While there are a lot of new releases to choose from this week, the following five offer up a little something extra that make them our favorites. Shawn Mendes returns with his new album, Illuminate, while How to Dress Well brings the beats on Care. Warpaint blend some smooth grooves on their third album, Heads Up, and NYC duo, Acrylics are back after five years with Dada minor. Finally, The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser and Vampire Weekend's Rotsam have joined forces on I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.

Read more about our top five album releases below. 

'Illuminate' - Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes has been capturing young hearts with covers that he'd post on Vine and later became one of the most followed people on the app — when he was only 15. Now at the ripe old age of 18, Shawn is releasing his second LP, Illuminate, and is ready make all the girls (and boys) melt.

A follow-up to his 2015 record, Handwritten, Shawn does what he does best: write honest songs about heartbreak and young love. But unlike his previous work, the Canadian singer-songwriter goes for a more bluesy vibe to the record. Take for instance, "Ruin." After listening to the opening chords, the tune takes you back to John Mayer's Continuum, which coincidentally celebrated it's 10th anniversary last week. He continues the momentum on the guarded tune, "Mercy," and the heartbreaking guitar-led song, "Don't Be Fooled." Between it's doo-wop feel and Shawn's falsettos, we know this will be a fan favorite.

What makes Illuminate worth the listen is the fact that it shows how much Shawn has grown as an artist. Unlike the LP's lead single, "Treat You Better," which sounds like his breakout hit "Stitches," Shawn isn't a one trick pony and has way more up his sleeve than pop beats and catchy hooks.

'I Had a Dream That You Were Mine' - Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam

When we got wind of the collaborative sessions between Vampire Weekend's Rostam and The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser, we wondered what kind of music these two could come up with together. With such different sonic POVs of the indie rock spectrum, it could have really just turned into a hot mess. However, they decided to abandon the idea of staying within one musical genre and just let the songs speak for themselves. Sure, other musicians have done this in the past. But it's not as distinct as the tracks you hear on I Had a Dream That You Were Mine.

As you move through the track list, you get the doo-wop of "When the Truth Is...," the delicacy of "A 1000 Times" and the harmonica twang of "You Ain't That Young Kid." Although each song has a life of its own, the cohesion comes from the stories they tell, which the duo rooted in New York City. What makes the album even more interesting is hearing how many different nuances there are in Hamilton's voice. I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is like a unicorn in the heaps of album releases this week, as it really shows how musicians can bring diversity to one album and do it well.

'Heads Up' - Warpaint

After taking some time last year to work on their own projects, the ladies of Warpaint are finally back with their follow-up for their self-titled 2014 record. Keeping their ethereal bass-laden indie rock sound, the Los Angeles band surrounds you with its seamless harmonies and head-bopping drum beats.

Like they've done on their older songs, Warpaint's buzzy guitar riffs leave you in dream-like state. But as the title track will show you, there are sonic twists and turns on the record, which are nice surprises. "Whiteout" opens with a mid-tempo thump and chord progression that has a little xx feel, while "Don't Wanna" gets right into the pocket of the beat with the vocals gliding right above. "Today Dear" takes a more stripped down approach with the focus being on acoustic guitar and vocals, but "Above Control" has an eerie feel with spacey effects at the top of the tune followed by the ladies' hauntingly beautiful voices. It looks like the break from the band did the members of Warpaint some good, as the indie rock outfit have produced a solid record.

'Care' - How to Dress Well

What makes a pop record? Tom Krell, better known onstage as How to Dress Well, asked himself that question for years. And after playing in the R&B-esque world for years, he brings the pop side out on his new record, Care.

This time around, he beefed up his production side by teaming up with Jack Antonoff of Bleachers, Dre Skull and Andrew Dawson. Tom really looked into himself and penned songs about growth, love and sex. While he's been open about sexuality on previous records, he seemed to make a point to consciously write about sensuality. And with that consciousness, you hear the themes run wild on "Lost Youth / Lost You" and the album's lead single, "Can't You Tell." Perhaps the most introspective track on the record is "The Ruins," where he recounted the first time he engaged in sex. Like the nervousness and sometimes awkward way we've felt during our first times, you can hear it in the staccato flow of the tune. Tom's journey in to pop musicianship goes into traditional territory with his last two tracks, "Made A Lifetime," and "They'll Take Everything You Have."

Listening to Care does feel like a couple's progression into making love, not just getting down and dirty. Each track is gentle enough to entice you and leave you satisfied by the end.

'DADA minor' - Acrylics

 If you want go deeper into alternative pop territory, give Acrylics a try. After five years, the New York City duo are back with DADA minor. It's a collection of tracks that is so melodically satisfying. "Golden Green" makes you want to hop into your car and just drive while the single, "Keeper Finder," is playful and fun as it delves into the memories of puppy love. Unlike their last album, 2011's Lives and Treasure, there are elements of krautrock woven in that add a sweet touch to songs like "Sunset Peach."

After a crazy week, this is the perfect album to chill out to with a cool beverage in your hand — spiked — if that's your speed, of course.