Wednesday Roundups #24: 12 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time

Stream releases from Apollo Brown & Planet Asia, Yussef Dayes, 38 Spesh & Conway the Machine, Tone Stith, Jalen Ngonda, GAWD, and more.

Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!

The twenty-fourth outing of Wednesday Roundups!

It might be challenging to prioritize your music listening when so much new music is available. Shatter the Standards provide a weekly summary of newsworthy releases on streaming platforms. Apollo Brown & Planet Asia, Yussef Dayes, 38 Spesh & Conway the Machine, Tone Stith, Jalen Ngonda, GAWD, Rebel Rae, JAHKOY, Irreversible Entanglements, Roísín Murphy, James Blake, and Buju Banton were the artists with new albums or projects last week. Watch for weekly music drops every Wednesday for suggestions of lesser-known albums.

Here are your roundups for today!

Apollo Brown & Planet Asia — Sardines (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Sardines encompasses Planet ​Asia’s ability ​to release a ​torrent of ​amusing taunts and ​boastful discussions ​reminiscent of a ​crime boss. ​Apollo Brown brings ​his talent ​to creating harmonious ​melodies, soulful ​music, and a ​unique vocal ​style. The guest ​artists, including ​Sick Jacken, TriState, ​Marv Won, ​and Ty Farris, ​have been ​carefully chosen and ​complemented the ​album’s overall cohesion. ​There is ​no unnecessary content ​or subpar ​additions. Authenticity reigns ​supreme. Envision ​the impact of ​lightning striking ​with remarkable consistency.

Yussef Dayes — Black Classical Music (Jazz) [Listen]

​Yussef Dayes ​presents his inaugural ​solo release ​titled Black Classical ​Music. Comprising ​19 captivating tracks, ​this album ​skillfully combines elements ​of 70s ​funk, reggae, and ​Senegalese percussion ​while paying homage ​to the ​energetic dancefloor rhythms ​of the ​soundsystem continuum. Throughout ​the album, ​Yussef’s unmistakable drum ​melodies, accompanied ​by the solid ​bass lines ​of Rocco Palladino, ​serve as ​the steadfast foundation. ​Furthermore, Charlie ​Stacey and Elijah ​Fox contribute ​their expertise on ​keys and ​synths, Venna on ​the saxophone, ​and an array ​of exceptional ​guest artists, including ​Chronixx, Jamilah ​Barry, Tom Misch, ​Shabaka Hutchings, ​Miles James, Sheila ​Maurice Grey, ​Nathaniel Cross, Theon ​Cross, and ​the Chineke! Orchestra.

38 Spesh & Conway the Machine — Speshal Machinery (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

​The chemistry ​between 38 Spesh ​and Conway ​is palpable in ​Speshal Machinery. ​Despite its concise ​length of ​28 minutes spanning ​ten tracks, ​the project leaves ​a lasting ​impact akin to ​a powerful ​semi-truck, thanks to ​its adept ​combination of street ​talk with ​resonating boom-bap and ​jazz production. ​Notably, 38 Spesh ​and his ​collaborator Jimmy Dukes ​demonstrate exceptional ​production skills. This ​remarkable album ​is undoubtedly a ​strong contender ​for Album of ​the Year ​accolades.

Tone Stith — P.O.V (R&B) [Listen]

Tone Stith’s ​latest EP, ​P.O.V, showcases his ​heartfelt commitment ​to his lady ​while revealing ​some expected toxicity ​following heartbreak. ​With an ability ​to draw ​in listeners, Tone’s ​music tells ​the story of ​falling in ​love, getting hurt, ​and owning ​up to mistakes—something ​often lacking ​in modern R&B ​artists. The ​tracks “Girls Like ​You” and ​“I Need You” ​reflect on ​Tone’s past heartbreak.

Jalen Ngonda — Come Around and Love Me (R&B) [Listen]

​Jalen Ngonda’s ​debut release, Come ​Around and ​Love Me, effectively ​breathes new ​life into the ​nostalgic charm ​of Motown’s golden ​era. This ​debut album is ​a heartfelt ​homage, channeling the ​essence of ​the past while ​embracing modern ​sensibilities. The seamless ​fusion of ​traditional and contemporary ​elements is ​eloquently demonstrated through ​Ngonda’s incredible ​vocals, allowing his ​range of ​emotions and experience ​the enduring ​soul that transcends ​time into ​the 21st century.

GAWD — Cathedral City (R&B) [Listen]

​GAWD has ​garnered buzz through ​their solid ​inaugural EP, Cathedral ​City. In ​their fusion of ​dance music ​and R&B, this ​duo, consisting ​of Alana and ​Alayna, epitomizes ​a quality best ​described as ​ethereal. It also ​should be ​noted that there ​are Raedio’s ​most recent additions.

Rebel Rae — Take All My Tears (Pop/R&B) [Listen]

​Rebel Rae’s ​vocal expertise, profound ​lyricism, and ​captivating harmonies collectively ​form an ​unparalleled triumph in ​her offering, Take ​All My ​Tears. As she ​expertly navigates ​through the intricacies ​of love ​and the complexities ​of life, ​Rebel Rae’s personal ​growth and ​unwavering artistic trajectory ​are evident, ​akin to a ​resplendent rose ​bush in full ​bloom. Endorsements ​from R&B veterans confirm ​her indomitable ​stardom.

JAHKOY — Pretty Conversation (R&B) [Listen]

JAHKOY’s latest ​album is ​one of the ​finest releases ​this year, a ​commendation not ​to be underestimated. ​The tracks ​explore the profound ​connection, and ​pondering its reciprocity, ​he fearlessly ​delves into the ​depths of ​his emotions. These ​sentiments persist ​throughout the album ​with its ​authenticity and introspection.

Irreversible Entanglements — Protect Your Light (Jazz) [Listen]

​Irreversible Entanglements ​released Protect Your ​Light as ​their debut in ​Impulse! Records. ​The new album ​blends jazz, ​hip-hop, global music ​traditions, and ​spoken word. It ​showcases the ​talents of the ​quintet comprising ​vocalist/poet Camae Ayewa, ​saxophonist Keir ​Neuringer, bassist Luke ​Stewart, trumpeter ​Aquiles Navarro, and ​drummer Tcheser ​Holmes. Through adventurous ​improvisation, inspired ​by Ayewa’s poetry ​centered around ​the Black experience, ​love, power, ​community, and liberation, ​the album ​breaks conventional boundaries.

Roísín Murphy — Hit Parade (Pop) [Listen]

​Hit Parade ​pairs Roísín Murphy ​with DJ ​Koze, a German ​producer, exhibiting ​a harmonious collaboration ​that resonates ​with their idiosyncratic ​sensibilities. The ​songs display a ​sampladelic aesthetic ​akin to The ​Avalanches, skillfully ​blending diverse musical ​elements reminiscent ​of an extensive ​crate-digging session ​despite her comments ​toward the ​Trans community.

James Blake — Playing Robots Into Heaven (Electronic) [Listen]

James ​Blake has ​returned with his ​latest studio ​album, Playing Robots ​Into Heaven. ​Feel free to ​stream it ​below. After exploring ​ambient music ​last year, Blake ​returns to ​his roots with ​this album, ​delving back into ​the electronic ​soundscapes that first ​introduced him ​to the world ​on early ​EPs such as ​“The Bells ​Sketch” and “CMYK.” ​The lead ​single, “Big Hammer,” ​sets the ​tone for the ​album, showcasing ​Blake’s confidence as ​an established ​artist of over ​a decade.

Buju Banton — BORN FOR GREATNESS (Reggae) [Listen]

​Buju Banton has ​officially released ​his much-anticipated album ​titled BORN ​FOR GREATNESS, which ​showcases a ​constellation of renowned ​artists throughout ​its composition. This ​latest musical ​endeavor follows his ​significant accomplishment ​of being nominated ​for a ​Grammy in 2021. ​As an ​esteemed personality in ​reggae music, ​Buju Banton maintains ​his position ​as a truly ​influential, impactful, ​and extraordinary figure ​in this ​genre. Notable guest ​appearances on ​this record include ​Stephen Marley ​in the track ​titled “Feel ​a Way,” Snoop ​Dogg collaborating ​on the global ​hit “High ​Life,” and Victoria ​Monét lending ​her talents to ​the latest ​single, “Body Touching Body.”