The Life of a Showgirl was meant to be a fresh start for Taylor Swift. Following a string of melancholic releases (folklore and evermore, both 2020; Midnights, 2022; and The Tortured Poets Department, 2024), Showgirl promised to usher in a new era of fun, upbeat pop. And in many ways, Showgirl does turn a newContinue reading “Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl review: a tired encore to her career thus far”
Category Archives: Music Reviews
Dominic Fike’s Rocket: a playful, fiery mixtape that takes off with easy direction
Recently, Dominic Fike has been doing what he does best. From kicking back a raw and laid-back set at Lollapalooza Chicago to teasing live renditions of yet-to-be-released music, Fike is always playing to the crowd. He’s introduced the world to Rocket (both the name of his son and most recent mixtape), and this project isContinue reading “Dominic Fike’s Rocket: a playful, fiery mixtape that takes off with easy direction”
Wolf Alice’s The Clearing is the decisive next step for a band that only seem to be getting better and better
For the past decade, Wolf Alice have slowly been building their reputation as one of the defining bands in British indie rock. While early hits like ‘Don’t Delete the Kisses’ and ‘Bros’ put them on the map, it wasn’t until their third album, Blue Weekend, that their rough edges fell away. From the swooping ‘DeliciousContinue reading “Wolf Alice’s The Clearing is the decisive next step for a band that only seem to be getting better and better”
Conan Gray Wishbone review: the unfiltered, heart-wrenching journal of a dreamer boy
Conan Gray has always been a storyteller. From his early Kid Krow days where ‘Heather’ took what looked like every single sad playlist across the world by storm, Conan proved his expert knack of spinning together diary-esque narratives with infectious tidal-wave melodies. It’s the kind of tune that rises and falls like some love-sick teenager,Continue reading “Conan Gray Wishbone review: the unfiltered, heart-wrenching journal of a dreamer boy”
Justin Bieber SWAG review: the semi-cool sound of confidently watered-down pop-RnB
I’m not sure what surprises me more: the sudden release of SWAG itself, or the fact that the album led JB to a career-defining record (95.8 million Spotify streams in a single day; a new personal best). Whatever the case, it’s clear that the pop star is still standing on business, making waves and shatteringContinue reading “Justin Bieber SWAG review: the semi-cool sound of confidently watered-down pop-RnB”
Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ review: confrontational and stripped to the bone – but an unsettling mixed bag remains
Lorde wants you to know she’s different. And I don’t mean that mockingly – this much has always been clear, even before the release of her most recent project. There’s no denying Lorde’s critical presence – people are still discovering Melodrama’s synesthetic legacy to this day and reeling from her iconic duet with Charli xcxContinue reading “Lorde’s ‘Virgin’ review: confrontational and stripped to the bone – but an unsettling mixed bag remains”
HAIM’s I quit review: brash disruptions cut through minimalist production
No one is really under the illusion that breakups are enjoyable. You have devoted all this time and energy to a person that you deeply love and care about, only to reach a point where it doesn’t really feel enjoyable, where the two of you are growing apart fundamentally. Maybe you try to work throughContinue reading “HAIM’s I quit review: brash disruptions cut through minimalist production”
Daily J Scatterbrains review: a shimmering slice of summer
Modern life moves at a relentless pace – from the constant barrage of news headlines to the demands of daily routine, all too often, it can be overwhelming. While there’s no easy fix, Daily J’s second album, Scatterbrains, offers a temporary antidote. Drenched in the sounds of summer and nostalgia, Scatterbrains is a much-needed escapeContinue reading “Daily J Scatterbrains review: a shimmering slice of summer”
Open Wide review: Inhaler’s muddled foray into pop
Inhaler have a very characteristic sound, and it only takes listening to a few songs from their first two albums, It Won’t Always Be Like This (2021) and Cuts and Bruises (2023), to notice this. Two albums and several big tours and support slots later (Harry Styles, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Arctic Monkeys, etc.)Continue reading “Open Wide review: Inhaler’s muddled foray into pop”
The Kawala Collection review: A triumphant curtain call for the indie pop group
Late in 2024, tropical indie outfit Kawala announced that their February 2025 tour would actually be their farewell tour. But before the tour kicks off, the band dropped The Kawala Collection, a final body of work bringing together all the music they’d released over 2024, plus a few new tracks. The album is a triumphantContinue reading “The Kawala Collection review: A triumphant curtain call for the indie pop group”
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