Reviews of the latest albums available for streaming.

Jelly Roll / Addiction Kills

Jennifer Russo

It occurred to me that I don’t give much love to hip hop albums when I consider albums to review, which is funny because,once upon a time, I listened to a lot of it. Somewhere along the line, I just stopped listening as I wasn’t a fan of how the genre was changing.

Every now and again, though, I come across something I really like. This album is one of those special things that make me think for a moment that maybe not all is lost in the hip hop realm.

Jelly Roll’s style is unique and authentic. It uses unexpected sound elements as opposed to the overdone heavy bass beats, with some old-school record scratches and true lyrical skill playing with electrifying word use, and he has some real singing talent, too. The album is heartfelt and screams truth.

My favorite song on the album is “Only,” which delves into the eye-opening, real-world internal struggle from the perspective of a drug addict. As the album title implies, many of the tracks follow the theme of addiction and all the issues that come with it and the people impacted. Others, like “Heaven” and “Sex, Drugs, and Pain” challenge the idea that people who live a life that others consider unsavory are all doomed to hell by default. It’s more about being true to oneself, living your own truth and getting through, however that might be.

For more information, visit jellyroll615.com.

Leela James / Did It For Love

Mike Wood

If you’ve been craving something soothing and soulful, Leela James has got your back. Mesmerizing is one word, transcendent another, and neither is an exaggeration. For those unfamiliar with James, think Mary J. Blige crossed with Chaka Khan, with just a subtle hint of the late, great Whitney Houston. We get funky bass lines, soaring ballads and more than a few firm words for some beaus who’ve done her wrong. It’s all here on the R&B star’s Did It For Love, which hits all the right notes on nearly every track.

In a musical universe so candy-coated and watered down for radio play, James’ husky voice is a distinct and refreshing reminder of what stirring R&B can really be when an artist isn’t trying to appease the masses or appeal to younger listeners who might not appreciate her style. Her debut album was more than a dozen years ago (A Change Is Gonna Come), so James’ true fans are likely all grown up and ready for a grown-up album that deals with death, heartbreak and … her kids. But this album is not just for Leela James followers or urban music fans in general. Anyone who appreciates powerful music with a depth of emotion that transcends genre will revel in James’ impressive sixth studio album. It’s a true musical gift from start to finish.

For more information, visit leelajames.com.

Through Fire / Breathe

Jason Savio

The debut album Breathe, by hard rockers Through Fire, is an impressive first attempt by a group of newcomers. Not everything works great – sometimes the sincerity gets lost in an overabundance of static yelling – but there are enough bright spots here to warrant a careful listen.

On this deluxe version of Breathe, there are acoustic and extended versions of the title track “Breathe” and “Stronger,” both of which are actually superior to their electric originals. Fire’s brand of hard rock at times evokes that of hard rock/metal bands of the early 2000s, which is unfortunate. “Take It All Away” sounds a bit like a Korn B-side, while “Dead Inside” is close to typical weight-room bravado. If you listen closely enough, however, you can hear interesting textures and faint background melodies that are the record’s saving grace. “Blood on My Hands” is one such example, but the real obvious showcase of this ability is in their covers of Ellie Goulding’s “Lights” and Christina Perri’s “Jar of Hearts.” Both covers may seem random, and it’s not the best thing in the world when some of your strongest songs aren’t the ones you’ve written yourself, but they are both well performed and include more fiery work by guitarist Justin McCain, the record’s other major strength.

Breathe certainly isn’t anything we haven’t heard before. With that said, Through Fire shows a spark here that could potentially become something bigger if they can get their boots out of the sludge of yesteryear.

For more information, visit throughfiremusic.com.