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In The Lonely Hour
In the Lonely Hour is the debut studio album by English recording artist Sam Smith. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 May 2014 via Capitol Records and Method Records. In the United States, it was released on 17 June 2014. The album includes the hit singles "Money on My Mind" and "Stay with Me", both of which were number one in the UK; the latter becoming a hit worldwide, peaking in the top ten in over 20 countries, including reaching number two in the US. The album's third hit single, "I'm Not the Only One", reached number three in the UK and number five in the US. A deluxe edition of the album contains five bonus tracks, including a solo acoustic version of Disclosure's single "Latch" and Naughty Boy's number-one single "La La La", on both of which Smith provided guest vocals.
Upon its release, In the Lonely Hour received generally positive reviews from music critics, who highly praised Smith's vocal ability but criticised the music for being too conventional. The album was a commercial success worldwide, peaking at number one in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and number two in Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United States.
Upon its release, In the Lonely Hour received generally positive reviews from music critics, who highly praised Smith's vocal ability but criticised the music for being too conventional. The album was a commercial success worldwide, peaking at number one in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and number two in Canada, Denmark, Norway and the United States.
LONG.LIVE.A$AP
Harlem-born and blog-bred, ASAP Rocky first made a name for himself with the ethereal and hyper-referential YouTube favorites "Peso" and "Purple Haze." For "F--kin' Problems," the breakout radio hit from his major label debut Long. Live. ASAP., he mostly abandons this aesthetic—and the mic, handing it to more radio-ready guests Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar to complement a more upbeat and playful sound. So it's something of a relief to hear that the bulk of the album tends to retain the fog of his early work. Rocky is a competent rapper at best—a slithery midpoint between present-day Drake and early Three 6 Mafia—and isn't particularly present as a personality or songwriter, but he can still sound downright glorious when he sinks into the right bed of feathered and fuzzy production.
True Romance
In the couple of years leading up to her debut album, True Romance, Charli XCX issued a slew of singles, EPs, and mixtapes that mixed moody synth pop with rap and R&B into a sound billed as "neon goth." Despite that somewhat awkward description of her style, Charli does have a flair for chiaroscuro, switching easily from brooding ("Set Me Free") to sparkly ("Take My Hand"), sometimes within the course of one song ("You're the One," one of five previously released tracks here). In some ways, she's the opposite of Grimes, who sprinkles just enough sugar over her quirky musical ideas to make them accessible. Instead, Charli XCX's songs are pop with a capital P -- she's unabashed in her love for Britney and Mariah -- but just odd enough to be unique. Like Quentin Tarantino, to whom True Romance's title pays homage, she has a flair for combining a wide array of pop culture sources into something fresh and familiar, as well as a fondness for strong female characters. These songs are filled with tough girls in varying stages of love, most strikingly on the equally vindictive and catchy "You (Ha Ha Ha)," which punctuates its heartbreak with bitter laughter. While Charli's rapping won't threaten many MCs, her laid-back delivery is reminiscent of Uffie as well as late-'80s and early-'90s pop, particularly the charmingly awkward "flow" of the Spice Girls, whom she counts as a major influence. Elsewhere, she smooths some of the edges of her previous work -- not that True Romance's pop isn't engagingly strange, and strangely engaging. Inventive productions are as vital to her music as her bold persona; she's worked with Lindstrøm, Balam Acab, Jezus Million, and other innovative producers, and tracks like the dreamy, R&B-tinged "So Far Away" help her blur her influences into something she can call her own. Her songs could easily be all surface and attitude, but there's also a genuine emotional pull to them: the excellent ode to romantic familiarity "What I Like" is peppered with enough details to sound as cozy as a boyfriend's sweater feels. Previously released songs like "Nuclear Seasons" and "Stay Away" remain highlights, but new songs like "Black Roses" -- one of the best blends of really-real feelings and unashamedly artificial sounds here -- show that Charli didn't give away all of her tricks and treats on her EPs. Since quite a few of these songs were already road-tested, it's not surprising that this is a strong debut, but just how consistently catchy and personal True Romance is might raise a few eyebrows.
Voices
Voices is the second album by American electronic rock duo Phantogram. The album was released through Republic Records on February 18, 2014. Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips contributed to the song "Never Going Home".
Ceremonials
The follow up to Florence + The Machine’s 2009 debut Lungs, Ceremonials is a romantic epic filled with haunting pop hymns. Heavy with heartbreak, sin, salvation, and spirits, Florence Welch’s vocals pierce like howling prayers. "I am done with my graceless heart/ So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart," she sings on “Shake It Out,” an anthem about setting the past free since “it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.” An all-around grandiose production, other stand-outs include “Heartlines,” “All This And Heaven Too,” and "Leave My Body," on which, joined by a choir, Florence illuminates: "I don't want your future, I don't need your past/ One bright moment, is all I ask."
Going to Hell
Going to Hell is the second studio album by American rock band The Pretty Reckless, released in March 2014 by Razor & Tie. The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 with 35,000 copies sold in its first week, becoming the band's first top ten album on the chart. Going to Hell has spawned five singles, including "Heaven Knows", "Messed Up World" and "Follow Me Down", all of which reached number one on Billboard 's Mainstream Rock Songs chart.
Teeth Dreams
Teeth Dreams is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band The Hold Steady, released March 25, 2014 on Washington Square/Razor & Tie. Produced by Nick Raskulinecz, the album is the first to feature guitarist Steve Selvidge, who joined the band in 2010 to tour in support of the band's previous album, Heaven is Whenever.
Don't Kill the Magic
Don't Kill the Magic is the debut studio album by Canadian reggae fusion band Magic!. It was first released on 30 June 2014 by Latium Entertainment and RCA Records. The album was preceded by lead single "Rude" on 11 October 2013, which peaked at number six on the Canadian Hot 100 and became a chart-topper in the United States and the United Kingdom and top ten hit in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of nearly 36,000 copies. In their home country, Canada, the album entered at number five on the Canadian Albums Chart.