Ah, the third music release week in August 2016! Week by week, we creep closer to the most glorious time of the year for the music industry, the fourth quarter.  This week lacks a surefire hit album but has strong releases with potential.  Leading the charge on Friday, August 19 is the highly anticipated debut from hip-hop artist Tory Lanez (I Told You).

1. Tory Lanez, I Told You

[Mad Love / Interscope]

Rapper/singer Tory Lanez drops his highly anticipated debut album, I Told You via Interscope.  Lanez issued several single prior to I Told You including early hit “Say It.” “Say It” has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

• Tracks: 14
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “Flex,” “Say It,” “Luv” & “Cold Hard Love”

2. Jake Miller, Overnight

[Warner Bros.]

Up-and-coming pop singer/pop-rapper Jake Miller returns with a new EP, Overnight. Overnight follows-up Miller’s 2015 EP, Rumors.  Previously, Miller has released one full-length album, Us Against Them in 2013. Miller doesn’t rap on either of the first two singles from Overnight (“Overnight” and “Good Thing”).

• Tracks: 7
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Overnight” & “Good Thing”

https://youtu.be/nDGdIjpjNtA

3. Amos Lee, Spirit

[Republic]

Singer/songwriter Amos Lee returns with his album, Spirit.  Spirit follows up 2013 studio album, Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song.  An interesting fact about Lee – Mission Bell (2011) debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 during a lackluster sales week.

• Tracks: 13
• Featured Guests: None
• Pre-Release Singles: “Running out of Time,” “Spirit,” “Till You Come Back Through” & “Vaporize”

4. Dolly Parton, Pure & Simple

[Dolly /Sony Nashville]

Legendary country singer/songwriter Dolly Parton returns with her latest album, Pure & Simple. Pure & Simple follows up Blue Smoke (2014), which bowed at no. 6 on the Billboard 200.

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Pure and Simple” & “Outside Your Door”

https://youtu.be/VVc07KydYSI

5. Lindsey Stirling, Brave Enough

[Lindseystomp]

Violinist Lindsey Stirling returns with third studio album, Brave Enough.  Brave Enough serves as the follow-up to Stirling’s 2014 effort, Shatter Me. Shatter Me debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard 200.  Stirling’s self-titled debut was certified gold by the RIAA.

• Tracks: 14
• Featured Guests: Christina Perri, Carah Faye, Dan + Shay, ZZ Ward, Raja Kumari, Rivers Cuomo, Rooty & Andrew McMahon In the Wilderness
• Pre-Release Singles: “The Arena,” “Prism,” “Something Wild” (ft. Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness)

6. Watsky, x Infinity

[Steel Wool / Empire]

Poet and rapper Watsky returns with x Infinity, his second album on Steel Wool.  X Infinity follows 2014 effort, All You Can Do.

• Tracks: 18
• Featured Guests: Danny Skyhigh McClain, Julia Nunes, Chaos Chaos, Mal Devisa, etc.
• Pre-Release Singles: “Tiny Glowing Screens, Pt. 3,” “Talking to Myself,” “Stick to Your Guns” (ft. Julia Nunes) 

7. Bayside, Vacancy

[Hopeless]

Emo band Bayside returns with its seventh studio album, Vacancy. Vacancy follows-up 2014 effort, Cult.

• Tracks: 11
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “I’ve Been Dead All Day,” “Enemy Lines” & “Pretty Vacant”

Also Released: Casey Donahew, All Night Party [Almost Country]; Drake White, Spark [Dot]; Eden, I think you think too much of me [Astralwerks]; A Day to Remember, Bad Vibrations [ADTR]

Photo Credits: Interscope, Warner Bros., Republic, Dolly / Sony Nashville, Lindseystomp, Steel Wool/Empire, Hopeless