Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving market; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Electronic, and Pop with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Hip-Hop Releases:
July

 

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

Readers of this column (I hope you exist) may notice a general preference for cohesive releases that play well as a whole and have some sort of concept or unifying theme holding it together. With Frank Ocean’s debut album, channel ORANGE, this isn’t necessarily the case. The disjointed stream-of-consciousness vibe of the record is precisely one of the reasons this LP is on this list. The ever-present tranquil emotion of his voice and meticulously crafted instrumentals (mostly built along with über-talented producer Malay) deliver a series of thoughts and feelings that vary from simple to abstract which all come together to serve as a ticket into the young artist’s mind. And this mind is worth entering. (Def Jam/Universal)

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

Some of the most compelling songs in popular music history are narratives. While he gave hints of a gift in his previous work, Frank Ocean’s new LP, channel ORANGE, sees him step forward as a true storyteller. On the cathartic tragedy “Crack Rock,” he weaves a Reznor-esque funnel for his protagonist to slide down but still maintains his pop sensibilities to keep the song catchy and accessible. Then there’s the multileveled “Pyramids” that sets up the biggest twist since The Sixth Sense. Ocean’s lyrical skills are particularly highlighted in these examples of his creative and detailed storytelling. These engaging stories are just like those crack rocks Frank Ocean sings about; once you get hooked, it’s impossible to stop listening. (Def Jam/Universal)

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

In the early 90s, the line between rap and contemporary R&B started to become blurred due mostly to the work of producers Teddy Riley and Sean Combs. Acts like Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, and Blackstreet were building pop records that featured gospel-tinged soul vocals over hip-hop dancefloor beats. The characteristic sharing became a two-way street, but while hip-hop moving into R&B was viewed as acceptable, hip-hop heads weren’t trying to have rap music affected by R&B. But the success of the hip-hop artists that reside in the hip-hop/R&B grey area (Lauryn Hill, Drake) has allowed for the blurring to continue further almost 20 years later. Frank Ocean, the singer dude in rap collective Odd Future, is the golden child of the genre hybrid. With this major label debut, he pays homage to hip-hop soul with familiar themes, music, and lyrical allusions to Blige (on “Super Rich Kids” where he pulls an interpolation from her first hit “Real Love”) and Hill (on “Pilot Jones” he sings “the sweetest kiss I’ve ever known” as Lauryn did on Refugee Camp All-Stars’ “The Sweetest Thing”). He finds success within this foray because he doesn’t stop there; the flashes of R&B, hip-hop, pop, neo-soul and rock that confirm Frank Ocean’s eclectic approach to this record is exactly how the earlier mentioned acts created their own sounds in the first place. Meanwhile, any true follower of just about any progressive genre can, and should fight to, claim this record. (Def Jam/Universal)

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

In the middle of the #OFWGKTA storm that happened last year, Frank Ocean released a humble little mixtape: nostalgia, ULTRA. At the time, the collective could do no wrong as the tape fell on receptive ears and introduced an unexpected dynamic that only heightened anticipation for future projects. While things have been up and down for the gang since then, Ocean has maintained a steady ascension to the point where he has become the most popular and important member of the group. channel ORANGE sees him reach the pinnacle of that ascension. He’s a solo artist first but just as Odd Future’s Tyler and co. took Frank Ocean under their wing and helped give him exposure and an artistic outlet, this release has put the onus on Frank to do the same for the gang. (Def Jam/Universal)

Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

Above all the subplots and conversations that make channel ORANGE so buzzworthy stands the completely original perspective Frank has been able to deliver to his audience. This is the big deal. When he finds parallels between the last pharaoh of Egypt and a stripper on “Pyramids” it begs to suggest that he’s willing and ready to take the listener as far as they’d come with him. He’s comparing church to partying and love to a cult, in completely non-pretentious but still poetic ways. He’s brimming with these dopeass allegories among other fresh ideas and he will undoubtedly inspire many artists to follow in his footsteps. Despite his style and his accessibility as an R&B/hip-hop artist he has been able to allow his originality to lead an almost definite genre shift. In this one album sits the present and future of “urban” music; it hints to where it can go, or, it could be possible that it already takes it all the way there. (Def Jam/Universal)

Surprises, disappointments and albums to watch for next month

Honourable mentions: In actuality, there were other albums that were released during the past month. Check out Nas’ Life Is Good, The Alchemist’s Russian Roulette, and Azealia Banks’ Fantasea.

Surprise of the month: The letter. Nothing more needs to be said.

Disappointments: Target. When Universal bumped channel ORANGE’s iTunes debut a week earlier than the physical release, Target refused to stock the album because of an awkwardly ancient protocol decision that does more harm to them than it does to Frank Ocean. If you think about it, just based on the assumed demographic of Frank Ocean fans, most of the people that were going to buy the album would have purchased it digitally anyway. Also, people were going to start listening to the album a week in advance regardless of whether or not it had been put up on iTunes. Lastly, the average Target shopper (assumed demographics again) doesn’t know Frank Ocean, not yet at least. They would have started selling copies of the album when their shoppers started going through their kids’ Christmas lists or possibly after the Grammys. Chill the fuck out, Target. Stop being a jerk and get with the times.

Out in August: Official joints from superstars Rick Ross (July 31), Wiz Khalifa, and 2 Chainz, while the R&B revival continues with new releases from The-Dream and Trey Songz.