Album(s) of the Week: Catching up

Anderson .Paak – Malibu

We haven't heard from Frank Ocean yet this year, but .Paak could almost make you forget that.

The singer/rapper blends tropical jazz, boom bap hip-hop and 90's R&B into a delightful mix. Much like last year's fantastic Surf from Donnie Trumpet, .Paak uses an amalgamation of styles to create something incredibly unique. May be the sunniest music we get all year, and we were blessed with it in the second week of January.

Malibu is out on OBE. 

Future – Purple Reign

No rapper had more of a breakthrough year than Future did in 2015, and he takes all that momentum and just keeps charging ahead.

It's entirely possible he's the most interesting voice in the genre right now, and the Atlanta rapper still buries his aching heart in woozy beats and codeine mumbles. Sometimes it's difficult to know what the hell he's on about, but the vibe never changes.

Only Future could mix braggadocio and heartbreak into a line that is supposed to sound like a boast: "Hit another city, and another city, I was just grooving/I was trying to tell you I was losing/I was gon’ tell you I’m improving.”

Purple Reign is out for free online. 

Rihanna – Anti

Rihanna has always been a singles artist for me, and I've never found a full album of hers that satisfied me. Then she dropped Anti out of the blue on Jan. 29.

It's easily her best and most cohesive album to date, and that's because she stops worrying about singles and instead embraces a grander vision. There are no radio-storming singles – instead, Rihanna stretches out her aesthetic into woozy, swirling mix of synths and beats. She even covers a fucking Tame Impala song (and beats the original).

Rihanna's voice has never been this strong (check out album highlight "Higher"), nor her skills more evident. 

Anti is out on Roc Nation. 

Future – EVOL

I know I already wrote about Future up above, but shit if he isn't on a killer roll. He released his second album of the year on Feb. 6, and it's a better album than Purple Reign.

EVOL is not as despondent as Purple Reign, and gets in some more sonic variety. It also gets a little more upbeat for those who are tired of sad Future. Right now, the man can't be stopped.

EVOL is out on Apple Music.

Also recommended this month:

Bloc Party's long-awaited return, Hymns.

Chairlift's melancholy techno-soul release, Moth. 

DIIV's muscular shoegaze sophomore effort, Is The Is Are.

Dr. Dog's rejiggered debut album, The Psychedelic Swamp.

Kevin Gate's major-label debut, Islah.

Majid Jordan's self-titled collection of lovesick R&B.

Migos' long-awaited, Young Rich Niggas 2.

Sia's latest songwriting display, This Is Acting.

Tedeschi Trucks Band's blend of jazz and blues, Let Me By.

Wet's dreamy soul-pop debut, Don't You.

Lucinda Wililam's dust bowl of an album, The Ghosts of Highway 20.

Young Thug's first full length of the year, I'm Up.

Adrian Younge’s sweeping soul opus, Something About April II.