June 4: SOAK, Florence + The Machine, Jason Derulo

This is a really, really great week for new releases. Like, so good I’m impressed and amazed. There’s so much so listen to, I’m losing it. I can’t make a decision. I’m a mess. Beyond Jamie xx’s solo album finally being released, there’s some debut albums out and just overall, this week is great. Let the music take over this time. Stop listening to Panic! At The Disco and try something new.

SOAK – Before We Forgot How To Dream

Someone showed me SOAK (aka Bridie Monds-Watson) a little while ago, and because I was in a bad mood or because I’m just a bad person, I said I hated it and it was the worst thing I ever heard and blah blah blah. Maybe it was at the time, but I’ve since revisited my then-bitter stance, and I’ve changed my mind. SOAK is great. Though only 19 (oh my GOD, she’s only 19), the Irish singer’s lyrics are advanced and astonishingly beautiful, and the simplicity of her musical production and basic instrumentals (lack of synths and any type of computer controlled noises, for example), makes her sound a lot more organic and fitting to the soft, emotional lyrics she combines her pianos and guitars with. Her debut is a stunning collection of ballad-type songs, slow and tender, 14 songs of an impressive range of surreal music that, at times, sounds like it’s being made underwater.

Rating: 9/10

Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

After talking about this album to a number (three) of my friends, we’d all come to the conclusion that we don’t actually really like Florence and the Machine. She had, like, a few good songs on the first album, and then everything else was kind of.. whatever. Mediocre at best. This album was very much the same. Nothing about it blew me away, and I don’t think it was supposed to. It feels like Florence just hasn’t changed her sound much, and in no way looks for anything beyond what she’s already been making. The new album was also largely riding on the “What Kind Of Man” single, which, in all honestly, wasn’t particularly strong. Ultimately, it was just an album. I failed to see anything special about it, which is why I think it was more disappointing than Ceremonials— at least that one got a pass for being a second attempt at something that could only succeed once.

Rating: 5/10

Jason Derulo – Everything Is 4

My favourite name-slinging singer, Jason Derulo, is out with another album. And it’s great. Listen. I love Jason Derulo. He’s doing a good job. I miss when he used to say his name at the beginning and end of every song. Everybody kind of rags on him, but he’s actually very vocally talented and his songs are top 40 friendly and catchy as hell. Though I wouldn’t actually BUY this album, I won’t lie and say I didn’t enjoy listening to it. Hitting it short at only 38 minutes in running time, I think that’s just enough Jason Derulo to keep us satisfied, but he’s not pushing it– he knows he don’t want too much.

Rating: 7/10