Sound Check Music Blog

This week is an eclectic one, offering new tracks that range from controversial hip hop to indie folk to parody pop.

Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Wisconsin-born Bon Iver, formed by indie folk singer Justin Vernon in 2007, is releasing its first album since the 2007 critically acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago. The new album, simply titled Bon Iver, features a myriad of musicians, including The Arcade Fire’s Colin Stetson.  Each track on the new album is inspired by a place, as you can see with Bon Iver’s “Calgary.”

Esham, DMT Sessions
Detroit’s top selling independent hip hop artist Esham releases his 19th studio album today.  Esham is best known for his psychedelic approach to hip hop, or “trip-hop.”  His new album DMT Sessions contains 20 tracks that Esham himself describes as “…an auditory psychedelic drug that I’m prescribing to the world.”  Trip out with Esham’s DMT Sessions.

Jill Scott, The Light of the Sun
Soul singer, poet, and actress Jill Scott is back with her fourth studio album, The Light of the Sun. The new album is a follow-up to Grammy nominated The Real Thing.  The Light of the Sun features 15 tracks which showcase Scott’s progression as a musician, an actress, and a person.  Her new single “Shame” featuring Eve portrays a confident Scott, who declares “I can stand on my own.  I’m magnificent.”  Groove with Jill Scott and Eve in “Shame.”

Weird Al Yankovic, Alpocalypse
The wacky singer is back with his first album in five years. Weird Al’s Alpocalypse pokes fun at Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Taylor Swift, among others.  The singer’s first single scoffs Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” with Al’s version, “Perform This Way,” which contains such jabbing lyrics as “I wear a porcupine on my head.  I’m not crazy.  I perform this way.”  Have a weird laugh with “Perform This Way.”