Wednesday Roundups #55: 30 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Stream releases from Durand Bernarr, Shaboozey, Tanerélle, Leigh-Anne, Oddisee, CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd, Mynameisntjmack, Tha Dogg Pound, Belly, Jordan Hamilton, Swamp Dogg, KALLITECHNIS, and more.
Welcome back to another issue of Wednesday Roundups!
Diving into the world of music can be overwhelming with the constant influx of albums. That’s where Shatter the Standards steps in, making your musical navigation easier every Wednesday. They slice through the noise, bringing you a curated list of noteworthy new drops accessible on streaming platforms. Just last week, they spotlighted fresh beats from a diverse lineup, including Durand Bernarr, Shaboozey, Tanerélle, Leigh-Anne, Oddisee, CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd, Mynameisntjmack, Tha Dogg Pound, Belly, Jordan Hamilton, Swamp Dogg, KALLITECHNIS, Jon Muq, Nikitch & Alexis Moutzouris, Tim Atlas, Unessential Oils, Jasmine Cephas-Jones, Dave East & Mike & Keys, Brotha Lynch Hung, Swidt, Wolfgang Valbrun, Alicia Olatuja & Michael Olatuja, BADBADNOTGOOD, Illmac & Geechi Gotti, Con Killion, Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond, Ian Kelly, JONES, SAYGRACE, and Mavis Swan Poole.
If you’re struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving music scene, subscribing to the Shatter the Standards newsletter is your ticket to staying in the loop. They don’t just skim the surface with mainstream hits; they dive deep, bringing hidden gems right to your inbox weekly.
In today’s rapid-fire release culture, it’s easy to miss out on some real musical gems. Shatter the Standards does the heavy lifting for you, sifting through the latest releases and handpicking the ones that make a mark. Stay ahead of the curve and discover music that steps outside the mainstream box by joining their newsletter.
Durand Bernarr: En Route (R&B)
Durand Bernarr dropped his visual EP, En Route, after EVEN put it out there. It’s a dope mix of all the sounds that influence him, and it bridges the gap between his last project, Wanderlust, and whatever’s coming next. Over just five days, he cooked up a musical road trip with assists from Sam Hoffman, Budda Foster, Kay’ce Thompson, and Louis York.
[Listen]
Shaboozey: Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going (Country)
Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going paints a picture of a wild ride through the American West, digging deeper into the country/folk vibes Shaboozey’s been messing with lately. “Let It Burn,” the haunting post-breakup joint “Anabelle,” and the western get-together “Vegas” dropped first to give heads a sample of what the artist’s working with.
[Listen]
Tanerélle: Electric Honey - EP (R&B)
After announcing the deal, Tanerélle made sure she came correct with her Republic Records debut. Now, she’s pushing herself with Electric Honey to experiment with her moody sound across different sonic landscapes without every track feeling like a carbon copy.
[Listen]
Leigh-Anne: No Hard Feelings - EP (R&B)
Ex-Little Mix member Leigh-Anne dropped her first solo EP, No Hard Feelings, in its entirety. The singer is carving out a new lane, tapping into different creative impulses along the way. The EP’s got some serious heat from Khris Riddick (SZA, Ariana Grande), Danja (Britney Spears, MIA, Mariah Carey), and Tayla Parx (Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Normani) in the mix.
[Listen]
Oddisee: And Yet Still - EP (Hip-Hop)
Oddisee’s been one of the most reliable voices in indie rap, a straight shooter, and a cultural critic extraordinaire. The man stays grinding, coming off last year’s To What End LP and back with a quick-strike, high-octane EP called And Yet Still. On this new drop, the DMV spitter plays both teacher and student. “Had to Improve” finds him flipping the drill sound, inspired by the cities he hits heavy, while later on, he even dips into yacht-rock with “Give Way.” But he still reps his home turf hard on “Live from the DMV” and reflects on this crazy world on “World on Fire.” And Yet Still might be short, but it’s a wild glimpse into the mind of one of rap’s illest creators, an artist who makes every chance to bring us into his mad creative headspace count.
[Listen]
CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd: Bazuko (Hip-Hop)
Jersey rapper CRIMEAPPLE and producer Big Ghost Ltd linked back up for Bazuko, the sequel to their 2018 collab album Aguardiente. Lukey Cage, T.F, RLX, and Mickey Diamond all show up as guests. Bazuko, led by the single “Re-Rock,” follows CRIMEAPPLE’s 2024 drops El León and LETHIMCOOK.
[Listen]
Mynameisntjmack: Mynameisnt (Hip-Hop)
Mynameisntjmack is about to blow all the way up; showing hard work and hustle pays off big time. His sophomore set Mynameisnt doesn’t just flex crazy talent but next-level creativity and poise, too, as he gives us a one-of-a-kind look at his come-up. This one’s short and sweet, but there’s definitely something for everybody.
[Listen]
Tha Dogg Pound: W.A.W.G. (We All We Got) [Hip-Hop]
West Coast icons Tha Dogg Pound are finally back after a minute with their 9th studio album W.A.W.G. (We All We Got). It’s the follow-up to 2021’s DPG 4 Life. Kurupt, Daz Dillinger, and their boy Snoop Dogg have been teasing it for weeks with loosies and visuals. “Smoke Up”, “We All We Got”, and “Favorite Color Blue” dropped as the lead singles.
[Listen]
Belly: 96 Miles from Bethlehem (Hip-Hop)
Rapper Belly respects his Palestinian roots, especially repping his hometown, Jenin, 96 Miles from Bethlehem. He tapped fellow Palestinian artists Elyanna, Saint Levant, and MC Abdul for the record, mixing DaHeala’s beats with traditional sounds to show love for his people’s strength.
[Listen]
Jordan Hamilton: Project Freedom (Various Genres)
Project Freedom was written in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a city between Detroit and Chicago. That’s where cellist Jordan Hamilton started writing songs, making beats, and doing his own thing as an artist. Project Freedom is all about how Jordan uses the cello in new ways to play chords, layer melodies, and make complete songs. This album breaks the rules and mixes R&B, soul, hip-hop, electronic, and jazz.
[Listen]
Swamp Dogg: Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St (Country)
Jerry Williams Jr. started calling himself Swamp Dogg for his 1970 album Total Destruction of Your Mind, and he’s kept the name ever since. He’s known for funny but sometimes rude lyrics that almost cross the line, and on Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St, he brings that same spirit to bluegrass music. He doesn’t just make it work; he kills it from the very first song.
[Listen]
KALLITECHNIS: Mood Ring (R&B)
KALLITECHNIS’ Mood Ring shows how the feelings in the songs are like the colors in the world around us. It’s about the connections between human emotions, colors, and sound.
[Listen]
Jon Muq: Flying Away (Singer/Songwriter)
Jon Muq was born in Uganda but now lives in Austin. His first album, Flying Away, blends African and Western melodies, showing his wildlife story. Dan Auerbach produced it, and it’s all about being strong. Muq’s honest songwriting captures his life across continents—from playing music for kids on the streets of Kampala to cruise ship clubs to playing with massive stars. Now he’s doing the biggest thing yet: putting out his debut album.
[Listen]
Nikitch & Alexis Moutzouris: II (Electronic/Jazz)
Nicolas Morant, a French DJ, producer, and musician also known as Nikitch, teamed up with composer, clarinet player, and sax player Alexis Moutzouris for their first EP, II. They called it “II” (which means “two” in French) because they made it together. The six songs have strong melodies that mix flute, sax, and clarinet sounds into one voice, while cool rhythms keep things moving and synths dive into dark chords.
[Listen]
Tim Atlas: Enchanté (Alternative)
Brooklyn singer/rapper/producer Tim Atlas, known for blending R&B, neo-soul, alternative, and bedroom pop, just dropped his long-awaited debut album, Enchanté. Enchanté is the grand finale following his EPs Le Soir and Matinee with some brand new joints, too—it hits on love, anxiety, trust, and more. Fans had been losing it over the singles for a minute, so the anticipation was real.
[Listen]
Unessential Oils: Unessential Oils (Alternative)
Unessential Oils is all about keeping it real. Warren Spicer digs into his struggles, weaknesses, wins, breakthroughs, moments of clarity and the everyday grind. The heaviness of grief and anger clashed with the freedom and joy of something new. Warren is the frontman of Montreal’s Plants and Animals and a crazy talented producer/engineer/mixer. This is his first solo project, a chance to zero in on his vision without distractions. The setup’s like a jazz record—it’s all about letting the players do their thing. A lot of the songs are pretty bare bones writing-wise, but the execution and performances go way out there—musicians were told to follow their instincts and play off each other and the music. Small patterns loop over and over, and everyone is encouraged to get loose with them.
[Listen]
Jasmine Cephas-Jones: Phoenix (R&B)
Jasmine Cephas-Jones is coming up from painful times with her debut Phoenix. Her singles “Brighter” featuring Kevin Garrett, “Come My Way,” and “Baby I Can’t Give You Up” let fans see a new side of her, but the album takes it to a whole other level.
[Listen]
Dave East & Mike & Keys: Apt 6E (Hip-Hop)
Dave East and Mike & Keys travel down memory lane while staying in the present with Apt 6E. Dave East and the 6x Grammy-nominated duo Mike & Keys (known for overseeing Nipsey Hussle’s legendary Victory Lap album and cooking up with heavy hitters like JAY-Z, Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg) have a long history of collaborations dating back to 2019—peep the critically acclaimed HDIGH, Karma 3, Fortune Favors the Bold, and 30 for 30.
[Listen]
Brotha Lynch Hung: Season of Da Siccness: 2 Kevlar (Hip-Hop)
Rap veteran Brotha Lynch Hung, with mad classics under his belt, knows exactly what his fans need. The Sacramento OG’s rep was set in stone with 1995’s game-changing Season of Da Siccness (The Resurrection). The sequel keeps that same eerie energy but gives it a 2023 upgrade. One example is the Bane-like character narrating some songs and welcoming Lynch into the darkness (a prominent theme throughout).
[Listen]
Swidt: Taking Care of Business (Hip-Hop)
Onehunga’s finest Swidt going all out, flooding May with releases for their own Swidt Music Month, and today they stuck the landing with the new album Taking Care of Business—their first official full-length since 2017’s STONEYHUNGA.
[Listen]
Wolfgang Valbrun: Flawed by Design (R&B)
Wolfgang Valbrun is carrying the torch for soul music with a debut that examines the human condition through his eyes and the messed-up state of the world. Flawed by Design gets into everything—relationships, cash, religion, greed, rising tensions, and the system’s hate for the have-nots.
[Listen]
Alicia Olatuja & Michael Olatuja: OLATUJA (R&B)
OLATUJA is a band and an album that taps into the joy and uplift of music from across the African diaspora: a light in the darkness. Michael ‘Leye’ Olatuja and Alicia ‘Lisa’ Olatuja got back together for a joint that’s epic in scope but super personal too, all about trust, happiness, and how real talk can change everything.
[Listen]
BADBADNOTGOOD: Mid Spiral: Growth (Jazz)
BADBADNOTGOOD hit us with the Mid Spiral: Growth EP. This Canadian crew stays evolving, always down for something fresh. BADBADNOTGOOD (Al Sow, Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty) kicked off a trilogy of EPs this month, three slices of pure growth.
[Listen]
Illmac & Geechi Gotti: Free Butter (Hip-Hop)
Two battle rappers, Illmac and Geechi Gotti, teamed up to release a bar-heavy album with Free Butter. This album packs a punch with features by B-Dot the God, Daylyt, and Eddy I.
[Listen]
Con Killion: Head Room: Season Finale (R&B)
R&B singer-songwriter Con Killion has a sexy voice and writes thoughtful songs, often based on his love life and childhood. His new EP, Head Room: Season Finale, builds on his independent success with fresh music and videos meant to make him stand out as a serious new artist in R&B. Con Killion is confident and consistent, able to sing and write in ways that make him an exciting artist to follow.
[Listen]
Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink: Is There Love In Outer Space? (Soul)
Jimi Tenor’s spaceship really takes off on this new Timmion joint. Come 2024, he’ll hit us with an intergalactic session recorded with Cold Diamond & Mink. Jimi’s no stranger to these cosmic lanes—he’s been low-key killing it at Timmion for a minute, blessing their artists with his flute and reed skills.
[Listen]
Ian Kelly: Art - EP (Hip-Hop)
Ian Kelly is back with his Art EP. This skilled rapper from Oakland made an exciting project about his city. He got fellow Oakland artists Ovrkast. to make the beats and Nappy Nina & SundaY to hop on some tracks.
[Listen]
JONES: Kaleidoscope - EP (R&B)
JONES, an artist from London, just dropped her EP, Kaleidoscope. The title track has a smooth, soulful vibe that makes the whole thing flow. When times are tough, it’ll lift your spirits for sure. The vocals are on point; listen to how they come together. The beat is perfect. ‘Kaleidoscope’ is about how great love and entire life can be. JONES shares how her world shines bright because someone makes her happy.
[Listen]
SAYGRACE: Deep Rest - EP (R&B)
SAYGRACE is from Australia but is based in LA now. Her old-school but modern R&B style has impressed big names in the industry and regular music fans. She’s performed at Coachella, Glastonbury, and many other shows. After touring Europe with Leon Bridges, being on a Nina Simone tribute album, dropping collabs with A-listers, working on her sound, and writing hundreds of songs, she finally put out her Deep Rest project.
[Listen]
Mavis Swan Poole: Adult Time, Vol. 1 - EP (R&B)
Adult Time, Vol. 1 is straight ear candy, pure old-school soul, and R&B dipped in buttery jazz. Mavis Swan Poole’s warm, rich vocals wrap you up, perfectly matching the record’s intimate, grown folks vibe. This EP is a lush, sensual journey through love, life, and desire. Mavis Swan Poole comes through with five sultry, soulful cuts that pull you into a world where passion and class collide.
[Listen]
Bonus: Arooj Aftab: Night Reign (Jazz)
Few things are more satisfying than watching an artist grow over time, taking risks, gaining recognition, and then fulfilling expectations with something truly remarkable. Arooj Aftab’s voice in her latest album, Night Reign, seems driven by an unstoppable force, much like catching the perfect wave. This album, released under the historic jazz label Verve, builds on the success of her Grammy-winning Vulture Prince from 2021 and the enchanting 2023 trio album Love in Exile with Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily.
[Listen]