Ranking The Four Albums I heard Yesterday
Friday’s 7/24 release of new music was one of my most anticipated dates this year, featuring new projects from Syd, Tyla, Steve Lacey, Atarashii Gakko! And Willow. Truly R&B heavy, sure. But as someone with a dreadful 12-hour drive ahead of me, I had plenty of time to check out new music on the way. To avoid annoying my partner who was riding with me, I only listened to four of the new albums while she rested.
While normally, I listen to any new music five to ten times before reviewing it, I only gave each album one listen before making this post. While I am well-rested from the trip and somewhat eager to discuss the projects, I’m making this post to do something I never do… a ranking! (queue the scary music).
Each artist provided some highlights, and I will be honest, there were very few lowlights from each project, which is a blessing if you’re someone who loves reviewing music. But without further ado, here’s my ranking of each project.
4 - From Tokyo with Love by Atarashii Gakko!
Listen, I looked forward to this album. However, between their less-than-stellar lead singles, which made me question if they knew their identity, or the sudden change of sound to 80’s hairpop, the project felt a tad confusing on the first listen. Maybe it will grow on me, because songs like “Take Me With You” made me instantly fall in love. The album reverts to the true AG sound near the end, but compared to the other three albums on this list, it wasn’t enough. Still a solid album though.
3 - A*Pop by Tyla
I am still not sure what to make of Tyla. She is clearly talented; she clearly can sing. But something still feels like it is holding her back. I’m not here to psychologize. The album is solid all the way around. Tyla knew her lane as a partying, love-crazed, fun, 20-something who knows her way around a dance floor, and A*Pop is just that. While the lead single “Chanel” drove me up a wall the first time I heard it because the hook while dealing with a frustrated task, the remainder of the album is energetic, hip-shaking, and the vibe of a Saturday night party surrounded by your friends. A true vibe. The sole downside I have of this project is that no song truly stood out.
2 - Beard by Syd
I believe that Syd can talk anyone out of their bloomers. She’s a slick-talking, angel-voiced lover girl, and this album proves it. Perhaps the easiest listen of the bunch, the project did not feel like its stated 40-minute run time. Songs like “Jasmine 17” were instant classics, and features from Jordan Ward, Big Sean, and James Fauntleroy never took too much time or distracted from the song. I found myself replaying more songs than simply hitting next, and that’s one of the highest praises you can give an album in 2026.
1 - The Thread by Willow
Willow is on fire, and this album is perhaps her best work to date. She knows her sound, she knows her voice, and most importantly, she is not afraid to experiment. The result is ten tracks with Willow skirting, swaying, and playing with every audio aspect imaginable to make a truly good project. While I had trouble finding if the album had a theme it stuck by, this is based on one listen, and throughout that listen, Willow came across as a daring artist whose experimentation led to success.
Those were my four albums this weekend. Perhaps I’ll make more detailed reviews once I give each of these albums more than one listen each.
