Wednesday Roundups #7: 6 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time

Lucky seven!

Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!

The seventh outing of Wednesday Roundups returns.

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. Yves Tumor, Mac Ayres, Rosemarie, Elhae, Azekel, and Ty Farris were among 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!

Yves Tumor — Praise a Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) [Alternative] {Listen}

Yves Tumor went with a wordy, cryptic moniker for their third album on Warp Records. The record continues the artist's moving from chaotic electronic music to more rock-influenced tracks.

Mac Ayres — Comfortable Enough (R&B) [Listen]

Comfortable Enough, Mac Ayres' fifth solo album, sees him returning to the limelight. His vocals still convey the essence of the musical genres he named inspirations, including R&B, smooth, groovy, and upbeat singing while maintaining his trademark laid-back tone. Compelling vocals and composition complement the confessional-styled lyrics and music. Depression, social masking, love difficulties, feeling trapped, and letting go of the need to influence one's destiny are all explored.

Rosemarie — ROCK PAPER SCISSORS (R&B) [Listen]

Rosemarie, a promising new name in R&B, has just dropped a project called ROCK PAPER SCISSORS. The 8-song effort is a sensitive tribute to the history of rocky pairings. In contrast to the rock-solid appearance of a relationship's beginnings, Rosemarie describes the transition from rock-solid to paper-thin love as the concluding stage of letting go and moving on.

Elhae — Forgotten Flowers (R&B) [Listen

In addition to announcing a new endeavor, Elhae announced his departure from the established big-label system. He provided his promised debut independent album, Forgotten Flowers. The album's eight songs were all produced by Dylan Graham.

Azekel — Analyze Love (R&B) [Listen]

During the Covid-19 shutdown, Azekel showcased his skillful production, composition, and singing skills on a 15-track mixtape titled Analyze Love. Azekel, writing from his background as a British-Nigerian, explores various conceptions of love, from romantic to parental to familial and community.

Ty Farris & Machacha — Malice at the Palace (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Detroit underground legend Ty Farris, formerly known as T-Flame, contributed to numerous albums and mixtapes from the mid-2000s through the close of the decade. To ensure that his ninth studio record maintains the same high standards as his previous eight, Ty has enlisted the services of Danish producer Machacha. The sport's themes are remarkably consistent, and the Detroit lyricist blasts it atop what many consider Machacha's finest collection of instrumentals to date.