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Bastille, MIA and more drop new music this week.

Another week means another list of some kick ass new albums. And as you start to say goodbye to summer, we've got a selection of albums that will get you ready for fall.

While she's had some issues with her label, we're finally getting to hear MIA's latest, AIM. Following the worldwide success of their 2013 debut record, Bad Blood, Bastille are back with their sophomore effort, Wild World. Scottish alt-rockers Twin Atlantic return with their new LP, GLA, while July Talk are dropping Touch. And finally LOLO is getting over heartache in her new record, In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit.

Find out more about this week's top 5 new releases below.

 

'AIM' - MIA

MIA has been one of those artists that isn't always in the public eye. But when she is, she goes hard. While she's released a series of politically charged tracks as well as her collab with H&M to promote sustainable style, MIA hasn't dropped a new record since 2013's Mantangi. And it's not like she hasn't been trying. Earlier this summer, she tweeted that her new record was ready to go but was being held by her label. She even threatened to leak. Around the same time, she also said that not only does she have a US visa to promote the new album, AIM, but it could also be her last record. While we're hoping the latter isn't true, let's get to her latest, AIM.

Like her previous bodies of work, she continues to bring in danceable beats and flowing melodies like on the single, "Go Off." She does team up with a couple of heavy hitters including Zayn on "Freedun" as well as Diplo and Blaqstarr on two versions of "Bird Song." And the day before AIM was set to drop, she treated fans to another new tune called "Foreign Friend," which she worked on with Dexta Daps. That song is particularly special to her as it was one she did for old friends, who had to meet her in the Caribbean since she isn't allowed to enter Sri Lanka. Again, we do hope that this won't be the last we hear from MIA, but until that's really official, we'll enjoy this new record.

 

'Wild World' - Bastille

Bastille put themselves on the map with their epic anthem, "Pompeii." From the moment that you hear the echoing chorus of "ohs," you feel that something big was coming. And once their debut album, Bad Blood, dropped in 2013, the UK pop quartet were whisked around the world playing everything from packed theaters to big festivals. But after three years of touring that record, it was only natural that they would want fans to hear something new. So welcome Wild World.

While keeping their signature orchestral sonic elements, the London band's frontman Dan Smith looks at a far bigger picture lyrically. On songs like "The Currents" and "Warmth," he doesn't hold back on the fears he has about how the decisions of others (maybe the government?) can affect masses if they aren't thought through. And although Dan has been hesitant to go the political route, the clips of radio broadcasts embedded in each song conveys some heavy messages to his fans and hopefully to the rest of the world. Meanwhile, "Glory" has a carefree attitude that makes you think back to your younger years. "Blame" has more of that straightforward rock sounds with heavy electric guitars, and "Two Evils" slows things down and focuses on Dan's emotive vocals. After a band drops a hit album like Bastille did, we only hope for them to grow on their next one. And after listening to Wild World, it's obvious they have.

 

'In Loving Memory Of When I Gave A Shit' - LOLO

Just by looking at the title of LOLO's new album, In Loving Memory of When I Gave a Shit, it's obvious that she's got a bit of an ax to grind on this one. And while we've heard certain female songwriters pen tunes that reveal the details of bad breakups and good for nothing men, LOLO, born Lauren Pritchard, does it with sharp lyrics and a finesse that doesn't make her sound so menacing.

The album opens with her single, "Heard It From a Friend." And while it sounds like she lost in the game of love, especially with this chorus, "So when you gonna tell me you fucked me over? / Don't You know that people watch? / Don't you know that people talk?," the frustration in vocals also sounds like she won't let him keep her down. She laments this and possibly other heartaches throughout her LP in "The Courtyard" and "The Devil's Gone To Dinner." And although she's trying to show her emotional strength, LOLO puts the vulnerability out there with "I Don't Want to Have to Lie" and "Not Gonna Let You Walk Away." From her vintage soul sound to the little rasps as she belts out the notes, LOLO will be making you feeling those feels with this one. 

 

'GLA' - Twin Atlantic

If you're look for some good rock music this week, give Twin Atlantic a go. Following their 2014 album, Great Divide, the Glaswegian band offers up a heavy dose of furious guitars, heavy drums and strong vocals.

"Ex El" will blow you away while still being one of those tunes you can hear the whole crowd getting into at a live show. Meanwhile, their single "No Sleep" has a nice balance of melody and aggressive instrumentals. It is the perfect song to describe any insomniac. And although they're a band of punks, "The Chaser" proves that these rockers can write a pop song with its bouncy rhythm. We also get a sense of their softer sides with their mid-tempo acoustic ballad, "A Scar To Hide."

 

'Touch' - July Talk

July Talk has been great at bridging the gap between pop melodies and good ol' fashion garage rock. Following their 2012 self-titled album, the Toronto band returns with Touch.  The record starts off strong with the dancey "Picturing Love" and bass drum-driven tune, "Beck + Call." The balance between Peter Dreimanis' raspy vocals and Leah Fay's supple voice on "Now I Know" makes you think they could never go together but prove that opposites — even when it comes to voices — can work together.

Touch is inspired by the band's time on the road and how that vagabond life has somewhat altered the way they view the world around them. They also played with the idea of opposing forces, which makes sense considering the two different lead voices. We get that struggle in "Push + Pull," which also has a sultry tone aside from being a battle between polar opposites. The album ends on the title track — a psychedelic tune that will put you in a trance and make you want to listen to the whole album all over again. 

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