From an audio engineering perspective, this album is an absolute masterpiece. The punch, the clarity, the depth, it's all perfect.

An album as shallow as the challenger deep

This album is an experiment that supports its hypothesis.

Absolutely incredible five track run to start of the album.

The varying complexity of these remixes drags down the score slightly. There are fucking fantastic tracks that expand heavily on the original concepts, and there are others that feel like mere extensions/traditional remixes with a simple guest verse.

The breadth here is a double-edged sword. Glover takes a lot of risks on this project, pushing the envolope in multiple different directions throughout the tracklist, and it doesn't always pan out. That being said, 17 tracks means that it's pretty certain that at least some of those risks will pay off, and that is indeed the case.

There's too much going on here tbh

Authenticity is a characteristic that has seemingly escaped Camila for much of her career. Because even 4 records in, I can't point to a song she's made that "sounds like" her. C,XOXO is no different. It's as if she listened to a bunch of hyperpop and thought, "Okay, so I just need to use auto-tune and cram as many words/syllables as possible into the busiest fucking melodies ever." And from an artist who's proven she can sing well, she's not even ... read more

You better be bumpin' this

The Tortured Poets Department walked so this album could also walk.

It's cool at first, but the vibe quickly gets tiresome.

This album struggles to find an impactful sound. Obviously, Dua Lipa's vocals are great, but the instrumentals she's singing over don't really fit her style—they're just not her.

It might have the best production of 2024. The depth you can find in these instrumentals is rather mind-blowing. And that's not even mentioning the versatile lyricism Billie brings to the table. Whether it be the gut-wrenching musings on "The Greatest" or the bittersweet "Birds of a Feather," the range she displays here is nothing if not impressive.

It appears Ms. Swift has contracted some previously unknown disease where a person thinks they can sing like Lana Del Ray. Perhaps a trip to the doctor could rid her of this ailment because her music suffers immensely as a result. Quite literally every aspect of this album is a shameless Lana rip-off (see artwork and title), but it’s the vocals and the cringy lyrics that are the main offender.

Be that as it may, breathy and mellow vocals aren’t a problem if the production is ... read more

Banger singles as it may have, there are too many duds here to make it worth listening to as an album. For every “Over” or “Up All Night”, there’s also a “Karaoke” or the insanely forgettable “Unforgettable.” Ultimately, everything just ends up canceling itself out and we’re left with a mid-ass album in place of one that could have been truly special.

It’s cohesive, it’s enjoyable, it’s vibey—it’s a decent LP. But while the themes of addiction and drug use Cole tackles on KOD are deep and meaningful, the way he addresses them is not as interesting as other rappers have proven they can be. That being said, it’s still a solid project, even if it can get too straightforward at some points.

Assembling a team of A-List producers, including Max Martin and Greg Kurstin, Conan Gray's Found Heaven is as throwback as it gets. But while this album has a lot to offer in terms of retro aesthetics, it lacks development and complete songwriting. Many of these tracks feel too short and are missing a bridge when they clearly need one. In summary, there are a lot of fantastic ideas, but they don't have that extra 10% to make them truly special.

That being said, there are still bangers to be ... read more

Even for Dr. Luke, this is bad...like this is some "free Ableton dance template" shit

While this album has some PROFOUND moments, it is not on the same level as Renaissance. Compared to her previous LP, this album lacks focus and restraint, as many songs don't need to be here or don't fit the concept of the album as a whole. Many songs lack a memorable structure or flow, and the sequencing is slightly confusing.

That being said, the best songs on Cowboy Carter are better than the best songs on Renaissance. "Daughter" is a stunning piece with Spanish guitars, soaring ... read more

Absolutely stacked with bangers and awesome production