3 New Albums Out this week you Should Listen to Now: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Chief Keef, and Roddy Ricch
This week we highlight new music from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Chief Keef, and Roddy Ricch.
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis – La Panthère des Neiges
On the heels of February’s Carnage, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have joined forces yet again. This time it’s in the form of a soundtrack. The longtime collaborators have composed the score for the documentary Les Panthère Des Neiges (The Snow Panther). The film follows wildlife photographer Vincent Munier and Sylvain Tesson as they make it their mission to see a wild Tibetan snow leopard. The album is full of orchestral pieces as opposed to your conventional rock album. As such, it offers the listener many moments of isolation and reflection with one’s thoughts. ‘Le Cerfs,’ the second track on the soundtrack, offers an early and memorable moment as it’s one of the few tracks where we hear Cave’s trademark baritone voice. As you approach the halfway point of the album, ‘Les Nomades’ and “La Grotte’ offer you a moment to step back from the experience and allow you to realize how calm and relaxed you are. All in all, the album is quite a joy to listen to as it sets you at ease. Without even knowing the backstory, you feel part of the experience. Part of the human experience of partaking on a journey of which you may not know the outcome, but are willing to experience firsthand through all its ups and downs.
Standout Songs: Les Cerfs, Antilope, Les Nomades, Les Ours, L’apparition / We Are Not Alone
8.2
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Chief Keef – 4NEM
Chicago-native, Chief Keef has broken his 3-year hiatus with his new 15-track project, 4NEM. The work follows up a handful of collaborative efforts from the past couple of years with Lil Uzi Vert, 2 Chainz, 03 Greedo, and Mike WiLL Made-It. Surprisingly, the features on 4NEM are limited and number 2 in total (Tadoe and Ballout). The album itself stays true to Keef’s drill and autotune roots, but sees him entering a new era as he tests a polished sound with raw, eclectic beats never heard before on a Chief Keef record. It works. The combination of his refined beats with his classic trap is just the recipe that the scene needed in 2021. As long as Chief Keef keeps releasing albums up to the standard of 4NEM, trap will be just fine. And the king of drill will remain on top of his throne.
Standout Songs: Bitch Where, See Through, The Talk, Yes Sir, Hurry B4 The Gate Close, Hadouken
7.4
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Roddy Ricch – LIVE LIFE FAST
Live Life Fast is the second album from Compton rapper Roddy Ricch, and his first since 2019’s Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial. This highly-anticipated sophomore album features appearances from Future, Jamie Foxx, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Ty Dolla $ign, Gunna, Fivio Foreign, Bibi Bourelly, Takeoff, and Alex Isley. It’s a star-studded affair that also sees a handful of the industries biggest producers handling the production. Mustard, Southside, TM88, Kenny Beats, Boi-1da, and Ronny J are all included in the credits. The themes on Live Life Fast may come as a surprise to some as Roddy discusses his growth and his observations during his journey to where he is now. That’s quite the opposite of what’s portrayed in the album’s title. But make no mistake, both camps will enjoy this collection. In a nice and fitting touch, Roddy pays homage to fellow L.A. rapper, Nipsy Hussle, as he remakes the deceased artist’s lone album cover, Victory Lap.
Standout Songs: rollercoastin, paid my dues (feat. Takeoff), murda one (feat. Fivio Foreign), everything you need, don’t i (feat. Gunna), late at night
6.4
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When you’re done here lose yourself in our full library of 3 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now.