-Originally published 12/13/20-

With have three notable releases his week. Man on the Moon III: The Chosen One is Kid Cudi’s big album return. Taylor Swift released evermore, what she refers to as the “sister” to folklore earlier this year. For fan purposes, it’s the missing double-disk with 15 tracks additional tracks in the same tonality as folklore’s 17 tracks. The instrumentals are filled with piano and strings and both albums are closer to folk than her 2019 pop album Lover.

Cudi worked with Kanye West on the 2018 EP Kids See Ghosts but hasn’t release a full-length independent project since 2016. MONT III is somewhere between more common hip-hop sounds we hear today and some of the more abnormal synths and sounds from KSG with Kanye and 2016’s Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin’. It’s still very much “Cudi” sounding, but it’s also doesn’t sound like it was produced on another planet for better or worse.Jack Harlow released his debut album That’s What They All Say that includes What’s Poppin and the What’s Poppin remix. The album is surprising in how the production is switched up and allows for different song styles from Still Poppin (I swear I’m going to write Still Poopin one of these times),  to Keep It Light, to Route 66, to Luv Is Dro, the entire project is worth a listen.

Tinashe’s Comfort & Joy and the Change the Rapper/Jeremih collaboration Merry Christmas Lil Mama: The Gift That Keeps On Giving are out in time for the holiday. New Found Glory’s single December’s Here and 3OH!3’s Kissletoe also dropped. Tinashe’s gorgeous voice over the reimaging of Christmas classics makes for an excellent surprise. The entire project should be repayable in future years. The Chance/Jeremih collaboration is kind of strange. I’m not sure what to make of it yet but I’m not sure it’ll get much re-play as a Christmas album and I’m not sure many tracks standalone well.

Other recent releases include Fetty Wap returning to the scene with You Know The Vibes, vet Jim Jones new release El Capo, Lil Yachty’s long awaited Lil Boat 3.5, Young Scooter – Zaystreet, Shoreline Mafia – Mafia Bidness, and Tay Money –Blockedt.