INDIENATION

Ed Sheeran – − – 4.4/10

In a landscape where pop-folk hybrids have become a refuge for major artists—think Lorde or Taylor Swift retreating into more intimate, subdued territories—Ed Sheeran’s − follows suit. The title’s hyphen is emblematic: a stripped-down approach, a return to acoustic guitar ballads, a pause in his otherwise relentless pop machine. Conceptually, this is a “breather” in Sheeran’s career—but in practice, ... read more

Various Artists – La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – 8.9/10

It may seem almost tautological to praise a musical’s score, yet the La La Land soundtrack manages to stand out even against the genre’s high bar. Damien Chazelle, arguably one of the few directors who seamlessly fuses music and film, has consistently polished his movies with striking scores—from Whiplash to the recent Babylon, where the music often eclipses narrative shortcomings. In La La ... read more

(G)I-DLE – 2 – 4.0/10

Looking back at (G)I-DLE’s trajectory, the release of Spark marked a genuinely bold statement in K-pop for the six-member lineup. After member changes, Tomboy saw them return with confidence and poise, layering pop-rock foundations with palpable power. Nxde followed, sampling Carmen and celebrating self-love; from Queencard onward, their music shifted into a chant-like, anthem-driven mode, with public attention increasingly fixated on ... read more

LE SSERAFIM – EASY – 5.9/10

Perhaps emboldened by the sweet success of Perfect Night, LE SSERAFIM’s third mini-album EASY attempts to live up to its name—simple, straightforward. In practice, however, the album is anything but easy. Between its overly familiar melodies and uninspired production, it ends up sounding like a collection of discarded tracks that could have been performed by any Western R&B singer.

The last time the group veered into questionable ... read more