We Fall
Producer and songwriter Emile Haynie has lent his expansive, high-drama sound to albums by Kanye West, Lana Del Rey, Eminem and fun., among others. On his solo debut, he pulls together a roster of A-list friends (Del Rey, Nate Ruess, Rufus Wainwright, Lykke Li) and idols (Brian Wilson, Randy Newman) for a breakup-themed LP that merges slow-mo hip-hop beats and orchestral pop into something that aspires to be a 21st-century Pet Sounds. The ornate tracks are as wow-worthy as the guest list — so it’s surprising how same-y the mood of wallowing grandeur can get. Newman’s mean, sunny “Who to Blame” is a fine exception on an album that too often feels like beautifully turned filler.