After the release date for Free The Universe initially being pushed back from a couple months ago, the long awaited full studio album from Major Lazer, the group currently consisting of Diplo, Jillionaire, and Walshy Fire, has finally arrived! I have to admit I was kept satisfied while waiting for this album to drop with a bunch of Lazer Strikes Back Volumes that Major Lazer has been releasing for free (check them out here, here, and here) in anticipation of this featured album.
As a whole, the album is composed of 17 tracks, with a few remixes and several impressive collaborations with artists such as Laidback Luke, Bruno Mars, Shaggy, Flux Pavilion, and more. Although there are a fair amount of tracks on this album, it wasn’t hard to separate the amazingly produced tracks in Free The Universe from the ones that lacked the full energy Major Lazer has the potential to bring to the table.
I found myself having a hard time not going crazy to the best tracks off the album, including the dancehall anthem, “Keep Cool”, dominated by the catchy vocals of Shaggy and Wynter Gordon, and “Sweat”, a banging collaboration with Laidback Luke. Also featured on this album is “Bumaye”, the recent Major Lazer production that’s filled with lots of big room horns and an addicting moombahton beat (and has a really awesome music video as well).
Not every track on this album falls under the category of dancehall music that Major Lazer has been best known for over the years. With the chilled out vibe and beautifully serenading voice of Amber Coffman in “Get Free”, the track shows off the unbelievably versatile production skills of Major Lazer like no other. “Jessica”, the other noticeably softer and more relaxed track on the album, combined the unparalleled vocals of Ezra Koenig (of Vampire Weekend) to create a beautiful blend of reggae and indie vibes, making it one of my favorites off the album.
It’s been about four years since the debut of Major Lazer’s first album, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do. It’s no doubt that since then, Major Lazer have come a long way and have really found their sound along the journey. Being one of the industries greatest trendsetters and producers, it doesn’t seem like Diplo is slowing down anytime soon, with a possible EDM movie in the making along with this recent full studio album release of Free The Universe. You can listen all the tracks off the album below, and can purchase the full album over at iTunes!
1) Major Lazer – You’re No Good (feat. Santigold, Vybz Kartel, Danielle Haim & Yasmin)
2) Major Lazer – Jet Blue Jet (feat. Leftside, GTA, Razz & Biggy)
3) Major Lazer – Get Free (feat. Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors)
4) Major Lazer – Jah No Partial (feat. Flux Pavilion)
5) Major Lazer – Wind Up (feat. Elephant Man & Opal)
6) Major Lazer – Scare Me (feat. Peaches & Timberlee)
7) Major Lazer – Jessica (feat. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend)
8) Major Lazer – Bumaye (Watch Out for This) (feat. Busy Signal & Flexican)
9) Major Lazer – Keep Cool (feat. Shaggy & Wynter Gordon)
10) Major Lazer – Sweat (feat. Laidback Luke & Ms. Dynamite)
11) Major Lazer – Reach for the Stars (feat. Wyclef Jean)
12) Major Lazer – Bubble Butt (feat. Bruno Mars, Tyga & Mystic)
13) Major Lazer – Mashup the Dance (feat. The Partysquad & Ward 21)
14) Major Lazer – Playground (feat. Bugle & Arama)
15) Major Lazer – Jah No Partial (feat. Flux Pavilion) (Skream Remix)
16) Major Lazer – Jah No Partial (feat. Flux Pavilion) (Heroes x Villians Remix)
17) Major Lazer – Get Free (feat. Amber Coffman of Dirty Projectors) (What So Not Remix)