Music Shopping List: Kings of Leon & More

The second music release week in October 2016 (October 14) is relatively quiet in the big scheme of things.  French Montana was originally set to be among featured attractions, but he scrapped album MC4.  The biggest remaining attraction is the return of alternative rock band Kings of Leon (WALLS).  Less pronounced is the return of urban-pop artist JoJo (Mad Love.), who hasn’t released an album in a decade! A few other releases arrive courtesy of The Game, Sabrina Carpenter, and Conor Oberst.  

1. Kings of Leon, WALLS

[RCA]

Alternative southern rock band Kings of Leon returns with its seventh studio album, WALLS.  WALLS arrives three years after KOL’s previous effort, Mechanical Bull (2013), which was led by singles “Supersoaker” and “Wait for You.”  Ahead of the album, four singles were released: “Waste a Moment,” “Around the World,” “WALLS,” and “Reverend.”  Kings of Leon are three-time Grammy winners, including a win for Record of the Year (“Use Somebody”).

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “Waste a Moment,” “Around the World,” “WALLS” & “Reverend”

2. JoJo, Mad Love.

[Atlantic]

JoJo arrived on the music scene back in 2004 when she was just 13 years old (JoJo, 2004).  She’d follow up her debut album with The High Road two years later, two months shy of her 16^th birthday. After a run that included two RIAA certified albums, JoJo disappeared.  Now 10 years later, 25-year-old JoJo returns with Mad Love.  Despite the lengthy hiatus, early indications suggest JoJo brought the swagger with her for album no. 3.

• Tracks: 15
• Featured Guests: Alessia Cara, Wiz Khalifa, Remy Ma
• Pre-Release Singles: “Music.,” “F*** Apologies,” (ft. Wiz Khalifa), “” (ft. Remy Ma) & “Mad Love.”

3. The Game, 1992

[Blood Money / Entertainment One]

The Game is quite prolific.  Year in and year out, the West Coast rapper drops new material.  1992 is his second project of 2016, following the soundtrack to Streets of Compton.  Interestingly, there is only one credited guest on 1992, Jeremih.

• Tracks: 13
• Featured Guests: Jeremih
• Pre-Release Singles: “True Colors / It’s On,” “Baby You,” “92 Bars” & “All Eyez” (ft. Jeremih)

4. Sabrina Carpenter, EVOLution

[Hollywood]

17-year old Disney Channel actress/musician Sabrina Carpenter returns with her sophomore album, EVOLution.  EVOLution arrives just one year after her debut, Eyes Wide Shut.  Eyes Wide Shut didn’t electrify the Billboard 200, debuting modestly at no. 43.

• Tracks: 10
• Features Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “On Purpose,” “Run and Hide” & “All We Have Is Love”

5. Conor Oberst, Ruminations

[Nonesuch]

Nebraskan singer/songwriter Conor Oberst returns with Ruminations, his first new album in two years.  We last heard from Oberst in 2014 with Upside-Down Mountain, his first album for Nonesuch.  Prior to being a solo artist, Oberst was known for his work with Bright Eyes.  Bright Eyes, of course, was essentially Oberst himself.

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: none

Also Released: Hillsong Worship, Let There Be Light [Hillsong]; JOHNNYSWIM, Georgica Pond [Big Picnic]; Kidz Bop 33 [Concord]; Red Fang, Only Ghosts [Relapse]; Tenth Avenue North, Followers [Provident/Sony]

Photo Credits: RCA, Atlantic, Entertainment One, Hollywood, Nonesuch