Few Best New Albums Released in the Beginning of the Year

Earlier this month The xx released their anticipated third album, I See You. After the English-duo received massive breakout success from their self-entitled first record, The xx haven’t fallen off the radar with their unique sound and smooth beats. Their new record is slightly different from the rest, with some tracks very clearly influenced by Jamie xx samples and less focus on a full band sound. Although their sound strays away from the past, the message remains: they’re reserved but madly aware with vulnerable introspection.

If there needed to be an example of modern day protest music albums, Run the Jewels newest record, RTJ3, would prove that point right away. The rap-duo is making a very clear statement that they are the furthest thing from OK with the current state of affairs, and are not losing sight of making that a public statement. This record wouldn’t be the first time Run the Jewels made a record regarding their personal politics, having address a conspiracy theory against the Bush’s and 9/11.

The Flaming Lips released their 15th studio album earlier this year, Oczy Mlody, an album that Wayne Coyne described as “Syd Barrett meets A$AP Rocky and they get trapped in a fairy tale from the future.” The album is supposedly a follow-up to their 2013 record, The Terror, an extremely personal record that became an ode to Coyne’s separation from his longtime partner, in addition to Steven Drozd’s drug relapse. Oczy Mlody is nowhere near as dark but just as psychedelic as ever. It’s very clearly a political album, but what isn’t explicitly clear is the politics that they’re addressing.

California indie rock duo, Foxygen, has entered back into the music scene after being on a silent two-year hiatus, with a new record, Hang, and a 40-piece band to back them up. The record is a great representation of both Sam France and Jonathon Rado’s musical ability, in addition to their willingness to paint with broad strokes of style and expression. They tap into deep personal emotions as well as their views of current politics. They discuss love, loss and death among other things, but taking those cliché topics and making it their own.

Brian Eno released his 19th studio album, Reflection. His 54-minute record, compiled of one ambient experiment, is all about conception and both physically and mentally experiencing his music. Eno’s process is all about algorithms, finding the relationship in music between time and sound, taking his time with a single note to force the human body to experience the simple sound for what it is: whole.