Music Shopping List: Usher, Mac Miller & More

The third music release in September features some big names: Usher and Mac Miller.  The question is, how big will these big names perform with respective new albums.  For Usher (Hard II Love), it’s been four years since he graced the Billboard 200 with a new album.  For Mac Miller (GO:OD AM), he last achieved chart glory in 2015. Can either beef up the Billboard 200 or will both perform in underwhelming fashion.  Beyond Usher and Mac Miller, new albums arrive from Casting Crowns, Taking Back Sunday, Die Antwoord, and Against Me!. 

1. Usher, Hard II Love

[RCA]

After a four-year hiatus, contemporary R&B master Usher returns with Hard II Love, his eighth proper studio album (excluding EP/mini-album Versus from 2010). Hard II Love arrives after Usher released multiple singles (the Grammy-nominated “Good Kisser” among them) , with only a select few ultimately making the album. Hard II Love follows up underperforming 2012 effort, Looking 4 Myself, which won Usher another Grammy (“Climax”).

• Tracks: 15
• Featured Guests: Young Thug
• Pre-Release Singles: “Missin U,” “No Limit” (ft. Young Thug), “Crash,” “Rivals” (ft. Future) & “Champions” (w/ Rubén Blades)

2. Mac Miller, The Divine Feminine

[Warner Bros.]

Mac Miller returns with his fourth studio album, The Divine Feminine.  The Divine Feminine marks Miller’s second album for Warner Bros. Records after releasing two albums via Rostrum. Interestingly, The Divine Feminine arrives almost a year to date after third album, GO:OD AM. As of yet, none of Miller’s albums have been certified by the RIAA.

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: Anderson .Paak, Ariana Grande, Bilal, CeeLo Green, Kendrick Lamar, Njomza & Ty Dolla $ign
• Pre-Release Singles: “Dang!” (ft. Anderson .Paak), “We” (ft. CeeLo Green) & “My Favorite Part” (ft. Ariana Grande)

3. Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing

[Provident/Sony]

Christian music collective Casting Crowns returns with The Very Next Thing, its first album in two years. Previous album Thrive debuted at no. 6 on the Billboard 200. The best showing by the collective on the Billboard 200 was The Altar And The Door (2007), which debuted at no. 2 on the Billboard 200.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “The Very Next Thing,” “One Step Away” & “Oh My Soul”

4. Taking Back Sunday, Tidal Wave

[Hopeless]

Keeping it real, it’s been a while since Taking Back Sunday have been relevant beyond their dedicated audience.  In other words, “MakeDamnSure” (Louder Now, 2006) seems like it arrived on the scene an eternity ago.  Tidal Wave marks the band’s first album in five years (Taking Back Sunday, 2011).  Additionally, it is the band’s first effort for Hopeless Records, following three studio albums for Warner Bros.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Tidal Wave” & “You Can’t Look Back”

5. Die Antwoord, Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid

[Zef]

South African hip-hop/electronic collective Die Antwoord returns with its fourth studio album, Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid.  Mount Ninji arrives two years after Donker Mag. Die Antwoord are known for their unique style and explicit song titles and lyrics.

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: Sen Dog, Dita Von Teese, Lil Tommy Terror & Jack Black
• Pre-Release Singles: “We Have Candy,” “Banana Brain” & “Fat Faded F**k Face”

6. Against Me! Shape Shift with Me

[Total Treble]

After dropping the honest Transgender Dysphoria Blues in 2014, Against Me! Returns with Shape Shift with Me. “333” serves as the promo single for the latest effort form the Laura Jane Grace fronted band.

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: none
• Pre-Release Singles: “Crash,” “333” & “Haunting, Haunted, Haunts”

Also Released: Aaron Lewis, Sinner [Dot]; AlunaGeorge, I Remember [Island] & Chinx, Legends Never Die [eOne]

Photo Credits: RCA, Warner Bros., Provident/Sony, Hopeless, Zef, Total Treble