Jon Foreman
The Wonderlands: Sunlight EP/Word Entertainment
Foreman’s songs, whether for Switchfoot, Fiction Family or solo, are always insightful, engaging looks at the complicated nature of humanity in all its awesome beauty and staggering disarray. Sunlight, the first in a four-EP series that features one song for each hour of the day, is no different. The epic pop opener “Terminal” stares unflinchingly at the short-term nature of our existence, while the closer, “All of God’s Children,” paints a familiar Foreman-esque picture of human nature. Sonically, this album falls in between Switchfoot’s pop-oriented moments and the acoustic core of Foreman’s solo EPs, with the upbeat, anthemic “You Don’t Know How Beautiful You Are” sounding like an outtake from the Fading West sessions, while “Patron Saint of Rock and Roll” plays like a kissing cousin to “Hey Jude.” Foreman’s ability to offer hope without sugarcoating the messiness of life is as strong as ever.
Allen Stone
Radius/Capitol
Building off the strength of his self-titled debut, Stone’s unapologetic point of view and charismatic performances are back again on this delightful R&B-meets-funk-meets-soul record. Stone can croon his way through a romantic song easily (“Love”), and then bounce back with some of the social commentary he is becoming known for. Whether it’s lines like these in “The Wire”: “Who made up these rules?/Who’s a star, and who’s a tool?” or when he calls out Americans as a whole—taking a surprising shot at himself and his own heritage in “American Privilege,” Stone’s going to call a spade a spade every time. That said, he successfully balances the head with the heart on this record, never seeking to destroy, but rather to educate in a way that heals and inspires, all while trying to entertain.
Best Coast
California Nights/Harvest Records
Records about the crises, neuroses and yo-yoing within modern relationships are not supposed to be this fun, but damn it, Best Coast’s new record is just that. Chock full of crunchy guitars and alt-pop melodies that are a throwback to the ’90s (think Letters to Cleo), California Nights will make you want to dive into your next relationship with gusto, obstacles be damned. Bethany Cosentino’s dreamy vocals hold you throughout as she sings about unrequited love (“Jealousy”) or the danger of letting a location define you, as on the title track. And regardless of whether the songs are sedated guitar ballads (“Wasted Time”), punk pop anthems (“Heaven Sent”) or vaguely Cars-esque pop rock (“In My Eyes”), every moment of this record is electrifying.