HAPPY 20th, AWKIF!!

This "new" deluxe version shakes out to be the same classic album we all love, packed with a tew DEEEP cuts that never made it to streaming. I was happily surprised to see a FAILURE COVER as part of the new batch of songs and that kicks so much ass.

If anything this new batch of songs proves (in addition to the album itself), that Hayley and the band have always been meant for the world stage.

“Freedom, I’ve been waiting for you.” Kesha’s vocals ferociously proclaim in the opening track to a project fans (and likely Kesha herself) have been waiting for as it landmarks Kesha’s first ever project that’s 100% fully under her ownership.

For those unfamiliar, this record is the end credits to what’s been a years-long legal battle with notorious serial abuser Dr. Luke. It was a journey that was exhausting to watch play out, and I’m sure was ... read more

“She goes to church straight from the club. They say she looks just like her mama before the drugs.”

There’s something evocative within Ethel’s writing style that, combined with the sparkling synths laid throughout, gives this track an ethereal element that really elevates this one for me. The lyrics are beautifully written, detailing the life of a young girl lost in distress. There are themes of drug abuse, neglect, assault. It’s a tragic story that is easy to ... read more

What a collab! THIS feels like Kesha’s finally getting her flowers, getting two artists like Rose Gray & Slayyyter who have been putting in the work spearheading the female party electronic scene, second only to an artist like Charli XCX.

The production sounds like a blend of Kesha’s classic sound with the hyperpop inspirations of today’s electronic pop scene as well, perfectly fitting the alpha female energy behind the mic. Great stuff!!

This track didn’t really sell me until that synth hit in the halfway mark, this is great! I’m liking the vulnerability & personal anecdotes we’re getting from this album so far, and that emotional weight in its lyrics is carrying over into the music quite nicely! I only wish it were a tad longer, but otherwise might be the strongest single yet!

WOW!!! This record, with all of its 60’s psychedelic-tinged tones, is a huge boon to the argument that Miley Cyrus might very well be one of the most well-trained artists in the “main pop girl” sphere.

“Something Beautiful” draws from so many influences like disco, electronic, even getting a bit experimental at points. This is the first record in Miley’s catalog that definitely does feel like it’s punching above its weight class in some respects. In ... read more

Yikes. The gang vocals in the main melody stank SO BAD of Brokencyde that I have no choice but to hate this

For as safe as it felt, the original release of Saviors last January was universally praised for its “back to their roots” approach to songwriting for Green Day. As a longtime fan, I was glad to see the band pulling back from their recent pop-rock tendencies, though it largely felt like ground already trod.

When it comes to these deluxe tracks, I actually do appreciate the few here that stray away from their typical formula, such as “Stay Young”. While the track is just ... read more

Playing like a mixture of “PEP” and the subsequent “dEd”, “A6” feels equal parts pop rock and glitter goth.

This combination of sounds is immediately apparent on the first track (and single) of the record, “DAMAGE”. It’s here where we get the first glimpses of what’s to come for the album’s 45-minute runtime. Reverbed-out guitars and spooky, soaring vocals are the name of the game here. “I swear this isn’t me, this ... read more

It’s good! Definitely better than “YIPPEE KI YAY”, I like the robotic vocal in the intro, and the first time since debut single “JOYRIDE” where I feel like Kesha sounds SO comfortable. This punchy synth club sound is where she’s at her best, with this track fitting very well amongst some of her contemporaries, most notably to me sounding very akin to some of Rebeca Black’s recent output.

As far as what this means for the full LP, I’m not really ... read more

Oh… oh, this is bad. The instrumental is very one-note throughout, as is the vocal performance. Rihanna has truly never sounded more bored, not to mention the lyrics and melody themselves evoke absolutely nothing because it is nothing.

I can’t be convinced she was the one who wrote or had a creative hand in this track. Definitely some big-wig corporate head putting together some slop so they can put her name on the movie poster to sell tickets, and ironically, it’s convinced ... read more

YIKES.

Talk about beige wallpaper; this whole track is just bland. The lyrics, production, even the actual melodies at play are all just passable.

I don’t understand how someone who used to champion artistic authenticity can stand to produce music that’s this corny and commercial. Much like her last album, the songs are okay but nothing to warrant rushing to give them a listen. It’s sad to see one of the faces of the punk movement sink this low, but it is what it is. This ... read more

A piano ballad! Wasn’t expecting something like this to be a single, but from what time I’ve had it, I like it! The drums sound as nice as they have in the previous samples, and I do like the string section behind the piano, plus that sweet sax solo and how it eventually blends with Miley’s vocal was GREAT.

Can’t say I’m moved by the lyricism, as it seems like one of those tracks that’ll possibly make more sense in the context of the album, but we will see, ... read more

Not bad! A bit formulaic but the garage-y sound of the guitar tones & sweet vocal harmonies in the chorus make this a fun listen overall. For the longtime fans, this does sound a bit trilogy in execution but I don’t consider that a bad thing.

I do wish the band would move away from the singsongy template seemingly born out of the trilogy era, but apart from that I do like that there’s a guitar solo, and I think the falsettos from Armstrong are a nice touch. BJA has seriously ... read more

This is just a Millionaires song in disguise

Production is blown out, album art is gross, and lyrics are just irritating. Tesla’s gnarly to you, KATSEYE, really? 😩

Ooo, love the alt-rock sound this one has! Add in the haunting vocals in the mix with the punchy synths, and you’ve got a retro spooky track like this one! Almost as if it were inspired by splashes of 80’s pop but with some light grit, kinda like INXS at certain points of their career.

It’s got spunk, and I like it! A6 is looking to be a bit more varied compared to PEP, and I already loved that record! So stoked to hear the whole thing, not long now!

I like the new attitude, and I’ve definitely tried liking this more. This is sadly not the comeback I was anticipating, BUT as a fan of Lorde’s for years, I can say this feels like an era for longtime fans.

The production here, surprisingly handled by Dan Nigro (Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, etc.), sounds very rooted in the 2010s aesthetics of whisper pop that Lorde certainly had a hand in pioneering. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on who you ask, but to me, this ... read more

If you hated the song structure of FOAM, this is not for you.

That said, I like it. It’s a fun, clean track with a few fun melodies and riffs, but nothing more. Still, it’s nice to get a surprise track and then some for this record, but where is FEVER?!

Anyway, this was a fun listen, and I can’t wait to hear the other 4 bonus tracks we got coming too!

Wow, I am in love with the dreamy, reverbed out sounds on “WHITE PAPER PALM TREES”. Valerie was right in that, as an older fan myself this track is VERY nostalgic to me. While that fact remains true, I find it admirable how despite its older sound, it still feels right at home with the rest of the tracklist thus far. It’s nostalgic, but remixed in such a way that it fits the themes of A6, sonically and lyrically. That said, this might be my favorite track on the record so ... read more

As far as collab work goes, this might be BABYMETAL’s best since “kingslayer” with BMTH. Poppy adds such a ferocity to the power metal tones, and it gives the whole track a certain grit that compliments the bright harmonies and cutesy gang vocals of BABYMETAL’s performance throughout. I neeeed to see this performed live, make it happen y’all!!