New This Week: 'Fifty Shades Darker,' Lupe Fiasco, Michael Bolton, and More

Wendy Geller
·Writer, Yahoo Entertainment

Searching for something to listen to this weekend? Yahoo Music has you covered with a rundown of some of this week’s biggest/buzzing releases, including the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack, Lupe Fiasco, Michael Bolton, and more. Check back every Friday for a fresh list of albums to help fuel your weekend playlists.

Various Artists: Fifty Shades Darker (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Republic). If you haven’t heard about this soundtrack, you probably aren’t breathing – so pinch yourself to make sure. In addition to a much-publicized duet between Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift, the set includes turns from Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj, Halsey, John Legend, Sia, Corrine Bailey Rae, and more.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness: Zombies on Broadway (Vanguard). Singer-pianist McMahon follows up his 2014 debut with a reflective set influenced by New York City, wrapped up in a polished but not overly experimental musical approach.

Michael Bolton: Songs of Cinema (Frontiers Music s.r.l.). The legendary vocalist has had no problems cranking out hits for decades, so it’s not a huge surprise he’s decided to work on a collection of covers. A self-professed big fan of the movies, Bolton takes on some of the cinema’s most beloved classics – including a welcome assist from Dolly Parton on The Bodyguard’s “I Will Always Love You.”

Lupe Fiasco: Drogas Light (1st & 15th/Thirty Tigers). It’s been hard to keep up with Lupe Fiasco lately. He recently left his label, made a promise of three albums to come, hinted at his retirement, and offended many with questionable language directed at major-label executives. Is his independent release strong enough to hold up to all this discussion? The results are uneven, but judge for yourselves.

The Godfathers: A Big Bad Beautiful Noise (Godfather Recordings2/Metropolis). Legendary British band the Godfathers put their first record out some 30 years ago, and this is only their second since reforming in 2008. Feel free to indulge in nostalgia as they sound as strong as ever.

Overkill: The Grinding Wheel (Nuclear Blast). Looking for some thrash metal from a band that knows what it is doing? Look no further than Overkill’s latest, which carefully treads familiar ground but adds flair with new melodies to tickle fans’ ears.

Jesca Hoop: Memories Are Now (Sub Pop). The singer-songwriter’s fourth record puts a spotlight on Hoop’s flexible vocals, which are put to good use documenting a range of emotional topics that are sure to captivate fans – as well as get them thinking.

Thievery Corporation: The Temple of I & I (ESL Music). This DC-based electronic duo is on its eighth release, which shows off its history of dub influences and explores a deep dive into dancehall/reggae.