Kanye West

Rating 4/5
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy / Roc-A-Fella
Never mind what you think of the man’s behavior; Kanye’s bad boys antics are played to the hilt here, his fourth and probably catchiest release yet. With beats and samples so infectious, who needs the likes of Jay-Z and Usher anymore? Check out the album’s signature nine-minute “Runaway,” a tribute to the douchebags and assholes in the world with samples from Rick James and Backyard Heavies fused with unforgettable piano tinkling—acting like a bad-ass has never sounded this good. TO

Twin Sister

Rating 4/5
Vampires with Dreaming Kids / Color Your Life / Domino
Looking for something upbeat and kooky enough to add some bounce to your weekday? This double EP by Brooklyn newbies Twin Sister (comprising of young hipsters Andrea, Dev, Gabe, Eric and Bryan) should do the trick. Equal parts The Knife and Velvet Underground with a sprinkling of Isobel Campbell, the latter whose voice can be heard in a few tracks, the album may be fun, but its hodgepodge of ideas and influences get a little lost in translation along the way. But for the most part, the album remains fantastically intriguing and gratifyingly unconventional all the same. TO

Chromeo

Rating 4/5
Business Casual / !K7
P-Thugg and Dave 1 of Chromeo almost single (or perhaps double)-handedly lay to rest the myth that music from the 1980s is nothing to celebrate. Bass slapping, robotic vocals and banging synths are the foundations of the band’s tracks. Business Casual is their third studio album featuring electro-funk jams like “Hot Mess” and “Night By Night” and other tracks inspired by cheesiness from the likes of Rockwell, Lionel Ritchie and Oran Juice (nice). Check out offbeat director Keith Schofield’s (who worked on Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck’s “Heaven Can Wait” and the infamous XXX video for Diesel) work on the music video for “Don’t Turn The Lights On” for some serious WTF moments. ZA

Asa

Rating 4/5
Beautiful Imperfection / Naive
Exciting times for the souland-pop genre with the emergence of talented Nigerian singer Asa. Her organically raw and husky vocal prowess seals the gap between what Amy Winehouse offered when she first burst onto the scene and the lyrical maturity of Erykah Badu. From the uplifting opening track “Why Can’t We,” to the melodiously upbeat “Maybe,” and the African-inspired “Ore,” Asa works her lyrical magic in beautiful, serene fashion. ZA

John Adams

Rating 4/5
I Am Love / Nonesuch
This is probably one of the year’s most hypnotic soundtracks; not surprising since it’s basically reworked materials based on acclaimed composer John Adams’ earlier brilliant work—from 1978’s Shaker Loops to 1996’s Century Rolls. Film director Luca Guadagnino conceived his arthouse film I Am Love with Adams’ music in mind, and the result is music that is at once bravura and stirring—especially the 13-minute opener “The Chairman Dances,” which shimmers, bubbles and boils with its playful orchestral tones. TO