By: Tessa Perkins and Neil MacAlister

The Road Ahead is Golden by Jon and Roy

With an optimistic title, Jon and Roy’s seventh album continues their whimsical brand of indie folk-rock with a bit more realism than their previous works. The melodies are still jubilant and upbeat while some of the lyrics this time around are less so, but that’s not a bad thing.

     Roy Vizer’s signature congas (that were not present on their last album, Riverside) have made a welcome return, and Jon Middleton is joined by guest vocalists on a few tracks, including members of another Vancouver Island band, Current Swell, on “The Better Life” (the album’s first single). The song strikes a good balance between the realism of admitting that we have a lot of work to do to make our world a better place and the hope that we will get there one day.

     Seemingly steeped in natural grassroots music making, Jon and Roy’s latest effort is full of their perfect mix of calming, peaceful acoustic guitar, raspy vocals, and gentle percussion. This record is best enjoyed on lazy summer days while swinging in a hammock and just watching the world go by. – TP

Drop Top Wop by Gucci Mane

Gucci Mane is well-known as one of, if not the, most prolific rapper of all time, and it appears his lengthy incarceration didn’t hinder anything: Drop Top Wop is his seventh album since getting out of jail a year ago. It’s also one of his most solid projects since Everybody Looking, and we have Metro Boomin, the true star of this record, to thank for that. Metro’s beat-making is phenomenal, creating dark, brooding soundscapes reminiscent of his last collaborative project, Savage Mode.

     Over the past four years, Metro has proved himself as a meticulous producer who crafts remarkably complex sound without sacrificing Atlanta’s signature trap aesthetic. His beats are sinister, ethereal, and hard as hell; “Tho Freestyle” is so hypnotic you can get lost in the vibe for days, and “Helpless” sounds like trap Danny Elfman. This isn’t to say that Gucci isn’t great on this album: he’s healthy, confident, and on point for Drop Top Wop, and “Finesse The Plug Interlude,” in particular, features some of his most impressive writing in years. 2 Chainz brings all of his charisma to “Both Eyes Closed” and Offset continues to prove himself as the best of Migos with his feature on “Met Gala.” – NM

Neva Left By Snoop Dogg

A quarter-century into a historic career and Snoop Dogg is still able to breeze through a track like a zephyr, bringing his laid-back flow and philosophic simplicity. Neva Left is being billed as a re-establishment of Snoop’s greatness, reminding the world that he’s an OG who stayed consistent throughout his career. But if you’ve been paying attention, you shouldn’t need reminding; his last two projects, BUSH and Coolaid, were fantastic, and in many ways even better than Neva Left.

     This album has some major highlights: his flow in “Bacc in da Dayz,” his storytelling in “Vapors,” and his fantastic remix of BADBADNOTGOOD and Kaytranada’s “Lavender” being only a few. But Snoop has a few strikes against him here. Most of the beats sound like knockoff ‘90s-era Dre beats, multiple tracks are simply boring, and “Trash Bags” is a song we’re better off pretending never happened. Snoop’s had one of the most impressive careers in rap, and there’s no denying that he’s maintained his quality, but I’d recommend last year’s Coolaid before Neva Left for the vintage Snoop sound. – NM