Overspilling with cliche and lacking any aspects of originality, it appears through 'The Monster You Made Me' that Chloe Adams has attempted to find a formula for modern pop based around edgier stars such as Billie Eilish and Melanie Martinez, but here the equation she uses doesn't quite add up

One Acen's latest project opens with an overused, cliched ringtone/phone call, which sets the scene for an average body of work

Even the Cordae feature couldn't save this insufferable, ear-splitting mess. If NF were to win any award, it would be for worst album of the year - he consistently manages to prove his 'subpar songs, I don't make those' ('CAREFUL') claim completely wrong and unfounded throughout 50 minutes of near torture with little highlights

Akira's latest prodigy, Jasmine Jethwa, cements herself as one to be watched on her second EP 'Same Streets But I Don't See You Around'. Standout track 'Have I Ever Been' deserves to be a hit in the same vein as Lizzy McAlpine's 'ceilings', while the rest of the five-song collection invites listeners further into its creator's expansive world

Both extraordinarily beautiful and devastatingly heart-wrenching, Daughter's 'Stereo Mind Game' is a strong contender for album of the year

Returning to the indie folk roots that originally brought her to public notice, Billie Marten has composed a stunning body of work which is beautiful from the outset. Although it may only be a demo, and fully instrumental aside from humming, the 2 minutes and 44 seconds of opener 'New Idea' are sublime and perfectly set the tone for the rest of the album

After first listen, it comes as a surprise that Che Lingo's second studio album is titled 'Coming Up For Air', as his unbreakable flow leaves no room for him to do so. Mixing a range of influences, this album truly showcases the British vanguard's potential, while its only flaw is its relatively short run-time

To say that a lot of Ellie Goulding's previous work is bland, boring and uninspired (putting it lightly), this album is a complete change in direction. An album with substance is the last thing many were expecting from a pop star of her calibre, but it's just what Goulding has given. The album's highlight, 'By The End of the Night', firmly places itself amongst the best pop songs of the decade so far, introducing an element of quality that barely wavers as the album progresses. Laced throughout ... read more

On his latest EP, Jordy (not Jordan) showcases the potential which has continued to cement him as a hero in the underground rap scene, but also demonstrates that he still has a way to come until he reaches the top

Loaded with features from the Dirty Hit signee's 'Friends', Mac Wetha's second mixtape in this series entirely overshadows its predecessor. Contributions from upcoming artists such as spill tab, Rachel Chinouriri and Junior Varsity are woven effortlessly into Mac's own, constructing a project which is a satisfying listen at least, and something truly brilliant at its best. You're listening to Mac Wetha, don't you fuckin' forget it

From the moment 'Frame' begins, it's clear that the listener is in for something gorgeous. Cunningham's stunning piano intro brilliantly sets the scene, and his album's quality barely wavers following it

Elderbrook's voice is certainly something, although what he chooses to do with it often falls flat. Some highlights on this album come through 'Wasted on You' and 'The End', but overall the album feels toned down and doesn't quite do enough

While 'Great Is He' certainly has its flaws, in its entirety it is both heartfelt and catchy, demonstrating how Popcaan continues to transcend the boundaries of Reggae and meld it into something bigger and bolder

For someone who is such a promising talent, 'In Pieces' is disappointing from the outset. The album feels, on first listen, disjointed, and with more listens simply incoherent. It boasts some individual highlights which would function well as stand-alone singles, but not in the wider context of a debut solo album. Additionally, any feature from Chris Brown in 2023 is purely tasteless and negates at least 5 points

Unfortunately, Lozeak's debut mixtape leaves a listener with almost no thoughts at all. It isn't bad, except for when the internet star attempts to pull an Olivia-Rodrigo-in-good-4-u and scream-sing, it just isn't memorable enough to strike any chords

With his latest effort 'Timeless', Davido extends his reign over Afropop, although he doesn't quite manage to elevate himself to the 'GODFATHER' position he hopes to attain

Through their third EP, the self-proclaimed Aussie 'Sofa Kings' cement their place in the ever-growing, ever-shifting world of indie music. More concise and cohesive than 2022's 'Bar N Grill' and 2021's 'Campus', this project inflates and expands upon the fun sound the duo have become known for in their scene, and it's certainly clear that they've mastered the art of cheerful, summery bangers. Songs such as 'I Wanna Dance With You' encapsulates that sense of yearning for good times which many ... read more

Continuing to diverge away from the Australian indie rock which brought DMA's to festival circuit super-stardom, 'How Many Dreams?' follows in the same vein as previous effort 'The Glow' and is nearly as successful. While many of this album's cuts sound more like 'Life is a Game of Changing' than the thunderous guitars of 'Lay Down', this has become the band's brand, and they certainly do it well

Filled with beautiful moments of indie-folk joy, Paper Planes' 'Forever' EP demonstrates potential for a duo ready for the spotlight. Their instrumentals are gorgeous, but it's songs such as 'Girl Like You' supported by an equally as gorgeous voice which really stand out

Although it boasts big, respectable names including Ty Dolla $ign, Channel Tres and Tiwa Savage, the latest effort from Major Lazer, this time in collaboration with Major League Djz, almost always falls flat. The majority of this project, including its cover, appears ostensibly low-effort. To sum it up in one statement, the tracks here would all be acceptable as interludes at best - not offensive, but easily dismissed