evakr

this is so good that this set insanely unrealistic expectations for me when it comes to debut albums. kind of shocked this isn't ranked much higher on here

I like the mix of sounds on this album, especially the grunge-infused tracks – the dreamy shoegaze, while usually one of my favorite genres, starts to feel repetitive after a few songs. Most tracks still bring something fresh to the table though, with 16/25 and She Said, He Said standing out the most for me. In the second half of the album, there are quite a few weaker songs that I probably won’t get back to. Still, there are standout moments, interesting experimental touches, and ... read more

The album is definitely more focused on groove rather than emotional, cutesy ballads than I would have imagined. There are a lot of standout bass lines, several catchy guitar-driven songs and an overall polished sound that often carries the songs. It does feel confident and engaging in some moments, especially when it leans into rock influences, where the melodies feel more natural and distinctive.

However, the whole record felt inconsistent to me. Many tracks rely on generic or repetitive ... read more

With her third solo album, Hayley once again proves that she doesn’t need huge marketing campaigns or months of teasing on social media to make an impact. This record feels diverse, honest, and deeply personal all at once.

Even its release concept was a statement: instead of following a traditional album rollout, she released each track as a single first – later letting fans decide the order in which the songs would eventually appear on an album and even adding more songs after ... read more