Music
Spanning styles and genres, these albums are essential to any YA music collection.
Night visions, Imagine Dragons (2012)
Format: CD, MP3, Streaming
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock
Age: 13+
Label: Interscope
Plot Summary:
This album, the most-streamed album on Spotify in 2013, features atmospheric and catchy songs such as “Radioactive,” “Demons,” and “It’s Time.” It was the major-label debut for the band, who has attained fame since.
Critical Evaluation:
The band’s lead singer, Dan Reynolds, has a distinctive and recognizable voice; the band’s sound is the same. The opening song, “Radioactive,” is a perfect example of the band’s sound: expansive, atmospheric, and akin to a personal soundtrack. It’s incredibly easy to imagine oneself in an apocalyptic movie while listening to the song; their other songs are similarly effective and emotive. The lyrics do cover love and relationships, but cover other ideas such as anxiety and one’s inner demons. The lyrics lend themselves to creative interpretation on the listener’s part.
The sound quality is excellent, and the production does not feel too slick. While some songs are more mellow, many of the songs are fast-paced if not always upbeat.
Reader’s Annotation:
Need a soundtrack for your next run, or the dystopian fiction you’ve been reading? Try this album!
Author Biography:
Imagine Dragons is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada, consisting of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, lead guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman. The band first gained exposure with the release of their single "It's Time", followed by their award-winning debut studio album Night Visions (2012), which resulted in the chart-topping singles "Radioactive" and "Demons". Rolling Stonenamed "Radioactive", which holds the record for most weeks charted on the Billboard Hot 100, the "biggest rock hit of the year". MTV called them "the year's biggest breakout band", and Billboard named them their "Breakthrough Band of 2013" and "Biggest Band of 2017," and placed them at the top of their "Year In Rock" rankings for 2013, 2017,and 2018. Imagine Dragons topped the Billboard Year-End "Top Artists - Duo/Group" category in 2018.
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Booktalk Ideas:
Pair the songs with your favorite moments from books and movies.
Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This album deals with many issues and experiences teens can relate to that may be challenged, including:
-possible mentions of self-harm
Defense File:
Collection Development Policy
Have readily available
Have staff be familiar with the document
Have staff know and be trained on how to use the policy in a conversation about a challenged book
Have staff be familiar with the process of reporting challenged books
ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
ALA Document on the First Amendment & Censorship
ALA: How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources
Professional reviews, as published by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus
Staff should be familiar with these sites, and be able to explain why librarians use them
Rating and information found on Commonsense Media
Any applicable awards for the title or author
Why Included:
The band is incredibly popular, and is often mentioned by teens, especially those who do not like typical pop/Top 40 music.
Singular act 1, sabrina carpenter (2018)
Format: CD, MP3, Streaming
Genre: Dance Pop/Pop
Age: 13+
Label: Hollywood Records
Plot Summary:
On her third album, Carpenter sings mostly about relationships: anticipating a new one (“Mona Lisa”), feeling good about making an ex jealous (“Sue Me,”) falling for a new person while still being in a relationship (“Paris”) and getting revenge on an ex (“Bad Time”). The sound is very reminiscent of 2018 trends, and is dance-pop.
Critical Evaluation:
Carpenter’s voice sounds very similar to the pop singers of the moment; it would be hard to distinguish her voice from others if you did not already know her songs. Her voice is pleasing, but not impressive in the likes of Arianna Grande or Demi Lovato; however, her fans likely prefer the feel of her songs and the catchy beats. While each song sounds somewhat similar to the others, they each have excellent hooks and evoke the moods Carpenter sings about well — the songs are atmospheric and it is easy to place yourself in Carpenter’s perspective. For the most part, the lyrics are surface-level and about relationships and hooking up, but for what they are, they are successful in being catchy and easy to distract yourself with.
Reader’s Annotation:
Need some new beats for your workout or commute to work and school? Need some music to help you get over an ex? Try Sabrina Carpenter’s new album!
Author Biography:
Sabrina Annlynn Carpenter (born May 11, 1999) is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She had a recurring role as the young version of Chloe Goodwin in The Goodwin Games and starred as Maya Hart in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World. She starred as Jenny Parker in 2016 Disney Channel Original Movie Adventures in Babysitting. She is signed to Hollywood Records.[4] Her debut EP Can't Blame a Girl for Trying was released in 2014, and she has since released two full-length albums: Eyes Wide Open (2015) and Evolution (2016). Her third studio album, Singular: Act I, was released on November 9, 2018.
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Booktalk Ideas:
Ask teens to create a short dance move for every song (can be silly or serious).
Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This album deals with many issues and experiences teens can relate to that may be challenged, including:
-teen sexuality
Defense File:
Collection Development Policy
Have readily available
Have staff be familiar with the document
Have staff know and be trained on how to use the policy in a conversation about a challenged book
Have staff be familiar with the process of reporting challenged books
ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
ALA Document on the First Amendment & Censorship
ALA: How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources
Professional reviews, as published by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus
Staff should be familiar with these sites, and be able to explain why librarians use them
Rating and information found on Commonsense Media
Any applicable awards for the title or author
Why Included:
This was recommended by a teen, and Carpenter seems to be popular with Gen Z. Her sound is very 2018, and teens will enjoy her style.
Hero, maren morris (2016)
Format: CD, MP3, streaming
Genre: Country with pop and folk influences
Age: 14+
Label: Columbia Nashville
Plot Summary:
On her full-length debut, Morris sings about fun nights out, love interests, and finding yourself and self-acceptance. She tells a friend to leave a less-than-stellar boyfriend in “Drunk Girls Don’t Cry,” sings of the holiness of driving in your car, blasting your favorite music in “My Church,” and in “I Could Use a Love Song,” she wishes for a love song to take the edge off and distract her from her troubles.
Critical Evaluation:
The album is a mix of fun, poppy, feel-good anthems (“80s Mercedes”; “My Church”), love songs (“How It’s Done”; “Sugar”; “Rich”) and sadder, more introspective songs (“I Could Use a Love Song”; “I Wish I Was”; “Second Wind”). With traditional country twangs and guitar riffs, the album is familiar to modern country fans, especially with lyrics that call out Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, but still remains accessible to pop fans with danceable songs and songs that are easy to sing along with. Maren has a lower voice that remains melodic and suits her lyrics. With lyrics that are funny and relatable, while remaining heartfelt, this is an easy album to play again and again.
The audio quality is excellent, and the album was well-received critically and commercially, and is an example of the continued popularity of country-pop crossovers. There are some references to drinking and some sexual innuendo, but very mild in the scope of popular music today.
Reader’s Annotation:
Try some modern, folk and pop-infused country music from a young star; with a blend of catchy lyrics and awesome rhythms, you’ll find something to like.
Author Biography:
Maren Larae Morris (born April 10, 1990) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She has released four studio albums. Her 2015 extended play, Maren Morris, charted on two Billboard charts. Her major label debut album, Hero, reached number five on the Billboard 200 chart and number one on the Top Country Albums chart.
Her debut single, "My Church", peaked at number one on the Country Digital Songs chart in 2016 and reached the top five on the US Hot Country Songs chart and won a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance. Her third single, "I Could Use a Love Song", was her first to reach number one on the Country Airplay Charts. She provided vocals for "The Middle", a pop collaboration with Zedd and Grey, released in January 2018, which reached No. 5 in the US and received 3 nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards.
Curriculum Ties:
N/A
Booktalk Ideas:
Play traditional country songs, and this album. What are the differences? If teens like this album and style more, why? What makes this music different?
Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation:
This album deals with many issues and experiences teens can relate to that may be challenged, including:
-drinking
-mild sexual innuendo
-mild swearing
Defense File:
Collection Development Policy
Have readily available
Have staff be familiar with the document
Have staff know and be trained on how to use the policy in a conversation about a challenged book
Have staff be familiar with the process of reporting challenged books
ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
ALA Document on the First Amendment & Censorship
ALA: How to Respond to Challenges and Concerns about Library Resources
Professional reviews, as published by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Kirkus
Staff should be familiar with these sites, and be able to explain why librarians use them
Rating and information found on Commonsense Media
Any applicable awards for the title or author
Why Included:
While many dislike country music (many teens say they like “all music except country and rap,”), this is accessible country that discusses feelings that teens can relate to — being free out on the road, falling in love, and being heartbroken.