Major Lazer Frees the Universe

By Ethan Hazel

Major Lazer, the Jamaican influenced side project of globe trotting super DJ Diplo, is a musical force that never ceases to surprise. Diplo is equally adept at delivering breezy, summertime vibes as he is at crafting filthy, hands-on-the-floor, dancehall twerk anthems.

Both aspects of the Major Lazer persona are present on "Free the Universe," Major Lazer's second full-length release, which dropped on April 16. With massive bangers such as "Watch Out For This (Bumaye)" and "Jah No Partial," Diplo almost manages to capture the ecstatic insanity of Major Lazer's live show, a brilliant spectacle featuring some of the most creative and reckless movement of the female posterior in all of history.

However, the more relaxing jams, interspersed between the bass-heavy slappers, are not to be overlooked as they constitute some of the album's standout tracks ("Get Free" and "Reach For the Stars").

Major Lazer wowed huge crowds at Coachella this past weekend, and is about to take off on a major world tour. Check them out live on April 20 in Indio, Calif.

Whether you want to escape the daily grind and teleport to a sweaty Kingston dance hall or just cool out on a real or imagined beach, "Free the Universe" has what you need.

Contact Ethan Hazel at ehazel@scu.edu.