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| Photo by the Author |
Harry’s House by Harry Styles
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| Courtesy of Columbia Records |
Harry Styles outdid himself with Harry’s House—a collection of songs that are all standouts—coming together to create a unique and adventurous full-length album. Sonically, this album is more exploratory than his previous ones, Fine Line and Harry Styles. But that isn’t to say his prior works are outclassed by Harry’s House. Put simply, this album showcases the different dimensions of his musical prowess in a multifaceted manner.
The lyrics are simple but honest and meaningful; with Matilda, he tells a heartbreaking story of a person who left their unloving family, reassuring the character about letting go and moving forward, with lines like “You don’t have to be sorry for leavin’ and growin’ up.” Then in Satellite, he sings about a frustrating romance; curiously starting off slow, he builds up and cascades into synth-filled lines of “spinning out, waiting for ya to pull me in, I can see you’re lonely down there, don’t you know that I am right here?” Overall, Harry’s House packs a range of sounds, taking turns with the ascending beats of Grapejuice, to the reflective Boyfriends, and to the somber Love of My Life. Below is a sample of the album’s powerful opener, Music For a Sushi Restaurant:
Three Dimensions Deep by Amber Mark
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| Courtesy of PMI Records and EMI Records |
A full-bodied album showcasing Amber Mark's luxuriously husky voice, Three Dimensions Deep gets real as it unearths existential questions on pain, grief, failed romance, healing, rediscovery of oneself, and anxiety—turning them into a magnificent piece of work—one that displays her versatility in full circle. Deeply personal and transparent, this album drips of cosmic influences in confronting life’s trials and tribulations.
In the opener One, Mark opens up about self-doubt and anxiety juxtaposed with upbeat melodies, singing “Don’t know if I’ll move up, am I good enough?” Following through is another early gem in the album called Most Men which rises slowly and melodiously, highlighting both of Mark’s delicate and husky vocal range as she asserts in the lyrics that “Most men are garbage, don’t understand what love is.” Overall, Three Dimensions Deep delivers a beautiful mix of sound, of soul, R&B, and pop, in effortlessly smooth melodies. Below is a sample of the album’s 2nd track called What It Is:
emails i can’t send by Sabrina Carpenter
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| Courtesy of Island Records |
Lyrically straightforward but deeply personal, Sabrina Carpenter takes us on an emotional rollercoaster with her latest masterwork, emails i can’t send, which features stunning vocal layering and showcases her impressive musicality in bringing to life reflections and raw sentiments on love, heartbreaks, going to therapy (and lying to her therapist), moving forward, and reclaiming her life story—a perfect allusion to the album’s title of poignant feelings that are difficult to disclose.
Beginning with an emotional ballad with the title track, the album follows through with alternating rhythms—signifying the ups and downs of her personal experiences—from upbeat pop sounds to tracks that are delicately sung. Simply put, this album is many things: it’s saucy, it’s cheeky, and it’s also reflective, and emotional. Nonsense (now with a Christmas remix) because i liked a boy, and Tornado Warnings are some highlights of emails i can’t send, but truthfully, every track is exceptional. Below is a sample of an underrated gem from the album called Already Over:
Euphonyus by Phony Ppl
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| Courtesy of 300 Entertainment |
Rightfully titled, Euphonyus is the 3rd studio album of Brooklyn-based Phony Ppl, and it’s a body of work that delivers both funky and melodic sounds that it’s simply impossible to not move your body along to the tracks.
This album is by and large upbeat, groovy, and fun, while also featuring melodious ballads and jazzy tunes; through and through, it has momentous instrumentation and versatile sound—stretching the group’s musicality by showing their jazz/R&B/funk sound—in a way that doesn’t sound disjointed, but simply euphonious. Here’s a sample of a personal favorite from the album called Fkn Around with Megan Thee Stallion:
ATTENTION: MILEY LIVE by Miley Cyrus
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| Courtesy of Columbia Records |
When Miley Cyrus sang “I might even be a rockstar” during her stint as Hannah Montana, she didn’t lie—she’s become the ultimate rockstar icon. The 20-track ATTENTION: MILEY LIVE is her first-ever live album that includes hit songs from her previous albums like Plastic Hearts, Breakout, and Bangerz. This live album highlights Miley’s strong vocals and versatility through a mélange of pop, rock, pop-rock, country, and ballad songs.
Bold, forward, and unafraid—she indeed has the audience’s attention in a chokehold—with her deep, robust voice amidst a walkthrough performance of her career with throwback hits, mashups, and latest rock tracks—with the latter showcasing powerful screaming vocals; undeniably, this live album captures Miley’s musicality as an artist. Below is a sample of one of my personal favorites from the album called You, a song that talks of a specific kind of love pictured with a specific person, which she first performed live at the New Year’s Eve Party:
Forest in the City by UMI
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| Courtesy of RCA Records |
Steeped in rhythmic neo-soul sounds with heartfelt lyrics, UMI likens the journey of healing and self-love with nature—connecting with your roots, working on your growth and development, and becoming centered in an ever-evolving universe.
Forest in the City delivers a peaceful listening experience; starting off with hello hi, which features the sounds of chirping birds and people talking, the track establishes the mood of this album as it follows through with songs thematically and lyrically about learning to love oneself again, grappling with failed relationships, moving forward, and forgiving oneself; UMI treats her listeners with soothing vocals and honest lyricism with the backdrop of nature. Listen to the sample of the album’s 6th track called moonlit room as UMI deals with being stuck in a love that has unhealthy dynamics:
MOTOMAMI by Rosalía
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| Courtesy of Columbia Records |
MOTOMAMI is hard to pin down, but I mean that with complete fascination. Distinctive and ambitious, this album is a unique patchwork of many sounds and references—classic and modern—as it throws in surging electronic sounds, reggaeton, pop, and flamenco.
With the latter, Rosalía shows her powerful vocal range in songs like G3 N15, SAKURA, and HENTAI—so intimate and gripping to listen to, it’s impressive how her voice can carry so many nuances and emotions. In SAOKO, she briefs her listeners on her ingenuity and versatility, singing “I’m very much me, I transform, a butterfly, I transform.” And in tracks like BIZCOCHITO, MOTOMAMI, and CHICKEN TERIYAKI, Rosalía brings in headbang-worthy beats and a solid bassline. Below is a sample of the album’s 5th track, CHICKEN TERIYAKI:
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar
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| Courtesy of PGLang, TDE, Aftermath and Interscope |
A sonic storybook of 19 tracks jammed with hard-hitting lyrics, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers showcases Kendrick Lamar's musicality as he poeticizes rap and reconciles hip-hop with outstanding choral arrangements. Brazen and consistent, his rhymes punch the air amidst piano chords—a stimulating combination.
From start to finish, Lamar goes all out—a full display of vulnerability and revelations at personal, cultural, and political levels—tackling grief, Black culture, religious hypocrisy, self-forgiveness, confronting insecurities, trans power, daddy issues, the rise of infodemic, survival, generational trauma, and going to therapy. Below is a sample from one of my personal favorites from the album called Die Hard with Amanda Reifer and Blxst:
age/sex/location by Ari Lennox
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| Courtesy of Dreamville Records |
Sensual and delightful, Ari Lennox takes her listeners to an indulgent and all-encompassing neo-soul experience with age/sex/location. Unafraid, sexually empowered, and cheeky, she showcases the beauty of self-love, strong female energy, self-exploration, independence, and romance through her liquid gold voice and velvety jazzy tunes.
With POF as a strong opener, it sets the experience of the album—soulful and catchy—immediately greeting the listeners with intoxicating vocal runs and smooth instrumentation. In this one, she sings “Young black woman approachin’ thirty with no lover in my bed, cannot settle, I got standards…” Overall, age/sex/location stunningly captures the balance of seeking pleasure and fostering self-love and freedom with vocal performances and tempos that heightens the experience. Below is a sample from one of my favorites (with an outro so superb) from the album called Stop By:
Infinitely Tall by Charlie Burg
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| Courtesy of FADER Label |
One man plus his guitar equals an hour of magnificent instrumentation, heartfelt lyricism, and passionate vocal performances—that is Infinitely Tall in compact description. This album brings in 15 thoughtfully written tracks, each showcasing the different dimensions of Charlie Burg’s musicality as he delivers swoon-worthy serenades, indie-rock tunes, blues, and combinations of these different genres.
Thematically, the album explores reflections on love, home, and change, as such with The Haus Lives Forever, the opening track that talks of hometown nostalgia, with my favorite line being “I know we have changed, but some things never die,” and Dancing Through The Mental Breakdown, which is a lively jive that pokes at society, modern culture and untimely breakdowns. His electric guitar takes the center stage in tracks like Ooh! Sumthin’ New and Your Friends Not Mine, while songs like Summer Moon and The Five-Month Song, Burg sings as someone irrevocably in love. Overall, Infinitely Tall is a genre-bending album that delivers a whole story, each song chapter-like in nature, with smooth instrumentation to match. Below is a sample of the album’s 2nd track called 97 Avalon:
Heart on My Sleeve by Ella Mai
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| Courtesy of 10 Summers and Interscope Records |
Voice smoother than velvet and runs so precise and melodious, Heart on My Sleeve is an effortless listening experience that features honest lyricism and rich melodies. The heart of the album is Ella Mai’s self-directed advice, one that she speaks of in the outro of Not Another Love Song, “...but your heart is on your sleeve, you wear it out there, and people see it. What do you think they do? And they play on that. Don’t end up being a victim all your life…”
With love as a consistent theme, she builds it up in different paces, as such with Fallen Angel and Feels Like that has danceable tunes and deep basslines, and Break My Heart and DFMU, which are less intense in their sounds. Overall, Heart on My Sleeve showcases alternating sides to Ella Mai’s musicality, and it’s a fantastic follow-up to her 2018 self-titled album. Below is a sample of the opening track Trying:
Surrender by Maggie Rogers
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| Courtesy of Debay Sounds and Capitol Records |
Surrender delivers an invigorating rock sound with punchy and powerful vocals to match. In this 12-track album, Maggie Rogers wasted no time as every song is nothing short of ingenuity. Kicking off with Overdrive, nearly psychedelic sounding, Rogers’ voice builds up amidst the beat of the drums and peaks to powerful vocals as she sings of a relationship falling apart.
Lyrically reflective and forthright, she talks of romance in an electrifying and passionate way. In the 2nd track (one of my favorites) called That’s Where I Am, pulsating rhythms meet with her big vocals as she sings “It all works out in the end, wherever you go, that’s where I am.” From start to finish, Surrender consistently delivered solid tracks, and out of all of them, the 7th track Shatter would be my most favorite—a fueled, catchy, and intense (in a good way) track that’s perfect for jamming. Listen to the sample below:
RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé
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| Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records |
Inarguably, this album is a cohesive masterwork with consistently flawless transitions—song after song. From start to finish, RENAISSANCE is an experience unlike any other; Bey kicks off the album with I’M THAT GIRL, a track that sets the tone for the album as it showcases a powerfully rhythmic statement to pair with its message—she’s incomparable, she’s unstoppable, and she knows it.
RENAISSANCE is a shift from her other albums because this album has no ballads, unlike her previous, Lemonade, which features a sweeping sound of defiance and rage with some somber and slowed-down tracks. Regardless, RENAISSANCE is a tour de force of an album as it encapsulates a whole culture into its tracks—self-love anthems, funky disco tunes, an homage to Black and queer history, and ballroom-esque sound. Listen to the sample of the 7th track called CHURCH GIRL:
SOS by SZA
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| Courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records |
Released on December 9, 2022, SOS came in like a climax to 2022—a near-end treat to listeners but by no means belated, as an artist like SZA delivers songs that sustains the years they were released with hits like Broken Clocks, Good Days (which is present on this album), Love Galore, Hit Different, and The Weekend. Just like the cover, that’s what it feels like to listen to this album—like breathing in the ocean breeze with SZA’s voice as the effortless wind wafting through the melodies.
But I have to say, the song that caught my attention the most was F2F for the reason that it was such a refreshing sound to SZA—a standout pop-punk reminiscent of Fall Out Boy and Avril Lavigne. The track is preceded by a subdued, nearly somber Ghost in the Machine with Phoebe Bridgers, which veers to the first verse of F2F and culminates to an angsty chorus heightened by electric guitars—definitely an unexpected highlight. Listen to a sample of F2F below:
Midnights by Taylor Swift
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| Courtesy of Republic Records |
An album that showcases introspective lyricism and dreamlike sounds, Midnights is a thought-provoking masterwork that demonstrates Taylor Swift’s ability to maximize music as a space for storytelling and reflection. The first time I listened to this album, I thought of how reminiscent the sound was with 1989 and Reputation, as if the two had a crossover to produce this album, with the familiar synth-pop sounds meeting fiery, potent tunes a la Vigilante Sh*t.
Nonetheless, Midnights is a world of its own (a shift from the previous sound of Folklore and Evermore) as it delivers a sonically alluring experience with every song containing substantive writing with instrumentation that comes at par. It’s difficult to pick one, but to pull your heartstrings here’s a sample of Sweet Nothing:
As 2023 approaches, what upcoming album are you most anticipated to listen to?
