With elements of soul, R&B, and contemporary pop, Amy Winehouse delivers a monumental debut. The vocals are gorgeous, and the writing (ex. Fuck Me Pumps) has an honest, witty humor that differs from most artists. The instrumentation is also standout—containing audible flute and trumpet on many tracks. While it’s a slow-moving record (that can become tired at times), it’s so distinctive and beautiful that it’s easy to see why Amy Winehouse has been a cultural icon for ... read more

Charli XCX’s discography has followed an upward trajectory. Over time, she’s only improved upon her sound. CRASH is near pop perfection—it pays tribute to each of her past albums in the sound while also evolving to reach her peak maturity and potential. This will go down as one of the best projects of her career. It’s a sound that many of her peers in the genre attempt, but cannot execute.

- Lyricism 23/30
- Production & Instrumentation 18/20
- Creativity 7/10
- ... read more

How I’m Feeling Now is Charli’s best project yet. She holds onto the experimental pop production that makes her authentic while also adopting more of a vulnerability. The record is chaotic and reflective of its time—but also extremely put together in a way. It’s fun, happy, sad, shiny, and honest. She's never sounded better. There are little to no filler tracks (an issue I’ve had with previous Charli albums), and it stays consistent throughout. This record delivers ... read more

With a new producer (the notorious Jack Antonoff), The 1975 delivers an upbeat, honest, and playful album. Being Funny in a Foreign Language shows more desire for romance than we’ve ever seen in past lyrics from the group—it’s surprisingly self-aware and at times even…happy? The track About You is magical—it’s the best song the band has released in ages. It’s a brief project with a few gems that show The 1975 is still in the game.

- Lyricism 21/30
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Notes On a Conditional Form sees the 1975 explore new sounds while also keeping their blunt lyricism and personality. It's pretty consistent throughout, and there is a lot of artistic vision behind it. However, it's bloated—there are many interludes and tracks that blend together. It quickly loses momentum and becomes difficult to listen through. If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know) is by far the highlight of the album--it’s fresh but also very authentic to what makes The 1975 ... read more

The way Charli XCX projects her emotions is intoxicating—whether she’s speeding down the highway, partying with friends, reminiscing on old times, or dealing with a breakup, her self-titled project makes you FEEL it. With her vocals altered to an almost robotic state and the all-encompassing production, it takes you on a journey. She’s also recruited a phenomenal group of collaborators. She’s wild (as you’d expect) but also surprisingly vulnerable. I understand why ... read more

Charli XCX is a pioneer—no one is doing pop music like her. On Pop 2, she’s gathered an impressive group of up-and-coming artists (ex. Carly Rae Jepsen, Tove Lo, Caroline Polachek, Kim Petras, etc.) to join in on her glamorous escapism. She improves upon her usual hyper-pop sound, even if production is repetitive at times. I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen the true Charli reveal herself in her music. She's not concerned with appealing to the mainstream or ... read more

When journeying through Charli XCX’s discography from start to finish, this is the first project that feels truly confident and carefree. Number 1 Angel relishes in its surface-level lyricism and heavy production—it’s completely satisfied being just that. The mixtape kicks off with a bang but quickly loses momentum. Some of the tracks are examples of my favorite work from Charli (ex. Dreamer, White Roses), but others are hard to listen completely through (ex. Blame It On U, ... read more

On their third album, The 1975 is both honest and passionate while criticizing modernity and themselves. They’ve elaborated on their electronic alt-pop sound for the most part, but they still have a few lo-fi guitar gems (ex. Be My Mistake). This record feels very genuine, and it probably contains the most thought-out songwriting I’ve heard in their discography so far. While it may not be as much of a classic as their first two projects, it shows that the band is still inspired, and ... read more

Mr. Wonderful is a relatively boring album from Fleetwood Mac. As someone with love for their discography (even before the Stevie Nicks addition), this one ranks towards the lower end for sure. It isn’t anything unique for its time, and there isn’t much behind the songwriting either. It feels long and hard to listen through. There are moments telling of their growing artistry, but those moments aren't compelling enough to save the album.

- Lyricism 14/30
- Production & ... read more

On Sucker, Charli XCX takes on a fun, bad-girl persona. She’s evolved from complete electronic pop to more of a generic version of hyper-pop. She brings witty sarcasm to each track—her accented vocals perfectly match the personality in the production. Boom Clap is a phenomenal pop moment, and I can’t help but wish more of the record echoed that sound. However, the talent and artistic eye Charli has is undeniable. If you’re looking for a fun, empowering pop album rather ... read more

Charli XCX may be a pop artist, but she has the personality and unorthodox musicality of something more than that. Her debut is remindful of Grimes, Gwen Stefani—or perhaps Marina & The Diamonds. Her distinct vocals are often drowned out by heavy, electropop production. There are some standout lyric moments, but it’s easy to look past them with the sound taking center stage. Everything about True Romance is before its time. In 2013, this playful electronic piece of work might ... read more

Long title aside, The 1975’s second album is a groovy yet honest synth-pop experience. While the band may lean towards the Alternative category, the hooks on most of these tracks have the charisma of perfect radio pop. As the songwriting covers relationships, addiction, and religion, the tempo remains (possibly sarcastically) upbeat—it’s as if they’re dancing despite their troubles. There are a few too many interludes, but The 1975 are unapologetically themselves, and ... read more

Picture yourself in 2013—wearing a tennis skirt with a choker and the Tumblr app open on your phone. You have your headphones in. What are you listening to? The 1975’s debut album might be one of the first things you think of. It’s an era-defining collection of quirky pop-rock carried by Matty Healy’s heavy English accent. Each track has distinctive instrumentals and blunt songwriting. There are very few dull moments—and many tracks are classics. From the groovy ... read more

On their fourth record, Aly and AJ Michalka sound mature and in their element. With Love From is a vulnerable, folky record reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac and Maggie Rogers. The instrumentation is mostly laid-back guitar and drumming that allows the vocals to take center stage. The lyrics cover moving on from a relationship and a desire to have fun—and the whole thing feels like a drive with your windows down. It’s a pleasant, inoffensive project.

- Lyricism 22/30
- Production ... read more

Over 10 years since their last full-length project, Aly & AJ are back and boasting a stunning indie pop record. While it tells the story of a dissipating relationship and its aftermath, A Touch of the Beat is surprisingly cheery. The sunny, Californian production keeps you immersed throughout the entire album. Both Aly and AJ deliver gorgeous vocal performances to inspired instrumentals. There are guitar solos, synthy beats, and even techno influence (ex. Get Over Here). This is one of the ... read more

Insomniatic is a step up for Aly & AJ. Kicking off with the iconic Potential Breakup Song, this record is much more on the pulse of pop perfection than their debut. There’s still a 2000s rock influence, but it's executed much better. The writing on certain tracks is relatively impressive for Disney stars, and the aura of Silence is captivating--and experimental even. Insomniatic is a delightful surprise, and a nostalgic listen for sure.

- Lyricism 18/30
- Production & ... read more

The debut album of actresses and sisters Aly and AJ Michalka is true to its time. Everything about the pop-rock production feels very early-2000’s. They aren’t the typical former Disney musicians, though—they write much of their music and have the vocal control and harmonies to set them apart from their peers. Most tracks on Into The Rush blend together, and the Walking On Sunshine cover comes across like a prayer for a hit. With creative direction, it’s obvious that ... read more

Fleetwood Mac’s debut album is pretty much what you’d expect from any average band in the late 60’s. There’s groovy guitar and glimpses of talent, but it’s a relatively lackluster and forgettable project. There’s not much that I would return to and it’s certainly not a standout in their discography.

- Lyricism 15/30
- Production & Instrumentation 15/20
- Creativity 6/10
- Authenticity 5/10
- Cohesiveness 3/10
- Vocal Performance 6/10
- Is it ... read more

Prelude to Ecstasy by The Last Dinner Party is a glamorous, feminine mix of pop and indie rock. The record is completely unique and reminiscent of the sound of an earlier generation. It’s one of the most notable debuts of the year so far and one of the most standout projects overall. The airy vocals and bolstering production prove that The Last Dinner Party is a group to keep an eye on—you will definitely be hearing that name in the future.

- Lyricism 21/30
- Production & ... read more