Best Album of the Week: Ice on the Dune released by Empire of the Sun
This album blew me away upon first listen. Ice on the Dune is an absolutely impressive album by Aussie electronic duo Empire of the Sun, who went on hiatus for five years before this release. It was not only a return to form from their first album, but blew the first one out of the water with unbelievably catchy yet original songs "Alive" and "DNA." Every song on the album has something to contribute; there is no reason why one should not like this album unless they hated the synthesizer. This album blows every other album released this week out of the water for sure.
Best of the Rest
Alternative soft rock band One Republic released their new album Natives, which sounds great and is musically sound but also feels a bit generic. In other words, it's a great album that sounds like an extension of a Fun. album. Post-hardcore metal band Falling In Reverse released their newest album Fashionably Late, including songs like "Alone," which feature lead singer Ronnie Radke rapping in the verses. Although the new album pales in comparison to their first album, it still provides a softer metal that some will find enjoyable. Mac Miller's newest album Watching Movies With the Sound Off was certainly the best rap album to come out of this week. With songs like "Goosebumpz" and "Watching Movies," the album is very different from other rap albums in a good way. It is hard to explain, but the sound is different yet refreshing.