Pop legend Janet Jackson kills it in her new album “Unbreakable.” The 19-track record displays what everyone loves about Janet Jackson’s music: sincerity and passion. Jackson enlists Missy Elliot on “BURN IT UP!” and J. Cole on “No Sleeep.” This album is full of inspiring pop anthems as well as some nostalgic standouts. “No Sleeep” is a classic Janet Jackson slow hit track that connects well with her audience. The albums emotional highlight comes through in “Night.” Throughout the album, Jackson’s ability to display great vocal range and bring in different sounds stylistically helps make this album stand out.
Avicii, a dance club favorite, brings a great vibe to this new 14-track album. “Stories” shows maturity and an evolution in sound while sticking to their roots. One of the most interesting things of this album is Avicii’s ability to bring in artists from other genres. Avicii enlists country star Zac Brown for “Broken Arrows.” Brown’s vocal ability shines through and really brings a new perspective to the Avicii’s version of normal. In the track “True Believer,” Avicii calls on Coldplay’s Christ Martin in a funky EDM track. His final collaboration is with reggae artist Wyclef Jean in “Can’t Catch Me,”—bringing a new sound to reggae, this song’s catchy hooks and lyrics make it one of the album’s best.
Collective Soul’s ability to combine modern alternative sounds with more classic rock riffs helps propel this album. As a group, Collective Soul vibes well. Their solid instrumentals with relatable lyrics makes you wonder why they are not at the top of the rock genre. The 11-track album is well-balanced and shows a variety of rock styles. The harder-rock tracks like “Hurricane,” “Contagious,” “This,” and “Exposed,” are mixed in well with the record’s emotional tracks, with “Memoirs of 2005,” “Tradition,” and “Without Me” being the deep-feeling highlights of the album. An overall solid compilation.