Chance the Rapper, The Big DaySabrina Carpenter, Singular Act IIBanks, IIIWillow, Willow
Welcome to Sound On, where we’ll highlight the albums and songs that you should know about each month—from the hits that landed to the tracks you might have missed. We’ll even tell you which moods each album evokes, so you know just when to turn them on to maximize their effects. Happy listening.
July was pretty quiet on the major music release front, but we witnessed several super anticipated albums finally getting their big day, and were blessed with several albums from young artists coming into their own. If July felt a bit like a summer slump, the LPs that came out were enough to keep us busy all the sweltering month long.
Here are the four albums we were super into this month:
Chance the Rapper, The Big Day
Who?
Chance is Chicago’s unofficial mayor—a rapper, philanthropist, all-around character whose fanbase is nearly competitive in their adoration of him.
What?
Though it might seem wild considering how important Chance is to music, this is technically his debut album: His brilliant 2013 mixtape Acid Rap was just that, a mixtape, even though it feels like a defining opening statement. The fact that it took this long to get his debut is a testament to the quality of the result: The hip-hop tracks here are at times jubilant, reflective, life-affirming, and relatable. Chance is a treasure, and his picks for guest appearances (En Vogue! Death Cab! CocoRosie!) showcase his curiosity for and ability to bridge a sprawling list of genres.
Best Time to Listen:
Whenever you get a little sad about how summer will end.
Sabrina Carpenter, Singular Act II
Who?
Former tween actress (remember her from Girl Meets World?) Sabrina Carpenter has turned into a bonafide pop star, and her long-awaited Singular Act II shows why.
What?
Carpenter has an ability to mix together the best things about pop music right this moment—retro synths, Janet Jackson–cribbing beats, sassy lyricism, talk-singing that verges on rapping but never gets cringe-y, genius phrase coinage (“I’m still in my bed about it,” she says, brilliantly, on “In My Bed”). This is an album chock full of bops, be they bright (“Take You Back”), brooding (“I’m Fakin”), or a hypnotic little kiss-off (“I Can’t Stop Me”). Yay pop music!
Best Time to Listen:
When you need some songs to shout-sing with your friends.
Banks, III
Who?
Banks (a.k.a. Jillian Banks) has always been a hypebeast, complete with sticky beats and deeply of-the-moment production flourishes. For III, her own sound has emerged.
What?
Though I can already hear the remixes that will be on permanent repeat at clubs (“Look What You’re Doing to Me”), the overall vibe of this record is that Banks seems pissed. “Gimme” and “Till Now” are self-empowerment anthems that don’t mask the rage, but whether she’s sad or seething, the deep house beats keep the album rocking steadily in a way that isn't distracting.
Best Time to Listen:
I listened to this album at work over and over and felt it helped me stay on task? Do with that information what you will!
Willow, Willow
Who?
Willow Smith, now going by her mononym, went platinum before she hit 10 with “Whip My Hair,” and was the youngest artist ever signed to Roc Nation. But in the years since, the daughter of Will and Jada has become a hippie-ish, mysterious force of nature.
What?
Her third full-length is eight tracks of mellow, spacey jams that make you want to sway for its full 22-minute runtime. She name-drops Basquiat and swirls her vocals and even invited her even spacier brother Jaden to join her on the track “U KNOW.” It’s a necessary stepping stone on the path to Willow’s final form.
Best Time to Listen:
When you’re lying in the grass looking at the clouds; lying in bed and lucid dreaming.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
-
Taylor Swift Styles a Breezy Loewe Dress for a Special Surprise VisitShe made their day.
-
After Season 2's Controversial Ending, Will 'The Devil's Plan' Return for Season 3?Fans have a lot of thoughts about where the Korean reality show should go.
-
Sydney Sweeney Makes (Faux) Fur Work for SummerShe wear anything she sets her mind to.
-
2000s Nostalgia Is As Prevalent As Ever. But These Authors Aren't Sure Our Cultural Obsession Is for the BestThe 'Culture Creep,' 'Girl on Girl,' and 'Waiting for Britney Spears' writers discuss their new books and why we can't let Y2K go.
-
Finn Wolfhard Shares What Music Shaped Him—and What's on His Playlist NowWith his album 'Happy Birthday' out now, the actor/musician opens up about his musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
Maren Morris Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist NowWith her album 'D R E A M S I C L E' out now, the singer opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
Natasha Lyonne Wants Entertainment to Embrace the UnknownShe opened up about her boundary-breaking new projects onstage at Power Play.
-
Beyoncé Battles Her Gatekeepers on the 'Cowboy Carter' TourAnd proves the best use of her power is looking beyond them.
-
In 'Sinners,' Music From the Past Liberates Us From the PresentIn its musical moments, Ryan Coogler's vampire blockbuster makes a powerful statement about Black culture, ancestry, and art.
-
After 25 Years, 'The Virgin Suicides' Is Still Influencing Artists Like MeTo coincide with the film's anniversary, Mia Berrin from Pom Pom Squad reflects on what it's meant to her artistic journey.
-
Rico Nasty Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist NowWith her new album 'LETHAL' coming soon, the rapper opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
