Wednesday Roundups #3: 8 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
We're back for the roundups!
Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!
The third outing of Wednesday Roundups returns.
It might be challenging to prioritize your music listening when so much new music isĀ available. Shatter the Standards provide a weekly summary of newsworthy releases on streaming platforms. Kelela, Liv.e, Raheem DeVaughn, Sabrina Claudio, iyla, Isaia Huron, October London, and Lance Skiiiwalker were among the artists with new albums or projects last week. Keep an eye out for weekly music drops every Wednesday for suggestions of lesser-known albums.
Here are your roundups for today!
Kelela ā Raven (Electronic/R&B) [Listen]
Silence and contemplation may be terrifying in our always-connected world. This was an essential and worthwhile next step for Kelela. The absence of her music after the release of her critically praised 2017 debut album Take Me Apart, which contributed to developing a musical universe honoring Black and LGBTQ club culture, was noticeable. Finally, Kelela's long-awaited second album, Raven, which chronicles her hiatus and spectacular rebirth, has arrived.
Liv.e ā Girl in the Half Pearl (R&B) [Listen]
Liv.e's Girl in the Half Pearl capitalizes on the artistic and emotional freedom she's gained since her debut album, 2021's Couldn't Wait to Tell You. The album's 17 songs record her introspection as she processes the pain that has led to profound insights and struggles to come to terms with her place in the intricate web of relationships that makes up her existence. After laying the groundwork with CWTTY, in Girl in the Half Pearl, she opens up about her journey of self-discovery, forgiving, and reclaiming her femininity over a vibrant musical landscape.
Raheem Devaughn, Vandell Andrew & The Colleagues ā Love Euphoria (R&B) [Listen]
The new album, Love Euphoria, features Raheem DeVaughn on vocals, Vandell Andrew on saxophone, and the production duo The Colleagues. The eight-song collection transports its audience on a hazy, passionate ride with smooth vocals and jazzy accompaniment. With Love Euphoria, DeVaughn and The Colleagues have released their second joint effort. What a Place to Be in Love, DeVaughn's 2020 album, was also produced by The Colleagues. Another Love Story (2019), Love Dates and Heartbreaks (2020), and Love Lust Vulnerability (2022) are the preceding R&B albums by The Colleagues, with Love Euphoria being their third R&B album.
Sabrina Claudio ā Archives & Lullabies (R&B) [Listen]
Sabrina Claudio has returned. The latest album, Archives & Lullabies, was released by the singer and composer on her SC Entertainment label. The LP features acoustic renditions of songs from 2022's Based On a Feeling and seven previously unheard tracks.
iyla ā APPETITE FOR DISASTER (Pop/R&B) [Listen]
iyla's new EP, APPETITE FOR DISASTER, includes previously released tracks like Impala, which features Los Angeles-based rapper Symba. The seven-song release symbolizes her desire to achieve the unattainable and her refusal to accept mediocrity. It was written during the period of her most significant personal difficulty.
Isaia Huron ā LIBBIE 02 (R&B) [Listen]
Isaia Huron followed up his 2020 EP of the same name with a new release titled LIBBIE 02. The works of Huron's LIBBIE 02 represent innovation, flexibility, and mastery. The EP and its accompanying film are built around ideas that aim to dissolve the conventional barriers between performer and audience, transporting the viewer into a realm where free artistic expression is valued above all else.
October London ā The Rebirth of Marvin (R&B) [Listen]
Snoop Dogg and Death Row Records have just released October London's album The Rebirth of Marvin, which features London's soulful vocals reminiscent of Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding. Fredwreck and Soopafly, who have won many platinum awards, produced the whole 11-song album.
Lance Skiiiwalker ā Audiodidactic (Alternative) [Listen]
Lance Skiiiwalker releases his sophomore under Top Dawg Entertainment, Audiodidactic. For his first full-length album in over seven years (after a few EPs), Skiiiwalker delves even further into his head. The album's title, artwork, and contents are all inspired by this commitment. Skiiiwalker draws from various musical genres, including neo-soul, prog rock, and the 2010s California beat movement, all of which the band members learned about on their own.