Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film "The Great Gatsby" (May 6)
3/5 stars
Jay-Z, executive producer of the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of "The Great Gastby," worked with the director for two years "translating the Jazz Age sensibility of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel into the musical equivalents of our own times, through the blending of hip-hop, traditional jazz and other contemporary musical textures," according to the soundtrack's press release. The star-studded album features new music from The xx, Lana Del Ray, Fergie and Jay-Z himself. In addition to a selection of original music, the soundtrack also features a few cover songs, including a collaborative track between Andre 3000 and Beyonce, who perform Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black." The soundtrack, which kicks off with Jay-Z's "100$ Bill" is a mix of pop, rock and rap. And while the songs are performed by a modern group of musicians, a decidedly 20's/30's vibe is present. Jay-Z is a talented musician, no doubt. But it's always nice to see he can draw on such a diverse array of genres to put together one of this year's most exciting soundtracks.
• Best tracks: "Together" by The xx, 100$ Bill" by Jay-Z
"Together" by The xx
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoj2I6ZJLx8
Chance The Rapper -- "Acid Rap" (May 2)
4/5 stars
In a Chicago rap scene predominantly known right now for Chief Keef and the rest of the drill music scene, Chance The Rapper, a 20-year-old from the Windy City, offers a breath of creative fresh air. Chance's nasally delivery and odd-ball production make his second mixtape, "Acid Rap," stand out from a lot of what is coming out of Chicago right now. On "Juice," Chance remembers a friend who was stabbed to death in the all-too-violent South Side of the city. Drugs, demons and eccentricity mark this effort, which is a substantial improvement from his first mixtape, #10Day, a project he created while suspended from high school for a period of 10 days. "Acid Rap" has a healthy lineup of guest features, including Twista, Action Bronson, Ab-Soul and Childish Gambino, who are all rappers that are getting a lot of attention right now. While Chance's odd voice and delivery might be off-putting at first, it's important to let this entire mixtape play through before making a judgment call. Chance is a lot more creative than the majority of new rappers.
• Best tracks: "Cocoa Butter Kisses" and "Juice"
Charli XCX -- "True Romance" (April 12)
4/5 stars
Charlotte Aitchison, better known by her stage name Charli XCX, is a 20-year-old singer-songwriter based in Hertfordshire, England. Over the past few years, Charli XCX has released a steady stream of singles and picked up a decent following, but her new album "True Romance" is her most put-together and cohesive effort to date. Charli XCX really started picking up steam last summer when she was featured on Icona Pop's radio hit "I Love It," a track that peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard chart in 2012 and was featured on many year-end lists. The album's latest single, "What I Like," is a good summery song about a new love. Charli effortlessly flows on the beat, and exclaims throughout, "You know just what I like." "True Romance" was delayed a full year, but the end result is definitely worth the wait. This effort is just the start of a long, fun career of a future pop star.
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• Best tracks: "What I Like" and "You (Ha Ha Ha)"
"What I Like"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsqNvy9v93s
Carbone is a copy editor at the Herald and can be reached at tcarbone@gfherald.com or (701) 780-1249.
