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[camerongrn]

brat - charli xcx

released in 2024, the highly anticipated sixth studio album from english pop artist charli xcx, 'brat' is exactly what charli xcx is and what her career has been building up to; it is THE charli xcx album. after the 80s inspired detour of 'crash', 'brat' appears to be a return to the hyperpop sound that charli is known for, evoking the rave scenes that charli herself started her career. with brash bass lines and hooks that melt into earworms, the sound of this album is the best charli has ever sounded, fully embracing an alternative take on modern-day pop music. this album sets forth everything that makes charli's music so likeable and amazing.

despite the edm and dance inspired instrumentals, this album's lyrical content is extremely vulnerable whilst also being aggressive and confrontational. charli has gone onto describe the topics of this album being those that one would talk about with a friend over text conversation; those narratives fuelled by gossip and rumours. and this comes across extremely clear. if we compare the lyrics of crash with those of brat: crash's lyrics appear to be much more abstract in their formation, whereas brat's are much more direct and clear in their presentation. this is what makes brat extremely digestible and relatable.

the instrumentals of this album are SO GOOD. ag cook and easyfun do it once again blending the unconventionality of edm music and pop to create these infectious beats. take the lead single 'von dutch' for example, the squeaky bassline paired with these brat, abrupt vocals create an incredibly timeless hit that i never get bored of. moreover, a key theme in the albums instrumentals is this idea of loud and bold minimalism; alluding once again to those early rave scenes of the 00s era. finally, the instrumentals of this album suit the iconic artwork SO WELL. this low resolution lime neon green square with the title in arial font; it suits the minimal yet effective sound amazingly.

although i genuinely enjoy every track off this album, my favourite track off the album has to be 'talk talk'. this minimal pop song about unrequited feelings and that need to talk to someone you've been watching for months. although it is under 3minutes, 'talk talk' succeeds in telling a full story and really creating an overall aura that is one of desperation and longing. this is what is so good about this album, although not being the longest, each track succeeds in telling a unique story and creating a fully developed unique narrative. 'talk talk' is just one of 15 that does this amazingly well!!!

overall, 'brat' is currently my contender for album of the year. the energy of this album is just so timeless and very effective. charli and her team have done such an amazing job with this album and era. 'brat' takes the simple ideas of gossip and vulnerability and transforms them into an incredible demonstration of pop and edm music, perfectly tied up in a green bow.

favourite track: talk talk

least favourite track: i might say something stupid

spotify link: BRAT - Album by Charli xcx | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[camerongrn]

top 5 songs of may

here are my 5 most listened to songs of may according to my spotify.

1: 360 - charli xcx

charli xcx's new album has the potential to be one of the best to come out this year, and this single proves it

2: talk - beabadoobee

this is up here cause i relate it to this one man an unhealthy amount

3: take a bite - beabadoobee

this is up here cause i relate it to my own actions an unhealthy amount

4: so high school - taylor swift

the yearning for a teenage romance that comes from listening to this song is actually scary

5: august - taylor swift

this is THE situationship song that i should not be listening to on repeat

[camerongrn]

the rise and fall of a midwest princess - chappell roan

released in 2023, by chappell roan and written over the course of 3 years, 'the rise and fall of a midwest princess' is roan's debut album which captures everything which is right (and wrong) with pop music. this album follows the lines of a gayer, more queer olivia rodrigo; both in its production and lyrical contents. this makes complete sense as both artists have worked with dan nigro. however, unlike rodrigo, roan plays into the campiness and playfulness of modern pop music, creating this unique project.

this record explores every love trope and theme possible; from the desire and guilt that comes from lust, to the devastating concept of the 'situationship'. however, queerness is the key driving theme of this album, with roan proclaiming that the album helped her to come to terms with her queerness. this is all done through some surprisingly incredible emotion-evoking storytelling and lyricism. i believe that this album is the most pop any album has sounded in yearssss. the thrilling hooks, the ymca inspired lyrics, the playful instrumentals; all of this helps roan depict a irresistible depiction of modern-day romance. though a couple of unneeded ballads drag this record down in places, the plethora of catchy pop bangers soon make up for it. the funfactor of this album alone makes it an amazing worth listen.

my favourite track off the album is a tie between 'super graphic modern girl' and 'casual'. both tracks really explore complete opposites of the same spectrum in a sense. instead of belittling herself to being an acceptor of her misfortunes (like she does in casual), roan dismisses men who refuse to try in super graphic modern girl. she explores the idea of being so confident in oneself that you don't actually need a man. whereas in casual she opts to explore the concept of a casual 'situationship'; that being a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be established or labelled. she delves into that fantasising one does when with someone; the what if's and the what are we's; and creates this beautiful angst filled track about regret and grief regarding the grey areas of a potentially amazing relationship.

overall, this is a shockingly amazing debut album. 'the rise and fall of a midwest princess' is a bold and femininomenal introduction to the incredible chappell roan, who im sure will become a global success one day. but roan's amazing immersion and memorable hooks are sure the cement this debut as one that will be difficult to top. im excited to see what roan does next.

favourite track: super graphic ultra modern girl / casual

least favourite track: california

spotify link: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess - Album by Chappell Roan | Spotify

★★★★☆ 4.5/5

[camerongrn]

chromatica - lady gaga

lady gaga's sixth studio album 'chromatica' marked her return to her dance-pop roots after the failure that was joanne. this album, released in 2020, follows the formulae set up by early 1990s house and dance music, taking clear inspiration from ballroom cultures. this concept-driven record adopts this persona of an otherworldly cyberpunk-like setting; chromatica, a distant planet where people come together through dance. the tracks really impersonate this theming, all being dance-focused with this playful and colourful sound. this concept-driven album feels like the perfect evolution for a legacy artist such as gaga.

if i could use one word to describe the themes explored in this album, it would have to be 'fun'; it is such a healing album. although gaga discussing pain and suffering throughout the album, it is always turned on its head in a positive manner. gaga's attitude on this record is that of someone who wants to make others happy, she explores these ideas of inner struggle and failure set to dance beats. despite her suffering, gaga uses pop as an antidepressant on this album, and i really applaud that. the instrumentals really back up this narrative. synth. synth, synth, and even MORE synth. synthesisers are the main voice for this album, they appear to do all the talking. bloodpop uses these bright melodies to provide a perfect backdrop to gaga's voice, they blend together amazingly. gaga really thrives in these dance-pop albums. i have to also give props to this albums interludes, they are AMAZING and really help to build this world of 'chromatica'.

my favourite track will always be 'babylon', THE album closer. this track discussing gaga's public perception, dismissing the gossip, really encapsulates the albums overall sound. its this playful nod to grace jones and the b52s all while doing its own thing. the piano, the sax, the chants; they all create this movie-ending scene of dance and party despite worries, chromatica to a T. the wordplay in babylon is also incredible: "talk it out, babble on/battle for your life, babylon". despite being a infectious dance track, babylon is also a unique demonstration of gaga's underrated lyricism.

overall, 'chromatica' is definitely a part of my top 3 gaga albums. what is there not to love? gaga returns to her roots with this album after her frequent detours during the late 2010s, coming back with an addictive play on house and dance music. moreover, the concept of this album is so interesting, it's a shame she didn't get to explore it more due to covid. however, this is by far one of the 2020s more defining albums, with the era still going on today with the announcement of her chromatica ball film. nonetheless, chromatica is a great addition to gaga's catalogue and a must listen.

favourite track: babylon

least favourite track: 1000 doves

spotify link: Chromatica - Album by Lady Gaga | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[camerongrn]

radical optimism - dua lipa

marking her first album release since future nostalgia, 'radical optimism' by dua lipa feels like such an odd return. released in 2024, the album takes on that 80s/70s sound dua is known for, which is my biggest critique for this album. although she DOES incorporates (promised) elements of psychedelic music, half of this project feels scarily similar to the later releases of her future nostalgia era. HOWEVER, ITS STILL SUCH A GOOD ALBUM! this album is the definition of summertime, it feels like a refreshing swim. it takes those 'psychedelic' elements and tones them down into a smooth, easy-listening experience.

dua lipa is not known for boundary breaking lyricism or theme-exploration. however, here there does appear to be a slight overarching theme explored throughout the tracklist; that of radical optimism. she explained the title along the sense of that positive mindset you can take into life that gives you the ability to do anything. and i feel like that really encapsulates this album well, from the lyrics to the instrumentals. her song writing on this album is by no definition groundbreaking, but it is extremely interesting and explores vulnerable topics unseen in dua's previous works. moreover, her collaborations with danny l harle and tame impala really make this album, their work on the instrumentals of this album is what really save it for me. their styles blend together surprisingly well into this britpop, groovy, optimistic sound which really suits the album.

my favourite track off this album has to be 'whatcha doing', this mid-album track takes clear inspiration from this idea of radical optimism; dua explores that vulnerability you feel when speaking to someone you're interested in. it almost feels like an r&b song spun on its head and infused with these groovy basslines which are carried throughout the album. i really like this track, it feels like the perfect evolution for dua, in terms of sound and lyricism.

overall, 'radical optimism' feels weird; not in its sound or lyrics, but in its aura, its concept feels too abstract. its hard to explain because objectively it's a really good album, but the promotion around it and its place in dua's discography feels out of place. although i am happy that she is back with new music, this era has been so very interesting so far and i am extremely interested in seeing what she does further with this 'new?' sound that she has curated on this album.

favourite track: whatcha doing

least favourite track: anything for love

spotify link: Radical Optimism - Album by Dua Lipa | Spotify

★★★★☆ 4/5

[camerongrn]

top 5 songs of april

here are my 5 most listened to songs of april according to my spotify.

1: club classics - charli xcx

i mean, yes! this IS a club classic. this single really gets me excited for charli's new album 'brat'.

2: betty - taylor swift

i would consider betty genuinely one of taylor's best songs, the storytelling is incredible here.

3: espresso - sabrina carpenter

that's that me espresso. like that's basically this generations lyricist.

4: swine - lady gaga

now this edm masterpiece, gaga really came onto this with a free trial of fl studio and a dream.

5: i can do it with a broken heart - taylor swift

one of like 3 songs from ttpd that i have added to my playlist, how can you not like this good pop song about depression?

[camerongrn]

the tortured poets department - taylor swift

global superstar taylor swift's eleventh studio album 'the tortured poets department' feel like an accumulation of all of her antonoff-based albums all put into one. this 2024 album feels like a combination of 1989, midnights, and folklore (some of my favourite albums from her). however, this repetition of style really dampens the album's quality. the overuse of midtempo synthpop instrumentals is this album's weak-point.

exploring her overall character, swift delves into her personal persona as well as the public's perceptions of her. the album appears to touch on extremely personal topics for swift, this is one of her most personal albums yet. the record feels like a collection of diary entries, i sort of feel like im disrespecting her privacy while listening to the album's lyrics. her vulnerability really makes the album. on the other hand, i am extremely disappointed in both swift and antonoff for once again relying heavily on those synthpop and folkpop sounds that they have previously ran into the ground with midnights and folklore respectively. coming off of midnights, it would've been extremely interesting for swift to have come out with a new sound and new producers, yet she comes to rely on the same old 3 instrumentals. it would be really fun for her to return to the rock influences seen in some tracks off of speak now or red.

my favourite track from the get-go was 'i can do it with a broken heart', it feels almost misplaced on this midtempo-based sombre album. it is one of the only 'danceable' tracks off the album discussing swift's struggles with how she was working through emotional breakdowns whilst on her 'eras tour'. despite its pretty dim lyrical content, icdiwabh really shines as one of the only pop-focused songs off the album. i do have to give 'the black dog' from the anthology edition of the album a shoutout here, it shines as one of her best songs ever in my opinion; its story telling is incredible. however im choosing to not discuss the double album aspect of the album here because that is way too much content for one review.

overall, 'the tortured poets department' feels like a final nail in the coffin for the swift-antonoff partnership, proving that their synthpop-infused ways of production are beginning to become repetitive and mundane. though this album has highlights lyrically, the instrumentalization feels far too familiar and in a sense restrictive of swift's incredible song writing abilities. i hope she switches things up for her next studio album. im excited to see what she does next.

favourite track: i can do it with a broken heart

least favourite track: fresh out the slammer

spotify link: THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT - Album by Taylor Swift | Spotify

★★★☆☆ 3/5

[camerongrn]

starfucker - slayyyter

the 2nd studio album of hyperpop icon slayyyter, 'starfucker' was released throughout 2023 and is undoubtably one of the best hyperpop inspired albums of this century. this album delves into 80s inspired electronic music taking clear inspiration from her previous work and other much more sensual 80s-like tracks of her peers. slayyyter explores a dramatised view of hollywood, highlighting the cultures surrounding drugs, fame, and vanity. the old hollywood aesthetic surrounding this album is one of its key selling points, and pairs extremely well with its musical contents.

as mentioned, hollywood is the driving narrative of 'starfucker', slayyyter relies heavily on those tropes of glitz and glamour of both old stardom as well as current stardom. the themes of this album feel like they're lined with a slight tint of narcotics; this pairs well with the techno inspired instrumentals. the album teeters between these mellow and sensual songs and these high-energy and electro-inspired songs; i love this. this contrast really keeps the album interesting and really accentuates the duality of fame.

my favourite track is 'i love hollywood', the opener off the album's standard version provides the listener with a clear introduction to the themes explored within the album. this satirical dance-pop track explores an exaggerated portrayal of the glamourous and hedonistic lifestyles associated with that coked-up hollywood setting. the tongue-and-cheek lyrics are the song's highlight: "and i've never done a drug; i've never done drugs in my life; you're doing coke right now". it is such a great album opener.

overall, 'starfucker' is such a great introductory album if you want to get into that hyperpop realm of pop. it drifts away from THAT traditional hyperpop sound, however tracks such as plastic and purrr really explore that. the ironic themes of the album really tie it together amazingly, it is such a good portrayal and discussion of that glamourised hollywood lifestyle; both new and old.

favourite track: i love hollywood

least favourite track: tear me open

spotify link: STARFUCKER (Deluxe) - Album by Slayyyter | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[camerongrn]

folklore - taylor swift

this album surprise dropped after the initial covid19 outbreak in 2020 and follows a completely new side of taylor swift, away from her established roots in pop music. 'folklore' is her 8th studio album and takes on a much more chill, indie, folklike energy, in a similar yet different way to her early country music. 'folklore' consists of these low energy ballads driven by beautiful acoustic instrumentals. this album is a narrative driven album through and through.

with folklore, taylor explores these ideas of nostalgia and romanticism; almost in a similar vein to her albums fearless and speak now. however, here she takes on a much more mature lens by discussing themes such as infidelity, suicide, and alcoholism. this is by far one of her most vulnerable albums, some of the tracks feel uncomfortably intimate at times; feeling like im listening to someone's sob filled journal entries. escapism, however, is the album's main theme; being fuelled by the pandemic, empathy and loss come through in the haunting vocals and instrumentals. it's crazy how private this album is.

the record additionally follows fictional narratives and arcs based in a love triangle between 3 teenagers. i LOVE when artists do this and transport us into a whole new world unique to an album. moreover, this fictional narrative is extremely realistic and relatable; in a sense being semi autobiographical to swift herself. the story of this album is by far its shining feature.

my favourite track would have to be 'betty'. this song is told from the perspective of the fictional character james, who is apologising to betty after cheating on her. i love this, swift's ability to delve into this persona and to still create such a personal feeling song is crazy. this song takes clear inspiration from her earlier country music and its honestly sort of comforting; listening to this teenage boy beg for forgiveness over an americana inspired instrumental. i do have to give 'august' and 'the 1' shoutouts here as they are extremely personal songs to myself; lyric-wise.

overall, 'folklore' is by far one of taylor's best albums. escaping into this fictional world in the trees on a late august's day, swift manages to delve back to her roots and explore a softer sound. she manages to reinvent her artistry on this record, and i doubt she'll ever be able to produce a body of work as intimate as this.

favourite track: betty

least favourite track: epiphany

spotify link: folklore - Album by Taylor Swift | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[camerongrn]

the loveliest time - carly rae jepsen

the 7th album of pop icon carly rae jepsen, 'the loveliest time' acts as a companion album to her 6th album 'the loneliest time'. taking outtakes from her original recording sessions and repurposing them, giving them a new life on this incredible record. released in 2023, 'the loveliest time' is a full 180 from 'the loneliest time', exploring much happier themes, providing a direct contrast in both tone and instrumentalization. yet, you are unable to have one without the other.

this album reflects the time it was made; made during lockdown the album, unlike 'the loneliest time', explores that relief and that feeling of leaving hibernation. the album reminds me of a drive during sunset; as the album progresses, the sun sets into the blue hour and then into darkness showing the beauty of the night sky. the r&b and subtle drum and bass elements sprinkled throughout really help to push this narrative. the fantastical energy on this record is insane, it makes me want to explore the world and to fall INSANELY in love.

my favourite track would have to be 'shadow', ive been extremely fond of this song ever since my first listen. exploring that inescapable presence of someone or a feeling, 'shadow' reminisces on something that is always there; something that always follows you around. i like to interpret this as all the love i have to give, its always with me and i love that feeling. 'shadow' is a beautiful song, and if you were to listen to any song from this project, i would wholeheartedly recommend 'shadow'.

overall, 'the loveliest time' is a gorgeous follow up to 'the loneliest time' (honestly, it's better!). exploring that excitement of trying something new and the optimism of a new beginning, this album is a stand out in carly rae jepsen's already insanely good discography.

favourite track: shadow

least favourite track: put it to rest

spotify link: The Loveliest Time - Album by Carly Rae Jepsen | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5

[camerongrn]

you are someone else - fickle friends

the 2018 debut album of the indie pop band 'fickle friends' from sunny brighton. clearly influenced by the bouncey sound of 80s and early 90s synth pop, 'you are someone else' is an excellent collection of songs all about the toxicness and difficulties of all sorts of relationships from friends to lovers. the album also touches on mental health and feelings of worthlessness that might arise from or be impacted by our relationships with others and ourselves.

the album oozes summer vibes and good times (despite the intense lyrical content). it has the energy of technicolour written all over it, from the incredibly 80s album cover to the 16 track run. the essence of pop is seen throughout the entire album, there is not a modern album which captures the fundamentals of pop like this one. the implementation of the synthpop sound in this album is done amazingly, it is clearly influenced by the likes of duran duran and soft cell. however, fickle friends have managed to twist this sound into something fresh and full of life through the addition of these tropical influences unseen anywhere else. the sound of this album is unique and creates a cohesiveness.

my favourite track off the album would have to be 'swim', i'd call it the perfect pop song. the dreamlike instrumental perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being blinded by someone else's problems. the nostalgic vocals paired with this instrumental really extenuate that feeling of drowning, that bittersweetness of one-sided effort. unrequited love is a major theme throughout this album which is rarely explored elsewhere.

overall, 'you are someone else' takes the complexity of relationships and adapts it into a beautiful 80s inspired synthpop album. to me this is one of the best indie pop albums of the 2010s.

favourite track: swim

least favourite track: paris

spotify link: You Are Someone Else - Album by Fickle Friends | Spotify

★★★★★ 5/5