan Fish and singer Oliver Sykes, «amo» doesn’t lack efficient headbanging guitar riffs that made their reputation. This album is probably setting tongues wagging but if the message wasn’t already clear to you, the British quintet is making a point that they’re evolving and they’re not interested in dwelling on the past.

Top 3 tracks: MANTRA, sugar honey ice & tea, heavy metal

Bring Me The Horizon – amo

Do you want to travel? Discover other horizons? If you responded yes to those two questions, then James Blake’s fourth album is made for you. The singer has always been a confessional artist with a singular songwriting and vocals and shows it again, this time by dwelling on the anxieties of new relationships. Each song touches on different issues that could occur in a relationship and how everything could turn upside down in one moment. «Where’s The Catch» and «Are You In Love» depict Blake’s sweetness but also doubts and bitterness. It seems pretty obvious that the entire album is dedicated to someone special and the singer decided to surround himself with some heavyweights such as Metro Bloomin’ and Travis Scott on «Mile High» or André 3000 and newcomer ROSALIA who sings in Spanish in «Barefoot in the Park». Overall, a great album that we will surely listen to for a while.

Top 3 tracks: What’s The Catch, Barefoot in the Park, Don’t Miss It

JAMES BLAKE - ASSUME FORM

This was probably one of the most anticipated pop albums of 2019 and it’s finally here. 30 year-old Mike Posner is finally back with a new 12-track record named «A Real Good Kid» including the catchy and well-acclaimed «Song About You». This new record is the follower of «At Night, Alone» which was a turning point in Mike’s career after he unveiled the smash hit «I Took A Pill In Ibiza» that made everyone go crazy! This third album showcases one more time Posner’s incredible songwriting and ability to put words on feelings and emotions. Whether it was talking about the pain of loosing his father and friend-collaborator Avicii in the past two years, or tackling his own vulnerability while showing an apparent maturity, «A Real Good Kid» includes some real gems that you cannot skip.

Top 3 tracks: Song About You, Move On, Stuck In The Middle

Mike Posner - A REAL GOOD KID

«Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD», or simply «The WIZRD», is the seventh studio album of Future and, without any doubt, a very important project to him. Indeed, the American artist dedicated the opus to a member of his family: «My uncle always used to call me ‘the wizard’, that was his thing». Then, «Hndrxx» is obviously a reference to the legendary musician Jimi Hendrix and also reminds us Future’s sixth album. In fact, with this new opus, the rapper wants to show he has grown as an artist. He even declared people will be able to «hear» his growth. In order to show this evolution, Future offers his fans not less than 20 tunes and surrounds himself with Travis Scott, Young Thug and Gunna. As he says in the opening track entitled «Never Stop», the artist is living his «second life, it’s so amazin’»! Top 3 tracks: Goin Dummi, First Off (feat. Travis Scott), Temptation

FUTURE - THE WIZRD

Maggie Rogers’ career exploded thanks to her song « Alaska », a selfempowerment anthem which impressed Pharell Williams during a masterclass at NYU. The video went viral and that’s when everything really started for the 24 yearold singer-songwriter and producer. After two independent albums (« The Echo », « Blood Ballet ») and an EP (« Now That The Light Is Fading »), « Heard It In A Past Life » is her debut studio album. The title came to her naturally: « it’s a lot about memory. That moment when you stop making decisions and start remembering them ». Indeed, this album sounds like a therapy. Two of the singles, « Light On » and « Fallingwater », describe the last two years of her life, a « rapid change and how simultaneously scary and electric it can feel ». We also find these overwhelming emotions in « Retrograde » or « Back In My Body », while other tracks are spreading positivity and love such as the third single « Give A Little», inspired by a national school walkout for gun control. If some of the tracks were already on her EP (« Alaska », « On + Off »), most of them are exclusive. Deep lyrics, omnipresent percussion, backing vocals... You will soon get addicted to this rough diamond!

Top 3 tracks: Give A Little, Overnight, Retrograde

Maggie Rogers – Heard It In A Past Life

Here is Rudimental’s new call for tolerance! With their third album, the British drum’n’bass collective signs a new eclectic and irresistible opus. Their thirst for hybriding genres is still insatiable and their optimism, unconditional. Piers Aggett, Amir Amor, Kesi Dryden and DJ Locksmith collaborate once again with a great collection of confirmed (James Arthur, Jess Glynne, Tom Walker) and promising artists (RAYE, Raphaella, Elli Ingram), resulting in a multi-faceted record. There’s nothing much new to the Rudimental formula but once again, their record is big, bright, beautiful and their lyrics full of positive and inclusive values. So, no need to force us to join them in this

16-chapter party! Top 3 tracks: 1by1 (feat. RAYE & Maleek Berry), Last Time (feat. Raphaella), Adrenaline (feat. OLIVIA)

RUDIMENTAL - Toast to Our Differences

In 2017, Julia Michael’s third EP «Nervous System» went through the several steps of a relationship and the result was overall very addictive. In «Inner Monologue Part 1», she paradoxically broadens her horizons and collaborations – inviting the pop phenomenons (and also her friends) Selena Gomez and Niall Horan to this still very personal and honest body of work. In 6 tracks, she channels the inner battles of moving on after a break-up – from diving deep in the bath of bittersweet memories in « Apple » to wanting to move forward in « Happy ». In « What A Time », Niall Horans holds the part of her ancient lover on a warm and generous track, not so far from the Irish artist’s sonorities. More introspective, « Anxiety » is a sweet and languish ritornello where both Michaels and Gomez opens up about demons they have in common : « This is a female empowerment thing, but it’s completely different. We’re not throwing our fists in the air, but we’re saying, ‘Hey, we have anxiety, but we’re okay with it.’ » Julia Michaels shares a new page of her story and charms us the simplest way : being uncompromising in her lyrics and brilliant in her pop melodies.

Top 3 tracks: Anxiety, Into You, Deep

Julia Michaels - Inner Monologue PART 1

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