3 New Albums Out this week you Should Listen to Now: Your Old Droog, Arca, and No Rome
This week we highlight new music from Your Old Droog, Arca, and No Rome.
Your Old Droog – Space Bar
In little less than a year, Your Old Droog has released 2 solo albums (Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition, Time) and teamed up with Tha God Fahim for another two joint albums (Tha Wolf On Wall St. and Tha YOD Fahim). On November 29, the Brooklyn rapper released yet another album, Space Bar. For his fifth album of 2021, Droog takes center stage with his crazy-solid flow reminiscent of Nas. Guest appearances from frequent collaborator, Tha God Fahim, are numerous as well. Other guest versus include Lil Ugly Mane, billy woods, and Nickelus F. Listen for Droog’s creative wordplay and manipulation of words designed to fit the rhyme structure. Space Bar is an album full of killer loops, beats, and bars all delivered with an imaginative flow and a sense a humor.
Standout Songs: White Russian, Meteor Man, Dom Perignon
6.9
Artist Links:
Arca – kiCK iiiii
Venezuelan musician, singer, composer, record producer, and DJ, Arca has released an unprecedented amount of music within the last week. kiCK ii, kiCK iii, kiCK iiii, and kiCK iiiii have all dropped in that time. kiCK iiiii is where we are focusing our efforts today. Where kiCK ii, kiCK iii, and kiCK iiii all lean on voice manipulation and Aphex Twin soundscapes, kiCK iiiii deviates from those sounds that have become a trademark of Arca’s earlier work and is an album full of piano, strings, and synthesizers that flow from one classical track to another. No alien visitation. No tweaking of sounds. And no disguising her voice behind a computer. Instead, Arca takes you on a laid-back, mellow journey that offers a much-needed respite from the previous 3 albums released previously. The Kick anthology was originally meant to be released at once, but with kiCK ii releasing on November 30 the decision was made to release the sequence throughout the week with kiCK iiiii as the apex on December 3. The series is worth listening to. kiCK iiiii specifically as it’s a soft and delicate closing that will offer you time to reflect on the world and take in what you just listened to.
Standout Songs: Ether, Tierno, Musculos, La Infinita
6.6
Artist Links:
No Rome – It’s All Smiles
After two initial EPs, No Rome has made the leap into the world of LPs with the release of It’s All Smiles. The frequent collaborator of The 1975, Brockhampton, and Charli XCX has created an album that clocks in at just over 27 minutes where most of the 10 tracks are under 3 minutes in length. Our favorite is the second single from the album, ‘I Want U.’ It’s a track that has a classic pop vibe that surplisingly switches between singing and talking. No Rome explains, “This is the first song me and BJ (Burton) worked on – that’s when we knew we were gonna make this album together. I wanted to do the lyrics more like talking, storytelling almost, painting the picture of what was happening that moment through lyrics.” We also enjoyed ‘How Are You Feeling’ with its unexpected syncopated beat. No Rome’s vocal treatment mimicking the beat was a nice touch as well and a welcome listen early on the album. Several tracks left us wanting more, namely ‘ITS *NOT* LOV33 (Winter In London), with its long build-up… and then the abrupt come down, but overall the debut album for No Rome is a solid effort.
Standout Songs: How Are You Feeling, I Want U, Everything
6.4
Artist Links:
When you’re done here lose yourself in our full library of 3 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now.