‘Paradise’ Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey’s new eight-track EP “Paradise” shows the singer is still in the same emotional flux she was when she released her debut album 10 months ago. She’s lamenting the pains of love.

Del Rey has an almost affected vulnerability in her voice, at certain points its quivering adds to the gravitas of the lyrics, like when she sings “Don’t turn around, leave me high and dry” on the Rick Rubin-produced first single, “Ride.” “Ride” is as perfect as “Video Games,” the single that propelled her into the limelight.

The 26-year-old’s vocals make it almost hypnotic to listen to anything she sings, but that’s not always the case: “Bel Air” and “Yayo” are just fillers.

– Sian Watson, Associated Press

‘One Love, One Life’ Beres Hammond

Legendary crooner Beres Hammond, one of the most recognizable voices in all of Jamaica, is back with “One Love, One Life,” a 20-track double album with steady grooves and some bonafide classics.

Self-produced and recorded in his Kingston studio, Hammond has organized a record that splits into matters of the heart (“One Love”) and social consciousness (“One Life”).

He adds another jewel in his crown with his new album.

– Bianca Roach, Associated Press