Wednesday Roundups #42: 8 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Stream last week’s releases from Ledisi, Jacob Collier, Jahari Massamba Unit, Jade Novah, Jynx716, Zada, Ben Buck, Jamar Equality & Nick Cruz, and Nef.
Welcome back to another issue of Wednesday Roundups!
Diving into the world of music can be overwhelming with the constant influx of albums. That’s where Shatter the Standards steps in, making your musical navigation easier every Wednesday. They slice through the noise, bringing you a curated list of noteworthy new drops accessible on streaming platforms. Just last week, they spotlighted fresh beats from a diverse lineup, including Ledisi, Jacob Collier, Jahari Massamba Unit, Jade Novah, Jynx716, Zada, Ben Buck, Jamar Equality & Nick Cruz, and Nef.
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Ledisi: Good Life (R&B)
Ledisi celebrates a new chapter in her musical career by releasing her 11th studio album, Good Life. This latest project, released by Listen Back Entertainment/BMG, showcases her artistic growth with a nuanced blend of soul, R&B, and jazz influences. The album includes the Billboard Adult R&B chart-topper “I Need to Know,” the evocative “Sell Me No Dreams,” and the warmly received “Perfect Strangers,” featuring Kenny Lattimore. Ledisi continues to expand the boundaries of her sound, her work infused with heartfelt lyrics and soulful arrangements. Her music reflects a dedication to her craft and is an ongoing exploration within the contemporary music landscape.
[Listen]
Jacob Collier: Djesse, Vol. 4 (Alternative)
Over the past six years, 29-year-old musical prodigy Jacob Collier has undertaken a monumental project called Djesse, aiming to encompass his diverse musical makeup. Vol 4, the final installment of the quartet, is a mind-bending amalgamation of 16 tracks featuring a wide range of genres from folk balladry and glittering pop to doom metal, rap, and samba. The album also incorporates the recorded voices of more than 100,000 audience members who attended Collier’s world tours. The record is an invigorating and irrepressible work, unparalleled in scope and ambition.
[Listen]
Jahari Massamba Unit: YHWH Is LOVE (Jazz)
Madlib and Karriem Riggins, giants in contemporary music, find common ground in the Jahari Massamba Unit, a project driven by their shared desire to explore music beyond its familiar boundaries. The Jahari Massamba Unit emerged as a space for uninhibited creative expression rooted in friendship and deep respect for each other's work. The result is a remarkable musical fusion, a demonstration of the power and potential of music when artistic license takes precedence over traditional structures.
[Listen]
Jade Novah: Where Have I Been? (R&B)
Jade Novah’s Where Have I Been? marks her return to the music scene with a reflective and soul-searching collection of tracks. The 24-song set, which spans an hour, features dramatized interludes woven throughout, adding depth and nuance to the narrative. “Where Have I Been?” incorporates all six tracks from Novah’s Moon in Pisces EP, including “Trip,” “Lost in You,” “Rollercoaster” featuring Kenyon Dixon, “Who Are You,” “The Silence,” and “I Just Wanna Know.” Additionally, the album contains the previously released songs “Affirm Me,” “Butterfly,” “Like That,” and “What’s Your Sign?” Novah collaborates with several notable artists and actors on the album, such as Leslie Odom, Jr., Wayne Brady, Tabitha Brown, Gail Bean, Tony Baker, and Tarriona “Tank” Ball, who contribute their talents to the project.
[Listen]
Jynx716: ANDY (Hip-Hop)
New York emcee Jynx716 has released his 3rd EP, titled ANDY, following his debut mixtape The Green Album in 2020 and subsequent projects The 33 and Careful What You Wish For, the latter produced by Ché Noir and serving as an excellent introduction to Jynx’s music for those unfamiliar with his work. Despite his impressive catalog, Jynx is Absolutely Not Done Yet, as he reunites with Ché for an 8-track, 25-minute offering that showcases both artists’ growth. Ché’s production takes on a new direction, while Jynx’s lyrical skills have notably improved over the past few years, making ANDY a testament to their collaborative chemistry and individual artistic development.
[Listen]
Zada: Water in the Desert (R&B)
Zada, a singer/songwriter based in British Columbia, was born in Ethiopia and spent a significant portion of her formative years in the mountains of Canada, where she honed her skiing and horseback riding skills. Her love for the natural world is deeply ingrained in her work, particularly her music videos. Although she has been involved in music from a young age, Zada recently released a new Water in the Desert project. The album has already spawned several singles and videos, such as “Atlantic Times,” “Sweet Things in Life,” and “Deep End.” These new tracks showcase Zada’s versatility and suggest an enthusiastic exploration of her artistic persona and sound, building upon the ideas and approaches established in her earlier work, such as the song and video for “Nomad.”
[Listen]
Ben Buck, Jamar Equality & Nick Cruz: Low Brow Purists (Hip-Hop)
Low Brow Purists delivers a succinct 33-minute serving of underground boom-bap, brimming with impressive bars from Ben Buck, Jamar Equality, and Nick Cruz, bolstered by guest appearances from Daniel Son, Pro Zay, Lou from Paradise, Termanology, D.Dot Elles, and Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire. The gritty beats, produced by Camoflauge Monk, Small Professor, Argov, Shadowboxin’, Wiardon, Nephew Hesh, Multi Tracker, and Ben Buck himself, provide the perfect backdrop for the emcees’ lyrical abilities. While Low Brow Purists may blend in with similar projects in today’s hip-hop landscape, the overall quality of the beats and bars elevates it well above the average offering.
[Listen]
Nef: The Gentleman's Board (Hip-Hop)
NYC-based producer Nef assembled an impressive roster of emcees for The Gentleman’s Board, including Rasheed Chappell, Rome Streetz, The Musalini, Termanology, Wais P, Bobby J From Rockaway, Passport Rav, XP the Marxman, and UFO Fev. This concise project delivers a potent combination of sharp lyricism and smooth instrumentals. Although The Gentleman’s Board may not have many standout moments, it remains consistently engaging throughout, saturated with impressive bars and beats.
[Listen]