Albums - The Daily Cardinal

The World Is Yours has catchy hooks and stellar features — the problem is that there are just as many forgettable ones.

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Rich the Kid’s debut album is front-loaded, lacks consistent quality

By Logan Rude | Apr. 11, 2018

“Get off your a** and hustle,” is the first line on Rich the Kid’s debut album The World Is Yours. He goes on to rap, “I’m the definition of a hustler,” which could not be more true. While The World Is Yours has been marketed as his first album, he’s been a star in the trap scene for half a decade. In the past five years, he’s released a staggering 18 mixtapes which, on average, meant a new project every three months. On top of that, he founded his own record label Rich Forever Music all before signing a deal of his own. Rich is a hustler in every sense of the word.

Cocoa Sugar is a near-perfect execution of the group's genre-melding, mind-boggling and awe-inspiring music.

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‘Cocoa Sugar’ basks in the brevity of Young Fathers' cryptic vision

By Logan Rude | Apr. 11, 2018

Scottish-based, Mercury-Prize-winning group Young Fathers have been ones to ignore the confines of genre since their critically acclaimed 2014 debut Dead. The following year, they upped the ante with genre defiance while throwing in more abrasive touches that expanded their sound even further. Their first output since 2015, Cocoa Sugar is yet again an expansion of their incredible musical palette.

JPEGMAFIA's abstract production and lyrical ambiguity are great when not overdone.

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JPEGMAFIA’s ‘Veteran’ has bold experimentation, but becomes excessive

By Edgar Sanchez | Apr. 8, 2018

JPEGMAFIA will be performing a free show April 21 at The Sett in Union South.

As a whole, American Utopia simply isn’t captivating enough to retain interest past a few listens at most.

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David Byrne's new record is creative, yet incoherent

By Carl Zabat | Apr. 1, 2018

David Byrne has tried and succeeded in a variety of musical endeavors throughout his long career: Oscar-winning music for “The Last Emperor,” a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, just to name a couple.

Bobby Tarantino II shows that mixtape Logic and album Logic aren't one and the same.

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Logic does not impress on new mixtape; albums remain superior works

By Edgar Sanchez | Mar. 15, 2018

Fans of “Rick and Morty,” myself included, may not have expected the duo to return Logic’s favor of a brief cameo, as he did last season on the popular show. The grandfather-grandson duo announced last week that Logic was dropping a sequel to his well-received Bobby Tarantino mixtape that would be “Good ol’ Atlanta-style club rap.”

With this record, Tory Lanez lacks the originality to hold anyone’s attention long enough for mainstream success.

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New Tory Lanez album is the generic, dollar store equivalent of dancehall music

By Edgar Sanchez | Mar. 14, 2018

Tory Lanez, an outspoken rapper and singer hailing from Toronto, released his second full-length album earlier this month with MEMORIES DON’T DIE.

Problems with staying on beat and mundane raps keep SOB's album from being a stronger debut.

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SOB X RBE's 'GANGIN' is great for parties, but not much else

By Edgar Sanchez | Mar. 14, 2018

Listeners of 'Black Panther: The Album' may recall “Paramedic!” as one of the record’s highlights. It starred a vibrant and enthusiastic rap group out of Vallejo, California who made a noticeable buzz for all the right reasons.

"Black Panther," starring Chadwick Boseman, is a breakthrough in African cultural representation.

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‘Black Panther’ is a politically-charged step in the right direction toward diverse representation

By Alex M. Jankovich | Mar. 1, 2018

Marvel Studios once again exceeds all expectations with “Black Panther,” their most impressive display of passionate world-building and inventive storytelling portrayed by a cast of well-established favorites and exciting newcomers.

Black Panther: The Album features some of American hip-hop’s most prominent and acclaimed voices, but the numerous African musicians featured match their efforts.

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‘Black Panther: The Album' is a stand-out film soundtrack

By Carl Zabat | Mar. 1, 2018

On paper, it was too good to be true: one of hip-hop’s boldest voices ever curating the soundtrack to one of Marvel’s boldest films ever. Could it be possible? Three singles and one monumental film later, Black Panther: The Album holds true.

The Wombats' new album feels very familiar to past works, with upbeat danceable songs and slightly cynical, dysfunctional lyrics.

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The Wombats' angsty new album is reminiscent of past works

By Bremen Keasey | Feb. 27, 2018

The Wombats' music has always been filled with angst. The band, originating in Liverpool, fills their songs with frantic beats while lead singer and guitarist, Matt Murphy, packs his lyrics with how he feels, frequently coming across with disgust. Their first album from 2007, A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation, is filled with pounding drums.

Little Dark Age is nestled snugly between the vibrant psych-pop of MGMT's hayday and the burgeoning experimentation of today’s indie scene.

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MGMT’s new album is their most confident, exciting record in years

By Andy Goldstein | Feb. 26, 2018

MGMT has never been one to listen to critics. Or fans. Or anyone, really.

The highlights of Rich Brian's debut album are few and far between.

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Rich Brian swaps out fanny packs for throwaway bars with new name, album

By Edgar Sanchez | Feb. 20, 2018

Indonesian rapper Rich Brian (formerly Rich Chigga) makes a well-produced attempt at proving he is an emcee capable of being more than just a singles artist. With his first album Amen, Brian presents a mediocre package of 14 tracks and a 44-minute run time.

With conflicting concepts and contradicting lyrics, Timberlake's attempt to combine "modern Americana with 808s" is a failed experiment.

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Justin Timberlake stumbles through nature in ‘Man of the Woods’ album

By Carl Zabat | Feb. 8, 2018

In the past, Justin Timberlake refused to make music with anything less than 100 percent. For Justified, he delved deep into traditional instrumentation and a capella-esque backing tracks.

Lane 8 will be in Madison tonight at the Majestic Theatre for $16 presale and $18 at the door.

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Lane 8’s new album is a distinguished deep house record that rewards in-depth listening

By Edgar Sanchez | Feb. 2, 2018

Daniel Goldstein — better known by his stage name, Lane 8 — has delivered a hallmark of infectious beats and entrancing harmonies with the neatly packaged album, Little by Little.

'The Audacity' is K. Sankofa's first major project.

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K. Sankofa’s ‘The Audacity’ is an impressive, confident debut

By Edgar Sanchez | Jan. 24, 2018

With a runtime of around one hour, the mixtape is an energized, yet eerily peaceful slew of soulful melodies and meaningful rap.

Kream showcases a life of brutish violence, dark deeds and unapologetic ruthlessness.

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Kream debut album ‘Punken’ is influential, but far from perfect

By Edgar Sanchez | Jan. 23, 2018

Emekwanem Biosah, a Houston rapper dubbed Maxo Kream, showcases a life of brutish violence, dark deeds and unapologetic ruthlessness over the course of a roughly 40-minute-long album that sets the tone for future projects.

BROCKHAMPTON's SATURATION III is a confident and catchy whirlwind that aids to solidify the band's identity.

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Music from December: Catchy collaborations and cringeworthy puns

By Carl Zabat | Jan. 14, 2018

Dec. 15 marked several major releases as finals week started in Madison. Eminem and N.E.R.D. released their first albums in four and seven years, respectively, and BROCKHAMPTON closed their SATURATION trilogy with SATURATION III, their third album in six months.

Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?! astonishes with wordplay, rhymes and cultural references.

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Best Entertainment of 2017: Music

By By Logan Rude and Francisco Velazquez | Dec. 7, 2017

Our music columnists list their top albums of the year.

Björk released her ninth studio album, Utopia, this past week.

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The week in review: Björk shines, holidays arrive, beats from CyHi

By Logan Rude | Nov. 27, 2017

As the year approaches its finale, we’re thrown into a blitzkrieg of artists releasing highly anticipated — and sometimes unexpected — albums. Björk, Fabolous & Jadakiss and a slew of holiday-themed artists all released projects this weekend.

Swift's determination to create a new image for herself comes at the expense of originality.

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Taylor Swift slithers but doesn’t bite in new album, ‘reputation’

By Carl Zabat | Nov. 20, 2017

With reputation, Taylor Swift makes a transformation — one that many huge stars have attempted — into a darker, more serious version of herself. Bruno Mars did it with Unorthodox Jukebox, Michael Jackson scowled on the cover of Bad and Beyonce embraced her sexuality like never before on her self-titled album. Swift, however, had slightly different circumstances