Oh we are so back this is funky as shit!!!

I looove the dancey m-eastern influence being so STRONG here, and the way the featured verses just slide over this beat…so smooth.

Absolutely incredible to be handed this last batch of singles without any indication of putting the past releases onto an album. They’re writing peak simply for the love of the game. The past two or so months have been an exciting time to be a Mag Bay fan, and the fact that they’re still touring off the last LP while releasing these singles all while a movie is on the way?

There’s nothing this band can’t do, I’m convinced.

As far as the actual tracks go, ... read more

This is badass. I’d imagine this track’ll be a bit too experimental for some people’s tastes, but I think it works!

Who could have seen a collaboration between Charli XCX and John Cale from VELVET UNDERGROUND coming, much less it sounding like this?

It’s got this real eerie, haunted vibe that’s established by the monotone delivery of Charli’s (and John’s) vocals along with that spoken word passage in the first half. By the end, the synths are ... read more

Interesting choice for a single. Comparatively, it’s pretty hard to top the perfect failure that was ‘143’, but I can’t say it’s as bad. Dropping Dr. Luke and sticking to her sonic lane makes this track far more listenable than the last album cycle was, but there’s still some work to be done.

It’s generic, overproduced, and pretty shallow, but at least it is mostly inoffensive. Perhaps third time’s the charm for Katy’s escape from her ... read more

While this track certainly is the weakest of the singles, it makes up for it in its experimental, psychedelic-eastern inspired sound. I’m going to assume this track will make more sense in the context of the album, and while I’m not a huge fan of this feature, I think this different direction bodes well for the eventual full project as I feel it indicates some of the variety we’ll likely be hearing across the album.

Some tasteful bit-crushed electronic with brightly layered vocals over the top, just awesome. If anything, I wish it were a little longer because that main synth lead is SAUCY!!

A pumping, ethereal electronic track that doesn’t quite go anywhere, but the production is satisfyingly nostalgic.

A little late on the draw due to it being Halloween, but holy cow, ANOTHER surprise drop of singles? I’m not sure what’s going on or whether this is eventually leading to an album, but all of the singles so far have been good, these included.

I feel these may be the weakest of the bunch so far, but what does that really mean when they’re great anyway? I do like the rockier sound here, and whatever filter is running on Mica’s vocal stack in “Unoriginal” is ... read more

Amidst all the unpredictable chaos that we may survive in our lifetime, and despite our best intentions, we are bound to fail—in other words, "Human Happens."

The first of this new pair of singles goes over pretty smoothly with a swing-adjacent beat that chugs along with acid bass and stabbing synths, accompanying lyrics that seem to curse the inexplicable nature of emotion. Mica sings of a love gone wrong, and despite the circumstances that led to it, she still longs for that ... read more

A bit derivative considering the pop landscape these days.

Production is fun in a campy sort of way, though beyond that, not much to write home about.

Well, this record certainly has the potential to be a solid outing based on the singles we’ve heard thus far. This track is like a vibrant blend of Latin/Rap with a tinge of Gorillaz flair thanks to 2D’s (Damon’s) vocals trading off with the eclecticism of the instrumental. It feels very Eastern inspired, and once Proof’s verse hits it’s like the whole instrumental falls into this cacophony of brass and synth, giving it a low-down soulful feel.

THIS is the type of ... read more

While I do think it’s a huge flex for Taylor to be able to say she’s self-written a lion’s share of her catalog as big as it is, someone needs to take the pen away from her.

One of my biggest hopes for this album was the idea of Taylor rethinking her production and writing choices to craft something a bit more focused, as TTPD and several albums before it have long felt too long, rambly, or otherwise overstuffed just to pad out the runtime.

Here, I knew we would get an at ... read more

One of the most novel, inventive bands in the business are back with even MORE material after dropping their 2024 full length masterpiece of an album ‘Imaginal Disk’. These songs are NOT part of a deluxe release and for them to be THIS good is just criminal.

Sprawling instrumentals of synths and big drum hits are all over ‘Second Sleep’, mixed in with some genuinely breathtaking sonic blending between each ‘movement’ so to speak. Mica’s hushed ... read more

“Man’s Best Friend” could really pass as Short N’ Sweet’s best friend for how derivative, familiar, and overall safe this record feels.

There are certainly highlights, one of my favorites being the alt pop style of “When Did You Get Hot?”. It’s a track that’s catchy, well-written, and contains bits of that signature cheeky Sabrina humor that she’s known for by now.

Beyond this singular track, though, this record doesn’t really ... read more

Hayley Williams is an artist that practically needs no introduction at this point.

Beginning all the way back in 2003 (when she was just 15), Hayley’s musical career has only ever existed under the contract she signed with Atlantic Records. However, after the release of Paramore’s last record “This Is Why”, that contract has finally been fulfilled, thus releasing her from the contractual and creative obligations under a major label.

It hasn’t been too long since ... read more

I have yet to review a classical album on this site so far, so it is with great honor I get to start with an artist I’ve been friends with for most of my life now.

“Chromatic Reverie” is the latest full length effort from local Austin artist, Evan Blaché. Right from the jump, this album makes its themes very clear; the sprawling worlds of a life in color. The name “Chromatic Reverie” essentially translates to ‘a colorful daydream’ and it’s ... read more

Lacks a bit of lyrical depth, but overall a decent, legit rap track from Cardi.

I can’t say I buy into Cardi’s “queen of rap” attitude she takes on here, I just don’t think her bars hold up to that standard. The performance itself is good though, and you can tell she loves being in the booth for songs like this and it comes through in her enthusiastic delivery. I can only hope she’s able to consistently put out tracks like this or better moving forward as ... read more

This album is a banger, and that’s true! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

In her debut LP, artist and DJ Ninajirachi draws inspiration from genres like deep house, trance, and big, booming club sounds and repurposed them through the lens of a Y2K melodic dance focus. It comes together great, and especially for a debut project, this LP feels fully realized in its vision.

This cohesion becomes apparent pretty immediately after hitting play. Glitzy vocals, big bass hits, it gives the whole record a ... read more

An instant classic for all the yearners out there!! 🗣️

Such a romantic, sweet, yet sorrowful performance of a love unrequited. This push and shove of the sweet vs bittersweet comes to a climax with Chappell flipping “she got away” to “she’s got a way”, belting for the entirety of the song’s final stretch. Chappell is the master of these melancholic love songs at this point, and I’ll never grow tired of them.

Kickass throwback sound in its production, some decent features from the likes of Pharrell and a few others, and some hard RAPPING that we haven't seen from Tyler besides a few strokes in the past few records.

It's not hugely conceptual, it's not even particularly long (< 30 minutes), but it has a great vibe through its runtime for the most part. Highlights for me include "Ring Ring Ring” with its roller-derby/80's disco attitude. "I'll Take Care of ... read more