Many long-time Taylor Swift fans have spent the last few years awaiting new music from the singer/songwriter pop phenom with dread and anxiety rather than the feeling of Christmas morning. When Swift's collaboration with Disney/Pixar was accidentally teased to fans via a short-lived countdown (that, at one point, I believed was entirely fabricated), induced a month-long hysteria, and ultimately announced her return to the country genre—I was caught off guard.

Taylor Swift is ... read more

Unashamed nostalgia-driven rating.

What compels a band to title their fourth studio album after themselves? On The Dollyrots, it was the band’s departure from their previous label, Blackheart Records, and establishment of their own label, Arrested Youth Records. Not only is it a departure from Joan Jett's label, but The Dollyrots also depart entirely from the approaches of their previous albums. The result is, quite undoubtedly, one of the highest artistic moments of their career. Stripping away everything that ... read more

Very dreamy beat and soundscape; Ariana meanders both lyrically and vocally.

The first of two self-titled albums, Singer—not songwriter—Whitney Houston has undoubtedly cemented herself in contemporary music history as the voice. As the Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, has surged the late pop superstar's discography back onto the charts at the time of writing this review, I have been led to dive back into the discographies of his contemporaries. Furthermore, April 2026 marks a decade since Prince's death, and in recent years, my viewing of the ... read more

Apart from his adventures with Silk Sonic, The Romantic is the first true solo studio album release from Bruno Mars in nearly a decade. 24K Magic, while a rather safe Bruno affair, offered some quite sparkling and stand-out lead singles. Perhaps it was due to the commercial and artistic triumph of songs like the title track, and “That’s What I Like” that it received the Grammy award for Album of the Year.

I still maintain the 2018 Grammy for AOTY should have gone to ... read more

REDUX rating: +5 points for the album cover going as hard as it does.

Reminiscent of the pop-punk wave that came out of the Bush administration of the early 2000s, “SS26” picks up where “Rock Music” missed the mark. I do however wish Charli had built to a more established ending, something that really sparks; especially when we know Charli has so much of that spark in her.

While I was going to listen to whatever Charli xcx released following her triumphant Brat era, ... read more

I have no interest in listening to 15 tracks worth of Meghan Trainor

The bonus tracks contribute to Taylor’s concept where the standard 13 tracks did not.

A-. Or, A minor

Cumulative average score between both discs: 61

REDUX review: +5 points for the album cover

Not really sure what’s happening here

I’ve known for a couple album cycles now that JVB can bring the heat to a track, as well as oodles of personality; however it was “DISCO TOMORROW” where Braes intimate lyricism stopped me in my tracks and well up with tears.

JVB are truly on the precipice of something amazing—if they want to be.

Prolific. Unfortunately, hasn’t aged a day.

Lots of filler, but the high points are monumental

There was much speculation in 2013 as to whether Lorde, then just 16 years old, could rival something as revolutionary as “Royals.” And, dear reader, I assure you she did.

Fuck you, Hillary Clinton

I’ve always preferred Rodrigo’s up-tempo cuts more than her ballads. This one is a total win for me. Full body chills on the train.

Formulaic.

Thank you, Laina Spiekermeier, for introducing me to this song in Ms. Vander Heidens public speaking class back in high school. You have no idea how deeply this song has stuck and guided me.