Music Shopping List: John Legend & More

Music Shopping List, December 2, 2016: A number of highly anticipated album releases arrive courtesy of John Legend, Childish Gambino & The Rolling Stones.

November 25, 2016 was a lackadaisical music release date – unless you’re a Starboy like The Weeknd.  December 2, 2016 is more robust, featuring six notable new releases. Of those six, four especially pack a punch: John Legend (Darkness and Light), Childish Gambino (“Awaken, My Love!”), The Hamilton Mixtape, and The Rolling Stones (Blue & Lonesome).  What will the numbers look like for the four aforementioned? Only time will tell, but there should be buzz surrounding those efforts, not to mention the full-length debut from Kane Brown and the return of deadmau5.

1. John Legend, Darkness and Light

[Columbia]

John Legend returns with Darkness and Light, following a three-year hiatus. Legend’s previous album, Love in the Future, earned him a top-five album and a Grammy nomination, but got off to a slow start.  No. 1 hit “All of Me” changed its course, propelling it to gold certification.  Legend surely hopes that Darkness and Light will keep his momentum going commercially.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: Chance the Rapper, Brittany Howard & Miguel
• Pre-Release Singles: “I Know Better,” “Penthouse Floor” (ft. Chance the Rapper) & “Love Me Now”

2. Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!”

[Glassnote]

The ever-talented Donald Glover returns with his third album as Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!” Unlike his previous two efforts, “Awaken, My Love!” is an R&B album, in the vein of his EP, Kauai.  Notably, his ambitious 2013 effort, Because the Internet was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “Me and Your Mama” & “Redbone”

3. Various Artists, The Hamilton Mixtape

[Atlantic]

With the Hamilton craze in full effect, a star-studded cast of popular musicians are assembled on The Hamilton Mixtape.  The mixtape covers the Broadway musical, in addition to adding some originality as well.  Hamilton Mixtape includes contributions from Kelly Clarkson, Nas, Sia, and Usher.  All-told, the compilation runs 23 tracks deep.

• Tracks: 23
• Featured Guests: Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, The Roots, Usher, Sia, etc.
• Pre-Release Singles: “My Shot,” “Wrote My Way Out,” “Wait For It,” “Satisfied,” “It’s Quiet Uptown,” “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” & “Helpless”

4. The Rolling Stones, Blue & Lonesome

[Polydor]

The Stones return with their first new album in eleven years, Blue & Lonesome.  Blue & Lonesome follows up A Bigger Bang, a top-five album upon its debut in 2005.  A Bigger Bang ended up being certified platinum. 11 years later, can Blue & Lonesome accomplish the same feat?  It’s a tall task, particularly considering that Blue & Lonesome is a covers album as opposed to an album of originals.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-release singles: “Just Your Fool,” “Ride ‘Em on Down” & “Hate to See You Go”

5. Kane Brown, Kane Brown

[Sony]

Following slow, but steady promo, country newcomer Kane Brown drops his self-titled debut album.  Brown certainly doesn’t look the part of a country artist, but perhaps he’s the dude to change the perceptions. Is the voice there? Yes.

• Tracks: 11
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “Hometown,” “Thunder in the Rain,” “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”

6. deadmau5, W:/2016ALBUM/

[mau5trap]

Electronic producer deadmau5 returns with W:/2016ALBUM/, his first project in two years.  His previous effort, While(1<2, released in 2014, debuted at no. 9 on the Billboard 200. While none of his albums have been commercial juggernauts, he does lay claim to one gold album (4×4=12).  

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: Grabbitz
• Pre-Release Singles: “Let Go” (ft. Grabbitz)

Also Released:

Grace VanderWaal, Perfectly Imperfect – EP [Columbia]; Hairspray Live! [Sony]; The Holdup, Leaves in the Pool [The Holdup]; Kate Bush, Before the Dawn (Live) [Concord]

Photo Credit: Columbia, Glassnote, Atlantic, Polydor, Sony, mau5trap