Wednesday Roundups #58: 25 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Wednesday Roundups #58: 25 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Stream releases from Maeta, Your Old Droog, Daryl Hall, Da Beatminerz, Catpack, Lake Street Dive, Kaelin Ellis, Raury, Michael Christmas, Lizzen, Saint Jame$, Tyra + Tiara, Red Hot Org, and more.
Welcome back to another issue of Wednesday Roundups!
Diving into the world of music can be overwhelming with the constant influx of albums. That’s where Shatter the Standards steps in, making your musical navigation easier every Wednesday. They slice through the noise, bringing you a curated list of noteworthy new drops accessible on streaming platforms. Just last week, they spotlighted fresh beats from a diverse lineup, including Maeta, Your Old Droog, Daryl Hall, Da Beatminerz, Catpack, Lake Street Dive, Kaelin Ellis, Raury, Michael Christmas, Lizzen, Saint Jame$, Tyra + Tiara, Red Hot Org & Kronos Quartet, HMLT, RJ Payne, Kellylee Evans, Kat Hawley, Patty Honcho, Solomon Fox, Takara, Esham, A Song for You, Krayzie Bone, CJ Fly & NasteeLuvzYou, and Nyck Caution.
If you’re struggling to keep up with the ever-evolving music scene, subscribing to the Shatter the Standards newsletter is your ticket to staying in the loop. They don’t just skim the surface with mainstream hits; they dive deep, bringing hidden gems right to your inbox weekly.
In today’s rapid-fire release culture, it’s easy to miss out on some real musical gems. Shatter the Standards does the heavy lifting for you, sifting through the latest releases and handpicking the ones that make a mark. Stay ahead of the curve and discover music that steps outside the mainstream box by joining their newsletter.
Maeta: Endless Night (Dance/R&B)
With summer now upon us, Maeta has come out with a groove simply irresistible to the season. The emerging singer has released her new extended play via Roc Nation Records. The seven-track set was produced solely by KAYTRANADA and features some really wonderful songwriters, such as James Fauntleroy, Fallon King of the R&B girl group Cherish, and Ant Clemons in the lyrics. King wrote on four of the cuts, while Fauntleroy had a hand in three. If there is one overall mood that describes Endless Night, that would have to be pure pleasure. If this EP transports one to the feeling of a cool breeze coming through on a hot night where Maeta’s light vocals glide right into KAYTRANADA’s rhythm-laden production.
[Listen]
Your Old Droog: Movie (Hip-Hop)
Your Old Droog serves up drama in his latest body of work with the title of his newest album, simply titled Movie. The album starts with a track entitled “DBZ,” produced by Madlib and assisted by Method Man and Denzel Curry. Next came “Mercury Thermometers” with Conductor Williams at the production end, then “I Think I Love Her,” crafted by Ohbliv. Your Old Droog takes the lead in these 18 tracks, but A-list producers include Just Blaze, contributing to “Success & Power,” Harry Fraud, who works on a lot of them, “How Do You Do It?”, “Mantra”, “A Damn Shame”, “Rollout.” The album is wrapped up with “Care Plan,” featuring an extremely rare appearance by Yasiin Bey, produced by Madlib.
[Listen]
Daryl Hall: D (Soul)
The sixth solo album from Daryl Hall is called D and was a collaborative effort with Dave Stewart, formerly of the Eurythmics. Stewart is also an Inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Hall, and he produced much of the album while co-writing seven of the nine new tracks. The other two songs were written by Hall solo.
[Listen]
Da Beatminerz: Stifled Creativity (Hip-Hop)
Da Beatminerz return with a new LP, dubbed Stifled Creativity, after twenty years of studio existence on and off, just one day ahead of the twentieth anniversary of Fully Loaded w/Statik. With a guest list as thorough as that of some indie-label compilations, boasting such names as AZ, Black Moon, De La Soul, Keith Murray, Mickey Factz, and more, this new project has been in the works for upwards of a decade. Among those inclusions are unreleased tracks from De La Soul, KRS-One, and Smif-N-Wessun.
[Listen]
Catpack: Self-Titled (R&B)
This is an unapologetically joyful album from the LA-based trio of Amber Navran (of Moonchild), Jacob Mann, and Phil Beaudreau, better known as ‘Catpack.’ Their firm friendship and mutual fandom shine through in the creation of the music gleefully and organically. This will translate without delay in an ample supply of their innate talent founded on influences that merge for a jazz-tinted R&B feel, neo-soul, funky, and electronic elements.
[Listen]
Lake Street Dive: Good Together (Alternative)
The new Lake Street Dive album is a renewed collaboration with Mike Elizondo—Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, and Gary Clark Jr.—among others. It’s a milestone for the band, as this marks the first time all members participated in the foundational stages of songwriting together. The group went to Vermont to gather at Calabrese’s house, each member bringing ideas that stretched their musical range and emotional spectrum.
[Listen]
Kaelin Ellis: You Are Here, Start. (Hip-Hop)
If any musician has been amazingly prolific, that could be Kaelin Ellis. His rise to stardom doesn’t go without being supplemented by his extraordinary talent as a multi-instrumentalist and a passion entirely charged with building community and collaboration. This passion is evident in his debut album with Fool’s Gold entitled You Are Here, Start. The album showcases the melodic and rhythmic sensibilities that have earned Kaelin respect and admiration. Features include diverse collaborators such as Duckwrth, Guapdad 4000, two-time Juno Award-winning rapper TOBi, virtuoso pianist Anomalie, Saba, and C.S. Armstrong.
[Listen]
Raury: Southern Mystic (Alternative)
This long-awaited LP finally locks in Raury’s essence of musical identity and passion. He pictures himself as a forest Druid with his guitar, embracing nature to uncover something mystical. For him, that tender strength was extremely subtle yet very deep. He just can’t wait to share more of his music over time, showing a lot of other elements of his creative spirit through a run of albums that are artworks following his journey.
[Listen]
Michael Christmas: Unsexy (Hip-Hop)
Michael Christmas sighed relief and elation to finally be past their long-winded anticipation and anxiety on Unsexy, in no small part thanks to the positive prodding of friends. There’s cause for celebration, not just related to the album release, but also the Celtics win he knew would happen. Christmas expresses extreme gratitude toward the fans with a sincere, loving message. He takes its inspiration from the cover, a tribute by the artist to his imagined grandfather, Baby Huey. Of course, its writing also comes from current happenings around the globe. The beats backtrack in discretionary homage to the sounds and tones of the 1970s.
[Listen]
Lizzen: On the Bus - EP (R&B)
Rising R&B star Lizzen released her latest EP, On the Bus. Following the remix of “Why” with Robin Thicke, this release features Jacquees and the legend Keith Sweat.
[Listen]
Saint Jame$: By Any Mean$ (Hip-Hop)
After multiple delays, Saint Jame$ finally unleashes By Any Mean$. This 10-track outing boasts heavyweight features, including Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Estee Nack, Kool G Rap, Rick Hyde, and many more.
[Listen]
Tyra + Tiara: Don’t Forget Your Keys (R&B)
The duo Tyra + Tiara returns with their second album, Don’t Forget Your Keys. It’s hard to put them under one genre, for their music is so eclectic but dwells mostly in an R&B feel: it definitely incorporates large helpings of rock, jazz, and country elements. From what listeners will be introduced to in their new 12-track album, those characteristics will harmonise, including rich layering and harmony. Some of their songs feature an incredible range in their vocals, which they accomplish with vocal stacking, creating the sense of large choral ensembles.
[Listen]
Ret Hot Org & Kronos Quartet: Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun (Jazz)
Kronos Quartet and Sun Ra are iconic in their respective areas, with immense reach into modern music. Celebrating the Kronos Quartet’s 50th anniversary, they have teamed up with the Red Hot Organization to create Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet & Friends Meet Sun Ra. Collaborations include some of the most progressive artists working today, including chameleon electronic producer Jlin, trailblazing duo 700 Bliss, abstract hip-hop progenitors Armand Hammer, experimental legend Laurie Anderson, and minimalist master Terry Riley.
[Listen]
HMLT: Studio Paradise (R&B)
Music producer HMLT releases his feature-heavy Studio Paradise. With elements of R&B and Neo-soul, the nine-track effort is perfect for relaxing, featuring guests Lan’do, Sir Travis Knight, Julia Wu, Mighloe, and many more.
[Listen]
RJ Payne: Hellraiser (Hip-Hop)
RJ Payne has been one of the stronger entities in the rap game, churning out real and purposeful verses. That is what Hellraiser is—the epitome of skills that meld intricate stories into impactful beats. Most exceptionally remarkable is how he could paint vivid pictures through his storytelling. Payne sheds light on various personal and social challenges. The production sets up his flow really well, with beats that range from hauntingly sparse to grand and dynamic.
[Listen]
Kellylee Evans: Show Love - EP (R&B)
The latest musical work by the JUNO Award-winning artist Kellylee Evans is a deepened sense of introspection. She comes back with compelling jazz melodies and a soulful delivery in the six-track EP, Show Love, and embodies this collection with her distinctive style and new heights in musicianship.
[Listen]
Kat Hawley: X•IX•VIII (R&B/Jazz)
R&B/jazz singer-songwriter Kat Hawley arrived with her first-length album, X-IX-VIII. She co-wrote eight of the ten tracks with her guitarist husband, Adam Hawley, who produced the MBF Entertainment release.
[Listen]
Patty Honcho: The Black Madonna Piece (Hip-Hop)
With this well-written, inspired effort, The Black Madonna Piece, Patty Honcho has given a very convincing reason to keep watching out for his future releases. The overall production quality shines right through in this very memorable and catchy underground beat. His knack for riding smooth loops with a playful and carefree flair is represented in fullness in the collection of tracks.
[Listen]
Solomon Fox: Speedrun - EP (R&B)
North Carolina native Solomon Fox is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer whose compositions blend refined vocal harmonies, subtly understated production, and introspective, unconventional lyrics. In 2019, he gained recognition as a producer, collaborating with fellow songwriters Joshuah Campbell and Cynthia Erivo to create the Gospel-influenced anthem “Stand Up” for the film Harriet. More recently, Fox has released his Speedrun EP, which features only one guest artist, Durand Bernarr.
[Listen]
Takara: Moondust (R&B)
Takara wraps up her personal Moondust: a very independent collection of ups and downs over the past few years. A record undulating like life does, proving that with all our successful attempts at controlling our surroundings, we often are at the whims of the cosmos and our emotional makeup.
[Listen]
Esham: Amuse-Bouche (Hip-Hop)
Knowing that a new LP is coming, one can understand why Esham has released seven new tracks with only three interludes accompanying Amuse-Bouche. Esham’s latest EP shows he made some really great projects again. The production finds a perfect middle ground between old and new, and even with only a few guest spots, they show great snapshots of people from different eras of Detroit. Amuse-Bouche proves Esham, the wicked godfather, hasn’t lost a single touch for his storytelling.
[Listen]
A Song for You: Home (R&B/Soul/Gospel)
Comprised of over 50 artists from every walk of the globe and headed by the creative combination that was Noah Slee and Dhanesh Jayaselan, Berlin’s most in-demand vocal ensemble, A Song for You, has created a new shift in choral music with their debut album entitled Home. Their music is located at the intersection of R&B and Gospel; hence, it cannot be submitted under any category. A Song for You also spotlights not just Berlin’s diverse music culture; it celebrates the challenging and definitive role of giving a voice to marginalized artists.
[Listen]
Krayzie Bone: Chasing the Devil: Chapter 2 – Salvation (Hip-Hop)
A few months ago, quite a rough time befell the legendary Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony as one of its members by the name of Krayzie Bone, ailed from a potentially life-threatening health problem. The 51-year-old rapper, who was born yesterday, went through a hair-raising experience brought on by this scarce case known as sarcoidosis, which usually causes lumps in organs. Rumors were milling around that Krayzie was coughing up blood due to the leakage in his lung artery. Fortunately, he has since been discharged from the hospital and is comfortably recovering. Krayzie hasn’t given any public statement regarding his work Chapter 2, but the inspiration is majorly evident in the album. Accounts of uncertainties and fears he battled in his illness are wrapped under themes of rising out of darkness and seeking salvation on the 20-track setlist.
[Listen]
CJ Fly & NasteeLuvzYou: The Pharaoh’s Return 2: Nubia (Hip-Hop)
CJ Fly goes in over some impressive NasteeLuvzYou beats on the sequel of The Pharaoh. The latter did well to bring out that classic boom-bap sound, complementing Fly’s style. Some of the beats felt a bit average, but for the most part, the production was classic solid hip-hop. Fly kills it with guest appearances, showing his flow and real hunger. This Pro Era artist is impressed and meets expectations going into this with flying colors.
[Listen]
Nyck Caution: Yellow Tape Road (Hip-Hop)
Out of all the Pro Era collective, Nyck Caution was a person who did not stand out that much. Ironically, his guest features are sometimes the best to listen to. In his solo work, Nyck Caution generally makes mediocre music. It was pleasant for one moment to be heard, but nothing out of the ordinary. At times, things are realized to be felt differently in collaboration with other musicians. This skill of collaborating with other rappers has proven to be helpful and has helped launch many careers. At the same time, however, it can establish a rite of passage for an artist to eventually delineate from this and find their path. This was a problem for Nyck Caution, but his newest album may be a turning point toward more individualism, even in collaboration tracks.
[Listen]