The singles are a bit of a bait and switch as the majority of this album is downbeat, classic R&B. The influences are wielded masterfully, but the project suffers from a decent amount of filler. Beyoncé’s voice is one of a kind to be sure, and the singles are huge highlights. Too long - without a doubt the last 3 tracks should have been cut.

A genuinely interesting album with plenty of standout moments. While a few songs don’t hit the same mark as the standouts, they still have a purpose within the album. It feels like a summer street party and the ever changing musical influences make it a compelling and easy listen.

Bit of a miss for Madonna. Her foray into more overt political messaging is brave but her pen just isn’t strong enough to contain that much nuance. There a few moments that are great, and her more self reflective tracks can be really beautiful. The production is unique but feels like a step down from the past two albums.

It’s almost spooky how similar Dannii and Kylie’s voices sound. There are some really fun and interesting moments throughout the album, but it’s too long. I appreciate the intention but there’s not really a strong enough artistic statement to carry 15 songs. Hard to say from today’s perspective, but it almost seems ahead of its time.

Phenomenal album. Lush, dramatic and exciting. Multiple tracks extend beyond the 5 minute mark but nothing on this album drags. Roisin Murphy’s vocals have an elegance to them that is such a pleasure to experience.

While extremely pleasant, it’s hard to say what was great about this album as it is wholeheartedly background music. Wonderful stuff to have a conversation over but not even in a bad way.

While there is nothing terrible on Charmbracelet, there isn’t really anything standout either. It’s a pleasant enough experience to get through but there’s a distinct lack of energy in Mariah’s voice, that was almost in abundance on her last project. Being a hopeful piece of work, this low energy doesn’t quite connect the way it would have on a more melancholy effort. The songwriting is also not bad but not excellent. It feels like the whole album could’ve ... read more

A great Greatest Hits album. Bjork’s vocals start to a get a bit tiresome by the end of the album, but then it ends and all is forgiven. The remix isn’t my favourite, but outside that it’s wonderful to have these highlights of Bjork’s discography in one place. The new track is a nice cherry on top.

While the singles are phenomenal tracks, the rest of the album is a snooze fest. There’s really nothing that comes close to the calibre of Rock Your Body anywhere outside the singles, and there are more than a handful of truly cringey moments - typically to be found in the spoken portions of certain songs. The voice is amazing but it’s not enough overall.

A stunning array of songs except for Cruz. A phenomenal showcase of Xtina’s vocal abilities except for Cruz. A long and varied album that is somehow worth it except for Cruz. Every huh-ooh-woah-ooh-yay-ee-yeah was wondrous on every track except for Cruz. Cruz may be the worst song I’ve ever heard.

Atmospheric, space-y and at times unsettling. There’s a weight to Beck’s voice that somehow avoids being dull or droning. A very tasteful amount of space is given to each track. For a first time Beck listener I have been pleasantly surprised that this resonated with me!

Outside of the singles there is absolutely nothing interesting happening on this album.

Chic but less chic

One of the greatest dance floor albums ever. So many hits on the first half, and a less engaging but still interesting second half. The album is at its best when production and vocals lean into the sultriness of it all.

Solid album. Love the romantic strings and the trips to musical sounds from other parts of the world.

It’s fun to hear Mariah on productions she’s never gone near before. She’s more nasally on this project than ever before but it doesn’t take away from her soaring vocals. Some truly impressive vocal acrobatics across this project. The latter half really starts to drag, but the bookend versions of Loverboy are a good jolt of energy.

This album sits in a beautifully comfortable place somewhere between artsy, ethereal and melodic. Bjork never drifts too far in one direction making the project extremely listenable. It is peaceful and exhilarating all at once.

Quite an interesting collection of songs and singers. The vocals across the board are not my favourite, obviously let down the most by the stars of the movie. The fresh takes on old classics are interesting enough to make the whole listen engaging. Lady Marmalade is the clear and obvious standout.

The strongest Destiny’s Child outing so far. There are some very intriguing production choices but they ultimately fall flat. The vocals are the best they’ve been with a more even sharing of lead than there has been before. They work best as a trio, but the final track is so uncomfortable to listen to. The singles are stand outs, as usual, but I don’t want to return to the project as a whole anytime soon.

While Ray of Light is cohesive and atmospheric, Music feels disjointed and exciting. The production has hints of her previous album but strays much further into electronic/dance territory. The album as a whole lacks the atmosphere Ray of Light has while also falling short of being super punchy pop music. It falls somewhere in the middle of conceptual and serial, which ultimately makes it an intriguing but weaker project. It is just the right length - any longer and I fear this would have been a ... read more