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Album of the Week: O’Jays – Back Stabbers

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Although we usually highlight new albums in the Album of the Week slot, this year we head back 50 years to the release of the O’Jays breakthrough album. The group had been around since the late 1950s, but it was Back Stabbers that took them to the big time, particularly with the single “Love Train” which was their biggest and best known hit. This album belongs in any serious soul collection and has been described as “the Pinnacle of Philly soul”.

Album of the Week: Maggie Rogers – Surrender

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

We’ve been following Maggie Rogers career for a few years, and she’s produced another great body of work. Collaborating with Kid Harpoon (who played a big part in Harry Styles’ latest megahit) she is refocused but still inspired. A very smart lady (she has also knocked out a Harvard Masters in the last couple of years) she has produced what Pitchfork calls an album of “confident pop anthems” – from a point of burnout after years of touring (and study!) she has actually produced a joyful collection.

Album of the Week: Pacific Heights – The Waters Between

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Devin Abrams’ fourth album as Pacific Heights, this is an accomplished collection years in the making. A combination of electronic and pop, he worked with some talented collaborators including Stan Walker, Larissa Lambert, Foley and Louis Baker, and we love Bri Clark’s voice on “This Is What It Feels Like”. We look forward to exploring these songs this week – worth also listening to this interview Devin had with the 13th Floor podcast.

Album of the Week: James Bay – Leap

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

British singer-songwriter James Bay is back – and he’s got his hat back on! On track to be his second UK No. 1 album , and deservedly so. We’ve been enjoying some of the singles for a while but this is filled with great accomplished material. NME‘s take is that “it might not be as experimental as his previous album, but ‘Leap’ is full of enough nuance and texture to keep people on their toes”.

Album of the Week: Imagine Dragons – Mercury Acts 1 & 2

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

After Mercury Act 1 last year comes the second disk, and completed double album. The first act focused on loss after frontman Dan Reynolds lost his best friend and sister. Act 2 focusses on moving forward and is a great collection of rock recorded in collaboration with Rick Rubin. As usual the band have delivered on melodic impactful music, and we’re sure that Pitchfork will enjoy the second disk as much as the first!

Album of the Week: George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

George Ezra has hit it out of the park again sticking to his formula of catchy numbers designed to be sung along to at summer festivals. This is a really nice mix of pop numbers sung in his distinctive baritone which are sure to be staples of radio and playlists for years to come.

Album of the Week: Vance Joy – In Our Own Sweet Time

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Vance Joy has produced album after album of sweet singer-songwriter material (this is his third). The Melbourian says this album was both born from a romantic relationship and life in lockdown. It is a personal album but filled with fascinating tracks, both classic soft pop numbers like “Don’t Fade” but also more experimental tracks like “Wavelength”, a collaboration with Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth.

Album of the Week: Angel Olsen – Big Time

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

Angel Olsen has produced a run of fantastic albums and this is no exception. With a classic mid-century sound (with strong country hints on the first half) and produced during a period of dealing with the loss of her parents and coming out, this is another superlative effort. AllMusic described how it wrangles “complex, overwhelming emotions with a broad palette that’s commanded by its lyrics and tormented vocal performances”.

Album of the Week: Emeli Sandé – Let’s Say For Instance

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

We don’t want to diminish the undoubted achievement of the big release this week (Harry Styles’ Harry’s House) but this is one of a spate of releases earlier in the month that deserves highlighting. Emili comes back in style with another range of beautiful songs, well produced and blessed with her gorgeous voice, made for classy R&B. Oh – and love the fragment of Elgar at the end of “Family”!

Album of the Week: Florence & The Machine – Dance Fever

New Zealand Net Radio plays a song from our irregularly updated #albumoftheweek every hour from 9am to 12pm. Listen in @tunein at http://tun.in/sfAtE

This album is another tour de force from Florence Welch, a masterpiece of performance and songwriting, a talent for “rock-pop anthems that bristle with a kind of modern classicism” according to The Times. Can’t wait to explore its tracklist this week.