Hayden7575

While I enjoyed Tinashe’s vocal performances and the smooth production on ‘BB/ANG3L,’ many of its tracks feel inconclusive. Whether cut short by their brief runtime or lacking in meaningful progression, I wish the interesting sounds presented were explored further, although its compact structure is well-suited for a smaller project like this.

‘Intercepted Message’ is a lot of fun, with bubbly, vibrant synths accentuating the band’s eclectic punk sound. While the chaotic “Die Laughing” is intentionality aimless and the repetition of “The Fish Needs a Bike” reinforces its absurdity, other tracks such as “Blank Chems” feel needlessly meandering. This issue (and the tone overall) makes the gentle, psychedelic sentimentality of the longest track “Always At Night” seem ... read more

‘STRUGGLER’ places the danceable grooves and expressive vocals from Owusu’s earlier work in an entirely new context. They’re at their absolute funkiest on “That’s Life (A Swamp),” while the intensity of chugging riffs on tracks like “Stay Blessed” are more punk-inspired. He smoothly croons over the alternative R&B ballads “See Ya There” and “Stuck To The Fan,” while providing numerous choruses that repeat often ... read more

Olivia Rodrigo is clearly aware of her public image, but shows that she’s confident in who she believes herself to be on songs like “all-american bitch” and “pretty isn’t pretty.” This thematic dichotomy is reflected between the snarky spoken word and bombastic choruses on her pop-punk leaning tracks, and the gentle verses she delivers through the balladry of “vampire.” Even these quieter moments build towards a satisfying climax, as the intimate ... read more