Sam Riggs – Breathless February 19
Texas country artist Sam Riggs is back with “Breathless.” The 11-track album is Riggs’s best work to date. The album kicks off with the nostalgic “The Lucky Ones” and rolls right on with “Gravity,” a mid-tempo tune about dreaming, thinking, and needing to have some space. Riggs really shows his maturity as an artist with his new album, showcasing it in songs like “The Heartbreak Girl,” the title track “Breathless,” and “One More Chance to Stay.” The hard-driving “Wake the Dead” is a great song that will make you want to grab life by the horns, but Riggs also displays his ability to balance a record with the ballad “Second Hand Smoke.” There is also an acoustic version of this track at the end of the album that displays his lyrics and voice well.
Star Wars Headspace – Various Artists February 19
Are you a serious Star Wars fan? Then you may want to check out Star Wars Headspace. This eclectic album made up of various artists brings Star Wars themed tunes to life. The album infuses techno, electronic music, with popular themes from the Star Wars movie franchise. The 15-track albums has all kinds of tracks that will please any Star Wars fan. “Help Me!” is a nod to Princess Leia’s “Help me Obi Wan” speech. The tune infuses her words with sort of a dubstep beat and is an interesting take on the famous monologue. The rest of the album is a great combination of Star Wars and dance music. Whoever came up with the concept for this album gets a gold star.
Yo Gotti – The Art of Hustle February 19
Yo Gotti is back with “The Art of Hustle.” The rapper has really outdone himself on this 15-track album. Included on the album are some superstar collaborations, enlisting Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Future, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minag, and more. Hailing from Memphis, Yo Gotti channels his hometown into this album, specifically shown in “My City” featuring K. Michelle. He covers a variety of topics and brings to light many ideas, muses, and philosophies in this album, and the eclectic mix of songs shows his ability to balance the album well. Each superstar collaboration is well thought out and strategically placed to help elevate the album further. Yo Gotti has really done well with this new album.
Wolfmother – Victorious February 19
If you are looking for something a little different to listen to this week, checkout Wolfmother’s latest release “Victorious.” The 10-track rock album has really set the bar as an interesting and random find that really catches the ear. The hard charging opening track “The Love That You Give” sets the tone for the album. This album sounds like it could be from the 1980s due to its classic feel. Wolfmother really kicks it up a notch with this record, evidencing itself with the title track “Victorious” by showcasing the band’s vocal and musical abilities. The rest of the album flows very well, each track meticulously written, arranged, and produced. The authenticity and organic feel to the album is shown throughout. This is a really great find for any rock fan.
