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BØRNS (Blue Madonna), Anderson East (Encore), and Camila Cabello (Camila) rank as the best albums reviewed on The Musical Hype in January 2018.

With January 2018 behind us, it’s time to rank the albums from best to worst. Which albums have the staying power to potentially make my year-end best of list? Being honest, the top-three selected albums have the best shot. Beyond that, many of the albums were good (or good enough), but not necessarily game changing or transcendent.

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Crème de la Crème 

1. BØRNS, Blue Madonna

Interscope

BØRNS delivers a fantastic sophomore album with Blue Madonna. He successfully captures matters of the heart, a central theme. Furthermore, there are no blatant missteps.  The vocals, production, and songwriting are elite.

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2. Anderson East, Encore

Elektra 

Anderson East is simply a beast.  Top to bottom, Encore is an absolutely awesome album.  The vocals, the songwriting, and the production are all top-notch.  Miscues are absent, while the consistency is nothing short of incredible.  Great start to 2018, and more importantly for East, a bright career.

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3. Camila Cabello, Camila

Epic

Camila is a good start for Camilla Cabello. Though cool, “Never Be the Same” quicks off things well, while the likes of “She Loves Control,” “Havana,” and “Into It” add some punch.  There is nothing bad about this album in the least – no fatal miscues.  That said, artistically, Cabello has ample room to grow by adding more assertiveness, distinction, and a stronger personality.

Honorable Mention: Oscar Jerome, Where Are Your Branches? (EP)

All in all, London singer and guitarist Oscar Jerome “shines bright like a diamond” throughout the course of Where Are Your Branches?  The best characterization is a refreshing, brief listening experience that stretches the ear.  Where Are Your Branches? is characterized but magnificent musicianship, as well as the spiritual, personal, and ethical beliefs of Jerome. Clearly Jerome owns his artistic identity, confident from the start of this scintillating EP.

 

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The Rest

4. Black Veil Brides, Vale

Republic

All in all, Vale is a sound comeback album from Black Veil Brides.  The most positive attributes of the album include the distinct vocals of Andy Biersack, the dynamic, jagged, often harmonized guitars, and the colorful production overall.  The biggest flaws? At times, the script is predictable. Perhaps more lyrical and musical variation could have made it even stronger.  That said, no shame in BVB’s game. Vale is enjoyable, and definitely has its fair share of replay value, particularly gems like “When They Call My Name” and “My Vow.”

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5. EDEN, vertigo

Astralwerks

Ultimately, vertigo is a well-rounded, personal album that balances acoustic and electronic backdrops, and features expressive, emotional vocals from Johnathon Ng. More often than not, it’s appeal and the authenticity of EDEN, makes it a winner.  Over the course of 52 minutes, it gets too long, too slow, and bit boring, but the majority is more than enough to confirm its enjoyableness and well-roundedness.

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6. Fall Out Boy, M A N I A

Island

How does M A N I A stack up? M A N I A gives Fall Out Boy another enjoyable album, without question.  That said, it’s all over the place, like most modern-pop albums.  Some songs work, such as “Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)” or “Church”, while others fall short (“Young and Menace” first and foremost).

 

7. Migos, Culture II

Quality Control Music / Motown / Capitol

Does Migos miss the mark on Culture II? No, not completely. This “playlist,” like Chris Brown’s Heart Break on a Full Moon, has its moments. The presentation is off though – too long and too predictable. A shorter, more focused project would’ve played out better. Even shave off 45 minutes, and Culture II is improved.

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8. cupcakKe, Ephorize

cupcakKe

Going into my first cupcakKe album, I was apprehensive.  Coming out of it, I was more impressed than anticipated. Still, Ephorize isn’t the ‘second coming,’ but possesses its fair share of likable moments.  cupcakKe has got bars.  The main issue, even with the redeemable qualities of Ephorize is that the raunchiness of her content is overbearing at times. Some of her best moments come when she eschews sex for deeper subject matter, such as “Crayons.”

Photo Credits: Interscope, Elektra, Epic, Republic, Astralwerks, Island, Quality Control Music, Capitol, Motown, cupcakKe

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