"Album Reviews" for the Month of June

By Sarah Christine Davis on July 5, 2015

June was a robust month as far as new music goes. From the smooth electronic sounds of Jamie xx to the moving lyrics of Florence + the Machine, June offered a variety of music. In fact, it offered such a wide selection of new tunes that you might need to read some album reviews to help you zone in on exactly what you want to listen to. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right article! Check out some of album reviews pertaining to the month of June below and feel free to comment about your favorites!

Jamie xx’s In Colour: 8/10

Image via http://www.jamiexx.com/#order

In Colour is the perfect album to listen to on loop if you want to zone out and do homework for a few hours. The chill electronic vibes explore a variety of instruments and beats that carry you on an enjoyable journey that won’t leave you feeling bored. Jamie xx is one quarter of the indie pop group the xx, and the expertise that he’s gained from that experience noticeably shines through in In Colour. The album is available for free streaming on Spotify.

Zella Day’s Kicker: 7/10

Image via http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/news/article/zella-day-unveils-hypnotic-video-announces-debut-album-kicker-142

Zella Day is mostly known for her mysterious voice in her haunting cover of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” However, with Kicker, Zella Day is likely to become better known for her original works. While her voice is incredibly similar to Lana Del Rey’s, Zella Day distinguishes herself as a “happier sounding” version of the sensuous singer. While I admire all of the tracks on the album, I must admit that it does contain some inconsistencies. “Mustang Kids” is a prime example of this; the repetitive and sassy pop sounds, while catchy, seem made for radio, not for art. Kicker is available for free streaming on Spotify.

Major Lazer’s Peace is the Mission: 7/10

Image via http://www.musictimes.com/articles/39998/20150601/stream-major-lazer-peace-is-the-mission-ellie-goulding-2-chainz-download.htm

The electronic vibes of Major Lazer’s Peace is the Mission are at times similar to those of Jamie xx’s In Colour. However, Major Lazer’s confident new album exemplifies more upbeat rhythms that will have you dancing around a little bit (especially “Too Original (feat. Elliphant & Jovi Rockwell)”). The perfect pregame album, Peace is the Mission features artists such as DJ Snake, Ellie Goulding, and 2 Chainz. An especially interesting listen on the album is the remix of “All My Love,” a song featuring Ariana Grande and Machel Montano that was originally featured on The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. Do yourself a favor and listen to Major Lazer’s newest album on Spotify.

Florence + the Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful: 10/10

Image via http://www.criticofmusic.com/2015/06/track-by-track-review-florence-machine.html

This album technically came out May 29 in Germany and in the beginning of June everywhere else, but I love it so much that I just have to include it. FSU student Cody Vanderploeg is also a fan of the album. His favorite song of the album is “Mother,” which features the powerful lyric, “Mother, make me / make me a bird of prey / so I can rise above this / left it fall away.” Vanderploeg explains, “It’s a really powerful song that keeps true to Florence’s style, while having a classic rock feel to it.” How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is an empowering must-listen that gets a 10/10. Check it out on Spotify.

matt pond PA’s The State of Gold: 6/10   

Image via http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/matt-pond-pa/album/the-state-of-gold-pt-2

While matt pond PA produces some quality tunes, they fall short on originality. Their generic sound is less than expected, especially considering that it’s the group’s 11th studio album. I have to agree with The Consequence of Sound’s review, which states that matt pond PA’s music is “tailor-made for sad teenagers yearning to feel sophisticated.” However, that’s not to say that their music is bad. “Spaceland” is an especially comforting and catchy tune. If you’re a fan of indie music, The State of Gold is certainly worth a listen. It is available on Spotify.

Hilary Duff’s Breathe In. Breathe Out.: 9/10

Image via http://fanjoy.co/products/hilary-duff

Hilary Duff was my favorite actress and singer growing up, and I was ecstatic to find out that she was coming out with a new album. Breathe In. Breathe Out. is the very definition of a pop dance album. I want to throw a girl’s night out party just to have an excuse to listen to it on a continuous loop. Prior to the album’s release on June 12, Duff released a sneak peak of the album’s first track, “Sparks,” in which she features real footage of herself on Tinder dates. Even though it’s been over a decade after the peak of my obsession with Duff (how has it been 12 years since Metamorphosis came out?!), I still want to be her best friend. Be sure to check the album out on Spotify.

Ryn Weaver’s The Fool: 7/10

Image via http://www.sift-thru.com/sift-thru/2015/3/16/ryn-weaver-announces-debut-album-the-fool-cover-tracklist

Ryn Weaver is someone to look out for. As of July 4, The Fool is #30 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. The alt-pop album features “OctaHate,” a single released about a year ago on Spotify that is described by Pitchfork as having an “intense pop rush.” While the rest of the tracks on The Fool certainly exemplify pop ideals, they don’t live up to the power of “OctaHate” and don’t establish Ryn Weaver as having a strong and original identity. Nevertheless, “OctaHate” has gained the attention of such artists as Charli XCX and Passion Pit that may carry her through despite anything that The Fool may lack. Listen to The Fool on Spotify.

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