Tag Archives: pop

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl review: a tired encore to her career thus far

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”

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”

Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us: a frustratingly underwhelming sophomore record

Gracie Abrams’ highly anticipated second album, The Secret of Us, was released on Friday 21st June. Since the release of her debut EP Minor in 2020, Abrams has solidified herself in the soft, ‘sad-girl pop’ scene through her emotional, yearning lyrics and her ethereal, gentle voice. Despite this, The Secret Of Us is not withoutContinue reading “Gracie Abrams’ The Secret of Us: a frustratingly underwhelming sophomore record”