Finding out that Dark Child produced telephone and that Teddy Riley produced Teeth elevated the listening experience for me. But in totality, another really cool project from Gaga. This reminded me a lot of the relationship SZA's deluxe, Lana, had to the original album, SOS. The Fame Monster felt like a collection of The Fame throwaways with some randomly incredible singles (Telephone, Alejandro, Bad Romance), just how SZA's Lana feels like a true extension of extra moments from the ... read more

Something I've noticed as a trend in pop from the late 2000s and early 2010s is that artists would truly treat their debut as a once in a lifetime chance to prove their worth to the music industry. The drive, the hunger....t was palpable. The Fame by Lady Gaga serves as a perfect case study for this very theory. With the modern day context of knowing this would be the primary source for Gaga's signature sound, I totally understand the foundation that The Fame laid for the albums that ... read more

I remember hearing my first Weeknd song around 2013. I had this old boombox in my room that was passed down to me from my Grandpa. At the time I didn't have any CDs to play on it, but it had a radio antenna so I would catch 96.3, the hip-hop/r&b radio station in Indianapolis. One night as I was getting ready for bed, I flipped on the radio and heard Wicked Games for the first time. Now I didn't catch the intro so I had no clue who was singing or what the song was, but I remember ... read more

Gap Year! was one of the more enjoyable listens I've had to a project this year. I always tip my cap to artists who lead the production of a project in addition to the vocal performance. Laila's style is reminiscent of Summer Walker, particularly on her more acoustic EPs where the vocal production isn't heavy and the material just feels raw and authentic. This album is a true R&B project, but explored a nice variety production styles that kept me engaged and interested from ... read more

An album that fully embodies the title, Short n' Sweet was exactly that (and more). Sabrina Carpenter turned her Espresso moment into full on momentum that you can feel carried out through this project. She ping-pongs between different genres, delivering a wide array of sonic experiences with each track. There is clear representation of each of the last 5 decades all over this record, and that diversity is refreshing. It feels like she blew the dust off of some of these classic pop, funk, ... read more

Not gonna lie, I'm pleasantly surprised. I only skipped two tracks, but when this album was good, it was VERY good. Latto's sound is intoxicating, and she floats between modern, melodic-rap cadences and classic, east coast flows with ease. There were a handful of songs on this album that gave me a similar vibe to a new-age Drake album, which is a compliment. The hooks were catchy and the verses were clever, but the more sensual, R&B-esque tracks really stole the show for me. I ... read more

I went through a serious, SERIOUS, Logic phase when I was in high school. I remember when the Everybody album came out I had it on repeat for months. I was so obsessed with how sonically diverse the album was, but also how cohesive it was an what a cool story it told. So, of course, I spent the next year doing a deep dive into the lore of Logic's discography and the cinematic through-line he had going from his debut album all the way up to his latest projects. Somewhere in college I fell ... read more

At first, I hated this album. I was so annoyed with the sheer avalanche of Swifties on twitter and in my messages telling me how this album "saved the music industry". The pandemic was bad enough, music blasphemy only worsened the mood. But once the initial glazing had died down, I gave the album another try. I remember the re-listen so vividly:

I was descending down the winding mountain roads of Tennessee and North Carolina on my way back to college after the COVID lockdown had ... read more

Do y'all remember when Chris Brown dropped that one album in 2017? The original version was 42 songs, and the deluxe was 57? And then the 15 deluxe songs were better than the original 42? Well this is that, with slightly less songs and a different genre. Why artists feel the need to completely empty the vault, I will never understand. Like, it is OKAY to leave some tracks on the cutting floor! Alas, anyone with half a brain that knows Taylor Swift knows that logic simply does not apply to ... read more

Sometimes, less is more. Clairo proves that masterfully with her latest EP, Charm. The princess of bedroom pop delivers one of the strongest and most cohesive albums of an already stacked 2024. Sonically it remains in the lane we are so used to hearing Clairo thrive in, but there is a newfound maturity, sexiness, and soulfulness in this project that crystalizes the growth Clairo has shown from her last era. The track run from "Thank You" to "Echo" is immaculate and truly ... read more

Fun at times, but rather underbaked. Ice Spice's debut album is here but left an underwhelming feeling for me after listening through it. There are points in the project when I can feel momentum towards something great, then it fizzles out. But at the end of the day, Ice Spice drops music to just have fun and vibe to mindlessly, so that's the real way to enjoy this project: mindlessly.

The long-awaited self-titled album from Megan Thee Stallion is here, right in the middle of her signature season Hot Girl Summer. MEGAN proves to be her most cohesive project, giving us her hard hitting, unapologetic, baddest b**ch bars, while still exploring some different sounds and styles throughout the project. A couple of songs do tread water while the rest of the project shines, but it's hardly enough of a deterrent to say this LP is anything less than great. MEGAN is a fun listen ... read more

Just in time for summer! R&B's most underrated duo, Maeta and Kaytranada, drop their new EP Endless Night. The project is a quick listen that's easy to leave on repeat and just vibe to. Maeta shifts into an upbeat, care-free lane that's different than her typical sound but refreshing to hear from her, and one she seems quite comfortable in. Petition to make it mandatory that Kaytranada and Maeta do at least one song together on each new project going forward! They just seem ... read more

It is one thing for an artist to tell a story in their album through vulnerable song writing and lyrics. And it's an entirely different feat to create a sonic atmosphere where the pen and production marry in a way that transports you to a time, place, or mood entirely. With When I Hear Your Name, Maeta gives us just enough of a peak into her situationship, behind the veil of silky smooth vocal delivery, that we all feel left wondering if that one ex is going to text us back. Though this ... read more

Normani! GIRL! DOPAMINE, the long-awaited debut album from Normani is here and wow, it was absolutely worth the wait. I've just finished my first listened and am already headed for a second spin. I will admit, I was nervous about just how safe Normani was going to play it on this album following the release of the lead singles (1:59 with Gunna, and Candy Paint). But top to bottom, DOPAMINE truly stands alone amongst the copy & paste R&B and Hip Hop projects of today. No two songs sound ... read more

In a recent interview with Zane Lowe, Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell speak very candidly about how different HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is from Billie's sophomore showing, Happier Than Ever. They talked about how much more vulnerable and, consequently, authentic recording this project felt. Almost everything about the way it was done was fundamentally different from the last project. The interview went on for about an hour, but one particular comment from Finneas stood out to me. To paraphrase, ... read more

In a day-in-age where we expect a new Taylor Swift album every 14 business days, it's easy for fatigue to infiltrate the overwhelming anticipation around her rollouts. But the optimistic bunch within the music lover community, myself included, begs and pleads for something so new and fresh and revolutionary that we have no choice but to press play over and over again and bow to the feet of Taylor upon the throne her fans have devotedly crafted for her. In short, I wanted Taylor to prove me ... read more

In one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2024, Future and Metro Boomin deliver a strong showing on WE DON'T TRUST YOU. Future is at his best with some of the most catchy hooks and verses of his career, and Metro Boomin's unmatched ability to create a sonic universe with his production is on full display with this project. This album definitely lived up to the hype, with excellent surprise features, great replay value, and several show stopping moments that cement this project high up in ... read more

It’s so refreshing to hear Normani in 2024, and on 1:59 she sounds poised and comfortable as she gears up for the release of her debut album Dopamine in June. Normani delivers the smooth, confident R&B vocals we’re accustomed to hearing from her with occasional harmonies that compliment her lead vocal very well. The Gunna feature is solid and may be received as misplaced to most, but he actually shines on this kind of song in an unexpected sort of way. 1:59 is a good track all ... read more

Olivia's ability to take a leap in sonic maturity on GUTS while staying in the teenage angst universe she created with SOUR is so impressive. She's now taken the dive hear first into the pop rock space and she really has found a home in that genre. While SOUR will always be an iconic debut, GUTS really was a strong sophomore showing from Olivia. Her song writing is elevated on this project, her uncanny ability to product hits tailor made for a coming of age blockbuster continues to impress. ... read more