Weekly Round-Up | A Week Of Women Dropping Surprises

This week has been filled with surprises in the world of music and the first came from outspoken rapper, Azealia Banks. After three years of anticipation, Azealia dropped her debut album Broke With Expensive Taste unannounced on Thursday. It has received high praise from fans and critics which I can understand as the album is a courageous step for any musician with experimental sounds, bold attitude and impressive lyrics. However, the album is not to my personal taste and I was a bit let down what with Azealia having made amazing songs such as 212, Liquorice and 1991.

The surprises continued with an unexpected musical release from pop princess, Selena Gomez, who has been quite on the musical front for over a year. What was even more shocking was that the subject matter for her new song was very clearly about her rocky relationship with Justin Beiber. The Heart Wants What It Wants is a really personal and vulnerable song, as is the endearing video that goes with it and, although it was made almost a year ago, the lyrics couldn't ring any truer for the young star.
It is nice to hear a softer side to her and that she is, at last, opening up about a topic that has been making headlines for years.

There were more album releases this week from two other female artists whose music couldn't be more different. Teyana Taylor released her album, VII, at the top of the week to much critical acclaim. The album is brilliant, innovative and authentic, and Teyana has found herself a new fan in me - a more detailed, track-by-track review will be available on my blog tomorrow.
On the other hand, Cheryl Cole didn't deliver such a stellar album although I am sure it will still be a commercial success. She seems to have taken a step back in terms of musicality and there is no growth or excitement in any of the songs on the album. In fact, the only two tracks worth listening to have already been released as singles so the album was a disappointment to say the least.