The start of 2016 brought along some long-awaited albums. Here we give our opinion on some of the newly released albums in January.

Kaitlyn Tom | Staff Reporter

Sia: This is Acting
Once again, Sia releases a catchy yet highly emotional album. The songs in this album are rumored to have been written for a number of A-list artists, like Beyonce and Adele, but got rejected by the singers. Some of the key elements of those artists are noticeable in some of the songs, yet Sia still is able to make the song uniquely hers with her usual beats and voice.
Recommendation: “Cheap Thrills”
This song showcases Sia’s higher range, and it’s a nice break from her usual low belt tones. The upbeat beat in this song also differs from the rest of her album. The riffs that Sia has in this song are borderline Shakira, which sound surprisingly good in her voice.

Rachel Platten: Wildfire
Platten has been in the music industry for a while, but gained fame with her single “Fight Song”. The young artist recently released her new album. Rachel Platten’s songs in this album sound like a combination of Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato’s songs.
Recommendation: “Better Place”
With an album filled with strong beats that showcase Platten’s powerful voice, this song is a standout that displays Platten’s softer side. The mix of piano and cello in the background give the song the romantic touch that it requires.

Zayn: Pillow talk
Even though Zayn came out with a single instead of an album, this unexpected release deserves to be mentioned. Zayn’s unique voice is truly displayed in this song. The mature topics that Zayn approaches in this song really separates him with One Direction and shows how much he has matured since leaving the group.

Charlie Puth: Nine Track Mind
“One Call Away” and “Marvin Gaye” are a couple of Puth’s songs from this album that have exploded on the radio. The rest of the songs on his album are equally, if not better than his most popular ones.
Recommendation: “As You Are” (feat. Shy Carter)”
The almost tropical-sounding beats and backup vocals make this song incredibly catchy. The swoon worthy lyrics coupled with romantic “oohs” in this song make it a perfect song for hanging out with your significant other. The rap by Shy Carter halfway through makes this song stand out from the rest in the album.