He tried something different! While the fusion of disco and dance music falls flat on the ballads, his vision is clear, but like on most of his albums, it's hard to decipher what the hell he is talking about in some of these songs. Ambiguity in songwriting is a talent in itself, however, and I appreciated many of the sonic choices he made on this record!

What was going on in 1997?! Among countless others this year, Kylie Minogue released her magnum opus, full of influences from trip hop. Effortlessly, she blends a new wave of sound in pop music into experimental rhythms and transfixing songwriting.

Is there a soundscape that Sarah Kinsley can't master?! I love the way that she floats over the electrifying synths, and the lingering, throbbing romance that punches through each track! She is truly in a league of her own, and her aspirations are so enthralling to me!

The prose is just as elegant and wistful as on her previous records, and while the music that surrounds her undeniable poetic nature is eclectic, it does sound like an amalgamation of her work prior to Laurel Hell. However, that does not automatically negate the way that Mitski so effortlessly creates a lush scene within her own version of noise rock!

It's foreboding and suspenseful, but it doesn't really lead up to much. I really wish there were more scathing tracks like "House", but I do love the cinematic pop moments like "Chains of Love" and "Dying for You"!

While there are sparks of creativity and unpolished gems within this album, most of the songs don't feel fully realized. It's not in whole due to their length, but the lyrics seem to just dissolve at the end of each track, and the story with it. I do, however, love the final three-track run, and it gives me hope for her next project!

Listening to their early projects has only amplified my adoration for their artistry, and watching it slowly evolve is such a fantastic experience! I love the way Geese utilizes their stark contrast from other bands, and instead of trying to blend in, they shine even brighter with their iconoclastic sound!

The concept of this album is brilliant, and its execution even brighter. This feels like an out-of-body experience, and while it might seem like a disorganized, eclectic record from the outside, once listened to, Ninajirachi reveals the reality of internet culture and what it may, fortunately or unfortunately, consume in its entirety.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album, and was even further shocked to see how far under the radar this fascinating band has flown! I adore the slick of the guitar, the grudge that comes through the bittersweet vocals, and the lyrics that drown in whatever emotion they've flooded my ears with!

The electricity creates a pure plane of bliss for Jane to implore us upon. It reminds me a lot of her previous record "Revengeseekerz", given the time between the two, and yet it feels almost fuller, or slightly more satisfying. The glitchy elements are not too far into focus and, in fact, only pull you further into the supernatural worlds that Jane has cultivated.

I really wanted to like this...and yet, the nostalgic magic that the first few tracks cumulate fades as the album progresses. The yearning nature of this record pulled me in at first, but without resolution, it feels somewhat empty. Despite this, I still enjoyed the waltzing melodies and the smooth, vocal layers.

If someone sent me "Downtown Lights", I too would go insane! This record is for walking down the streets of Boston, through the gloom of light that the downpour creates in the melancholy of the night. Each song immediately brings forth a soundscape to get lost in, and they all accumulate into a forlorn hunger for a past love.

The potential in this album is insane! If I'd heard Mariah singing "Emotions" live at this time, I too would've expected her to reach an unprecedented level of stardom (which she somehow exceeded). The solo writing credit also just goes to show how multifaceted she is!

It's not just the synth nor the sensual lyrics that pull the listener in, but the passion with which George Michael delivers each line. His voice carries beyond the music, and his expressiveness is reflected in the fact that there's no sitting down to most of these songs: they're meant to lift you from your seat and dance to in the heat of a club or slowly, with a lover by your side. No matter the situation, this record always prompts further romanticism.

The fact that she is able to turn a song into a cinematic montage of the emotions that pour into the lyrics and the buildup of the production is outstanding. The whole album radiates all the love in the world; whether it's slowly developing, dissolving, or collecting dust, Weyes Blood creates an unforgettable soundscape of how and why one's heart continues to beat.

Despite the gloom and melancholy that evidently lingers over this album, there's something about it that offers respite. Especially on contemplative winter nights, this record creates a mood that reminds me to reminisce but not too much, that dreams are often intangible. The slick guitars and bellowing vocals add so much mystery, yet they also contribute to a peculiar sensation of comfort.

Everything about this record feels so intimate, almost as if he's telling a story on the lawn outside a house party, pouring out his feelings and experiences as if they are endless. It is constructed in such a raw way, opening itself between intense lyrics and instrumentals, and revealing the beauty that each song is built upon.

The sparseness of the production only lends itself to further emotion and personality. The blend of French and English lyrics creates a lush, romantic scene that is perfectly superimposed atop the electricity of the rhythms.

Solange is a generational artist, and this EP pivoted her career in the best direction she could have headed in. "Losing You" is, without a doubt, one of the greatest songs released this century, and her ability to craft the structure of a melancholic yet anthemic sound that can be seen through the lyrics and the production is astounding.

Cameron's ability to showcase mortifying, vulnerable parts of his life through the power of his voice is something to be studied. The melancholy of the instruments swells at each emotional climax, and gives every track a tender sound that evokes a certain longing and desolation.