#new album reviews

[music-moon]

All my liked songs from the 2020s, organized by the year they were released.

Always updating, discovering and refining. Cover art is my most listened to albums from each year, according to my last.fm.

My favourite songs organized by release year: 2020s

View more decades: 2000s / 2010s / 2020s

Take a deeper dive into my most listened to albums from each year:

Data from last.fm + pythfm.

2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024

[thehuntfortrencherlostmedia]

Hello folks.

So, I waited a while to let everything marinate in my brain before writing this. Haven is an interesting album to discuss in the grand scheme of the Trench discography. Everything feels familiar & status quo, but different, new & exciting all at once. Its production is fantastic throughout and truly allows for everything to shine. It’s also their most cinematic album to date, which is saying something given what Astoria was inspired by.

So let’s break down each track, shall we?

A Normal Life: Already gushed about this one when it came out and my thoughts haven’t changed one bit. This just might be my new favourite opener. There’s just a little sprinkling of everything from all across their discography that allows this beauty to marinate and stand on its own.

Lightning & Thunder: I’m torn. I like it still, but I do think that when you listen to it within the context of the album it loses something. It was definitely made to be a radio single. There’s nothing wrong with that.

I’m Not Getting Better: Straight to the point, catchy & fun. I really have nothing else to say on the song.

Down To You: Arguably the biggest earworm on the album. This one gets in your head and it just stays with you.

Now or Never: The By Now of the record for me. Soft & yet full of momentum all at once. This is a dream worth fighting for, indeed. Also, while both INGB & DTY show off a more R&B/Funk flow, it really sticks on this song, and now that you’ve noticed it, you’ll be hearing it a lot throughout the record.

Into The Storm: Hello, Porcelain. But also… it’s own thing. It might not be giving up, but I don’t see it as surrender either. I see it as going with the flow, facing your problems head on. This is also the first true dive into Josh’s relationship with Amanda on the album, and how he’s so happy they finally figured out how to co-exist.

Ancient History: Oh hi, Astoria. You mind if I take elements of Burning Up & Yesterday and blend them into something new? And how about the past arguments in his and Amanda’s relationship don’t matter, and how it was nice to meet back up with her. It shows how time can heal relationships. Also, SAXOPHONE. That is all.

Stand and Fight: The actual Porcelain of the record. People thought they were gonna go in a This Meets War for this song, when instead it’s a slow burn that truly stays with you.

Turn & Run: Here’s how you do a sequel song and then make it stand out from its older brother. Much like the combos of Celebrity Status/Perfect & B-Team/Toy Soldiers, both sides of the coin make me giddy inside. And holy cow… welcome to the edge indeed. That hint of Fix Me screaming… I need more of it Josh. Please? I’ll be a good girl. There’s also a lot of Masterpiece Theatre II on this one. Easily my favourite of the short songs.

Worlds Collide: I go back and forth on this one in my head. There’s parts of me that love it, there’s parts of me that feels it’s too similar to the two tracks before it…. And then we have the end. And that just… made me smile. Also, I love Josh SCREAMING “Nobody’s Safe” and the fact they left in the vocal crack. That’s how you can tell his emotions are in full display here. So yeah.

Nights Like These: The comforting palette cleanser after three songs hit you with whiplash back to back to back. It’s very reminiscent of tavern songs, sea shanty’s & is just a warm hug of a track. Also, breaking down the fact that sometimes it’s nice to have just a cozy, relaxing night with friends. Feels like the Who Do You Love of the record too.

Remember Me By: Um, Micheal? Did you just possess Josh again? This feels so 80’s R&B I can’t help but love it. Also, Ian! Nice to hear you sing, bud. We’ve heard the other three all throughout this record and now we get your voice on top of the amazing percussion. Kudos.

Haven: So, here we are. The closing track. And, it’s good. It feels like they took The Killing Kind , Masterpiece Theatre III & End of An Era Abd threw them in a blender… and the result came out great, but… it does lack something to me? And if anything, it brings out the fact this album fits into the Relationship Theory too: It is about starting anew like I said ages ago but also about how their relationship (Josh & Amanda) isn’t perfect but he loves the imperfection now that they’ve figured out how to make it work. She might’ve broke his heart once but he reconciled & became stronger because of it. And now he can show that all across these 13 tracks.

So yeah. Haven’s likely my album of the year, and I do like it. But I do think that while it has some of the highest highs the band had ever reached, I do think they didn’t fully nail the Hero’s Journey theming & that it’s not as cohesive as some of their other work. It’s a sturdy S-, easily #2 or #3 in my overall rankings, even #1 depending on the day.

[glass-beasts]

ILYSFM ALBUM MELODY ANALYSIS!

SHOW PONY

Similar: Creatures In Heaven, Helium, It’s All So Incredibly Loud

Mood: wistful, healed hurt, reminiscent, piteous

WHATTHEHELLISHAPPENING?

Similar: I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)

Mood: satisfaction, bitter joy, relief, overwhelmingly exhausting contentment, careful carelessness

CREATURES IN HEAVEN

Similar: Helium, Agnes

Mood: cumbersome love, finality, unclouded closure, acceptance of regret, nostalgia, state of missing

WONDERFUL NOTHING

Similar: Mama’s Gun, Flip, Toes, Space Ghost Coast To Coast

Mood: lusty vengeance, satisfying hate, moth-to-a-flame mindset, anger-less despise

A TEAR IN SPACE (AIRLOCK)

Similar: Mama’s Gun, Domestic Bliss

Mood: obsession, depressive love, desperation, mercurial passion, capricious feelings

I CAN’T MAKE YOU FALL IN LOVE AGAIN

Similar: It’s All So Incredibly Loud, Helium, Melon and The Coconut

Mood: deep-seated miss, nostalgia, hopelessness, wishing, broken-hearted, knowingly contradictory desires

HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE THE BOMB

Similar: Heat Waves, A Tear In Space, Youth

Mood: unintentionally intentional distancing, passive frustration, dissuasion

WHITE ROSES

Similar: Space Ghost Coast To Coast, Poplar Street (lyric-wise), I Don’t Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Talk), Show Pony

Mood: dark path towards light at the end of the tunnel, de-villainization, dying desire, lonesomeness, selfless reminiscing

ON THE RUN

Similar: Waterfalls Coming Out Your Mouth, Tangerine

Mood: light humor, self-scapegoating, decided closure, hopefulness, yearning, blind belief, self-loss

LOST IN THE OCEAN

Similar: Mama’s Gun, Hazey, Dreamland, Hot Sugar

Mood: exhaustion, passiveness, relaxation, carelessness, agape (Greek love type)

OVERALL ALBUM MOOD:

Oxymoronic, loving, grieving, preciousness

[crying-screaming-throwingup]

my thoughts on prelude to ecstasy:

the intro orchestral movement?? it felt like something out of a roman period piece. it was so perfect and just *chefs kiss* and the ending crescendo was so gorgeous

burn alive felt so dramatic like watching the lead up to a murder “let me make my grief a commodity” and “there is candle wax melting in my veins” are just such poetic lyrics. the guitar riff during the verse feels like a warning- eerie and stark. “i am not the girl i set out to be” is such a raw line it makes me feral omfg. abigail morris’ final line felt like an open wound

i’ve heard caesar on a tv screen before but in the context of the album as a whole changes it. it’s almost like a sequel of sorts, showing what she “set out to be”. musically, the contrast between the verse and chorus itches a scratch on my brain. “champion of my fate” feels so spiteful idk why

the feminine urge gives lana vibes maybe cause of the darker imagery and tone. it feels like a performer cracking their mask. “i am a dark red liver stretched out on the rocks” is sUCH A GOOD LYRIC. “to nurture to wounds my mother had” killed me my god

again i’ve heard on your side before but the album changes the feelings within it. if the feminine urge was the cracking of the mask then this song is the removal of it. it is vulnerable and raw and open about love and shame. the vocals feel like they’re pleading but already resigned- it’s heartbreaking

the flute opening for beautiful boy sounds so wistful. this so is so queer omg. “what good are red lips when faced with something dark” the lone piano chords in the chorus plus the harmonies are so ethereal they make me feel like i’m at my funeral service.

gjuha makes me feel like i’m intruding on something private, a ritual between a girl and a god. THE TRANSITION OMFG

the placement of gjuha before sinner MAKES ME FEEL THINGS OMG. like the contrast of imagery, between sin and holiness. “TURN TO THE ALTAR OF LUST” this song made me feral when i first heard it and it makes me feral now like omg. the religious imagery in this entire album is so interesting

my lady of mercy’s bass line is so groovy and perfect and amazing. and the percussive claps are so amazing. again, this so is so queer™️. the heavier sound in the chorus is so amazing and the bridge makes me feel like i’m fighting my final stand and praying to win

i love the stripped back piano of portrait of a dead girl compared with my lady of mercy. even further in the track, it remains kinda mellow and softer but no less direct. “the dignity of letting me go” when it finally gets more upbeat it the chorus it rly doesn’t disappoint. and the strings omg. also song title could be a nod to the album cover or vice versa??

the beginning of nothing matters feels like a prayer and the harp is so bloody good. “a sailor and a nightingale dancing in convertibles” the guitar riffs in the second verse are so funky i love it and the solo just makes me want to dance.

mirror feels like the end of the battle- the drums and solemn voice. it’s the end of the performance, the final death. “pretty glass and empty heart” death of the performer is the death of the album. but the final fifty seconds feels like a rebirth in a way, growth and renewal.

i don’t know if u could tell but i fricking loved this album like it’s everything i’ve ever wanted in terms of vibes and blend of dramatics and sincereness. i’m just praying that i get tickets omg

[mothcpu]

happy 2024! yearly ramble under the cut

this year I don't have many goals art-wise. I want to keep experimenting, do some more art for my friends, draw my OCs a bit more often, and maybe get a couple animations out of my head. I'll also open commissions when I'm feeling up to it. when my partner completes his degree, we'll continue work on our group project too :) Dream's End Come True has been out for almost two years now, and the love for it has not stopped, which is kind of incredible in terms of internet ephemerality. as of now it has over 100 pieces of fanart, and has been translated into five languages. thanks for reading!

2023 was a charcuterie board of about half the possible things I could have imagined happening in my early 20's, both positive and negative in equal and chaotic degree; but most importantly I met people I could not possibly imagine living without (love you all). I am not doing well, but by God I'm trying my best, and I hope the new year treats us all kindly.

here's my top-listened song this year, and a chart of a few things I liked this year as well, because it didn't fit with the formatting of the images above:

[covertuneshq]

Hit The Floor (Official Music Audio)

For Official Music Video, Click Here

[mikeru-funzies]

trump rn

[artisticmenace]

NEW NORMAL ALBUM REVIEW

Suburbia remix-

I can tell what he changed but its still such a classic. plus the things he added. MWAAAH. CHEFS FUCKING KISS.

2econd 2ight 2eer remix-

shes still awesome. i can kinda tell the difference but still awesome. its like he sanded it down.

Laplaces angel remix-

holy shit the name LMAO. still shredding the fuck out of the trumpet. sanded down like a nice antique table god damn. i like whats been done with the backup vocals. the effects are giving it more of a mystique and i really like it.

I/Me/Myself remix-

holy shiit. the demo was awesome soooo. this sounds better than the og. william woodiam you know your stuff and im so so thankful. these have sounded polished so far. like when they wax the floors at school. still the same just with a new gleam to them. he even kept the whispers at the end HELL YEAH

...well better than the alternative remix-

this is so so good. i like the vocals already. ooh the claps heck yeaah. the flow is better. ive been noticing the drums in some of these and holy toledo yes yes yes. also the ending. STUCK.

outliars and hypocrites remix-

AGAIN WITH RHE TITLE. "i lied about the apple thing" LMAOOO. GOT FUNKY EITH THE GUITARS FUUUCK!!!! THESE BACKGROUND SOUNDS ARE SCRATCHING MY BRAIN AND THE BACKUP VOCALS HELLLLLL YEEEAAAHHHH!!!!! she still has the bounce and punctuation. and THE DRUUUMS AGAIN YEESSSS. im a sucker for harmonies if you couldnt tell.

blackboxwarrior remix-

i almost didnt recognize her its been so long since ive listened to it. OH SHES GOLDEN. hes just tossed in cinnamon sugar where it needed it ok. the music is just MWAAAH. and the vocals are beautiful as always. this makes me want to write something strange and enchanting, good god. MY THERAPIST!!!!! dancing rn. wheres bonejangles from the corpse bride i need him here. shredding on that fucking trumpet.

marsha thankk you for the dialectics remix-

title, sir. loving the keyboard smash ok. shes flowing like wine from the taps in italy. DRUUUMMMSSS. VOCALSSSSSS. EVERYTHING. shes still her but shes got a dash if something she was MIIIIISSING before. WOAH GUITAR. WOAH BACKUPS HELL YEAH. PIANO MAN, LOVING YOU! these vocals....

Love Me, Normally-

i think he said he didnt bother changing this one bc shes already perfect. not his words but this one stayed the same. i have to agree. the vocals are still chilling. the piano still beautiful. and i can still sing/say every word.

Memento Mori remix-

HOLY SHIT. again the drums, the instrumentals. god damn. shes swinging just a bit more than she used to and god she needed it. BACKUPS AGAIN GOD LOVE EM. SING US A SONG WILL BECAUSE GOD DAMMIT YOURE THE PIANO MAN! background sounds scratching my vrain again i live for it. HELL YEAH! ONE DAY IM GONNA DIE!!! he kept the insane cheering 💙

overall-

he fucking DID IT!!!! he gave this album a polish. some cinnamon sugar. some tumeric. garlic. and shes still herself. its the normal album with what she was missing the first time. I LOOVE.

[stylesslytherinskywalker]

new video out!

[thatonefangirlly]

Golden Hour Part 1- ATEEZ Album Review

Hey all my Atinys and Staytinys! In light of our fav pirates just releasing their 10th mini album; Golden Hour: Part 1 I think I should be reviewing this promptly and a special treat! I'm going to share my pulls and what the albums look like in real time. (I know there are more versions, but I just went to my local Barnes & Noble for the 3 I seen.) I hope you like what I am about to say next Let's get started!

Lyrics: Haha, well, each song had its own vibe you really got to enjoy the lyrics to the songs. They grabbed my attention and by the time I was ready to come off that high of the song, the next one was playing. In all honesty, I like that sort of thing. The lyrics were fun, sexy, and just really good. Can't put this on a scale

Beat: WHEN I TELL YOU MY PEARLS ARE CLUTCHED, that's exactly what I mean. Each song had its own theme. From the island vibes to the futuristic notes, You can't stop dancing to this album as a whole. I love how they experimented with different sounds this album.

Visuals: Being that only "WORK" is the only song for visuals (for now), I gotta tell ya, there was a lot going on but it kind of made sense to me (I'm using the term "kinda" loosely). I will say though, it was def fun to see. You can tell they enjoy making videos and you can see the fun in it. There wasn't a lot of dancing and to be honest, I like music videos like "WORK" a lot better... yeah, they can dance their asses off, but can you at least show me you can have fun? ATEEZ did that for me.

Overall: Notice how there is no scale or this one again? Yeah, I'm not going to scale this because this was a nice blend of transitioning vibes from beginning to end. The different sounds that they played with was really nice and I enjoyed every bit of it. I would def recommend this album. It's worth the hype and it's worth the listen if I do say so myself. Good Job boys! For me this is the album I will be listening to during the summer and even beyond that! So, if you havent heard of ATEEZ you're really missing out because these boys are killing it... NOW, if you're an Atiny or a Staytiny, what the hell are you waiting for?! Buy the album! You already have it on your Spotify, apple music, or wherever your stream music, grab that hard copy. It should be at your local, Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, K-pop shop. If not, order it, and if all you can do is stream it, stream the hell out of it!

Did mention they'll be going on tour soon? No? Well, yes they will be going on tour and if tickets are available, grab one. This is another one I will have to miss but next time, prepare to be sick of me haha. I really hope you enjoyed this review and in my next post, I will be sharing my pulls from my album. Please remember if you want me to review anything, let me know! I won't bite!

"8 makes 1 team"!

Annyeong!🫰🏾

[revielyx]

Short n' Sweet / Sabrina Carpenter <review!>

First and foremost, I'd like to say that this is the first Sabrina album I heard in it's entirety. I loved the singles she released leading up to it, <Please Please Please and Espresso> and was very excited to hear the finished album!

Fav songs: Please x3, Espresso, Don't Smile

Least fav songs: Sharpest tool, coincidence

Fav lyrics:

"This boy doesn't even know the difference between there, their and they are" (unfortunately, a very real lyric (T_T) )

"And since the lord forgot my gay awakening" (i feel for her)

Best single: Espresso

Song ratings:

Taste: 7/10, a very good opening song!

Please Please Please: 9/10

Good Graces: 7/10, dream pop vibes, reminds me of Ariana in a way.

Sharpest Tool: 5/10, Was it casual? I found it a bit boring, reminds me of Taylor Swift in a way, and since i'm not a fan of her, I didn't really vibe with it.

Coincidence: 6/10, same as Sharpest Tool, It's a bit country. Even though I appreciate her trying different sounds, unfortunately, this isn't one I'm a fan of.

Bed Chem: 6½/10

Espresso: 10/10, a catchy and fun summer bop! Definitely deserves the hype it gets.

Dumb & Poetic: 8½/10, vibey and I LOVE the lyrics!

Slim Pickins: 6/10, another country type song I didn't really like, though her voice was great. Extra point for the lyrics, since some of my favorites come from this song!

Juno: 8½/10, such a vibe ^_^, and I appreciate the Juno reference!

Lie to Girls: 8/10, very real lyrics, unfortunately.

Don't Smile: 9/10, another dreamy bop, the instrumental is really nice and chill, overall a great way to end the album!

Conclusion: I really appreciated the different sounds she tried <dream pop, country, a little bit of r&b>, while keeping the album what it was advertised as <pop>. Since I am not a fan of country music, I found it hard to enjoy some of the songs, like Slim Pickins, but that's just my personal taste. I also LOVED the lyricism, and how unlike some of the other big pop artists, she wasn't afraid to keep her lyrics raw and straight to the point, without any sugarcoating. I would also like to add that I love the album cover of this record!! It works really well with the feeling this album gives off as a whole. Overall, I'd give this album a 7½/10, and I'm looking forward to her future projects!! ^_^

[angeblancrose]

An Honest Brief Review Of TTPD

People are going to dive into the words and look for clues to try and string people and events together, but I'm not here to do that.

I'm here to talk about the brilliant tapestry of words she's woven into this album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.

Twists of Modern Poetry weaving in and out in a musical symphony. This was THE Taylor Swift album.

The songwriting, symbolism, and the aesthetic of it all encompass who she is as an artist in the music industry.

The whole album was compact and well intertwined from start to finish. You can count on Taylor Swift to make an album that is not only sonically cohesive or aesthetically pleasing but also contains songs that can exist even outside of the tracklist, on its own, with no context, whatsoever.

The whole promo leading up to release day and how she didn't put out any singles until today kept everyone on their toes, anticipating and wondering what this album is going to sound like. She's a Mastermind, no one can deny.

[gk-listens-to-albums]

ALBUM REVIEW! Beyond Beyond Beyond - The Crane Wives

Today I listened to Beyond Beyond Beyond by The Crane Wives!

Album Name: Beyond Beyond Beyond

Artist: The Crane Wives

Genre: folk/indie rock

Release: 2024

Highlights: Black Hole Fantasy, Red Clay, Say It

Lead Single: Arcturus Beaming

My Favorite: Black Hole Fantasy

Thoughts: This is the first time that I think an album's second half drew me in more than the first. It may be because most of the album's singles are in the first half, so the first part felt familiar whereas the second felt revelationary. It was a top-tier album all around, but everything from "Arcturus Beaming" forward was simply magical.

The inclusion of orchestral string instruments in Black Hole Fantasy and Higher Ground really lent to the magical feel of the album and fascinated me, as it's new ground sonically for the Crane Wives. I was also shocked by Red Clay, a song that the band's drummer/vocalist Dan Rickabus takes lead vocals on. As far as I'm aware, he has never sung lead on a Crane Wives song, so I was stoked to hear his lovely voice front and center.

Now what I REALLY want to ramble about is Black Hole Fantasy. It's the band's longest song ever at six minutes and thirty-five seconds, and it is a true lyrical journey that I could write an entire essay about. The narrative lyrics that occupy most of the song are simple, yet gut-wrenching -- like we're looking directly into the speaker's mind. The storylike nature of the song prevents it from feeling too long, in my opinion -- every verse is different and surprising musically and lyrically, keeping it from feeling stagnant at any point. The dropoff of instrumentation in the lines "Let's do this again" and "I'm turning off the car" puts such a satisfying emphasis on these two narratively impactful lines.

This entire album, lyrically, is extremely introspective and thoughtful, and after I've had some time to look at the lyrics, I'll definitely be posting my thoughts and interpretations of songs like Predator, Time Will Change You, River Rushing, and, of course, Black Hole Fantasy.

I was lucky enough to hear Bitter Medicine, Say It, Scars, and Arcturus Beaming at a live show earlier this year, so I can attest to their wonderful energy performed live. I'm so jealous of everyone who's able to attend this album release tour!

[aeolianblues]

Fuck it, I’m starting a music magazine

I went and made a(nother) Wordpress blog yesterday. I’ll launch it after I’m done moving but it’s coming. Mainly it’s so that I can impress the folks at Exclaim! and start writing for them, but if I started a Tumblr for it, would you all pretend to be excited every time I post?

It’s @soundslivemagazine! Get it because there are sounds, and they are live, and something sounds live and alive, I’m happy with the name! (Unless you guys think otherwise? I’m just hoping the name isn’t so generic that it gets lost, but also this is so local and on the ground. It’s not the next Pitchfork or anything, no pressure on me. That said if you want to see whether following is worth your time, my other ‘music journalism’ stuff is here on the #music tag)

[lunaarorbiter]

💿 MEGAN ― M.T.S

album analysis + rating

b/n : been excited for this one and wanted to get this out asap. not doing all of them. this is my interpretation of these songs and what i got from them. might not be yours and that's okay ! + unedited

HISS ((10/10))

― masterpiece from start to finish. she left EVERYTHING in this song. anything that anybody had to say she basically predicted because the response back is the song again.

in this, megan calls out multiple rappers, especially male. she calls out about how many male rappers are fein's for her body and fame. they're constantly chasing after her, and can't decide whether they wanna be her or be WITH her.

the verses she spits just keep coming in this song. it's a long ass receipt that she's been waiting to print and sign with class.

one thing i disliked was that it was heavily overshadowed by you know who.. not enough people payed attention to where the shots were directed and thrown at. drake for example.. her bbl line was a direct shot to him who can't handle rejection and who has constantly been taking low blows at meg and her body when he's been under the knife for "his".

not to mention the artistry in the music videos and the photos she'd been posting leading up to the release of this song. she aligned everything perfectly and made a snug spot for this in her discography. her references, bars, visuals, flow, foreshadowing and everything else was a masterpiece that will not be forgotten decades from now ..

RATTLE ((7.9/10))

― the instrumental in this has me imagining her walking on thin ice, confidently and not worried about breaking it because she can also walk on water. all eyes on her because they're waiting on her for ideas and what to talk about next.

this song is about people always trying to rip meg off and turn her into something she's not. she's standing up for her character and to the people who continue to try to take advantage of her ..

FIGUEROA ((7.6/10))

― catchy, rich, and classy. the meow got me. having to call out the lies and everyone who says shit about her.

WHERE THEM GIRLS AT ((7/10))

― this feels like it could be a club classic. the beat of it reminds me of songs from the early 2000's. simple and makes me wanna dance ..

BROKE HIS HEART ((8.9/10))

― she's dominating in this song. it feels like she's calling for her hottie army. + this song being just in time before pride month ends. need people to stop denying her sexuality now ..

B.A.S + KYLE RICHH ((9/10))

― right as the song starts, she jumps right in. she's not letting anyone play with her, her time, her pleasure, and body. any wrong way you treat her, she's gonna throw it right back at you .. the juxtaposition with the aggressive but soft feel of this blending together adds onto it.

she's winning the idgaf wars with this one as well. she doesn't care about how she's treating you because she deserves better anyways. this song is a shrug and her turning her back on you because you're not worthy enough

+ this SAMPLE. when it starts playing it's like the perfect after taste to an already delicious desert. i love the way the lyrics from the sample contradict with the song. sending completely different messages but still mix seamlessly. she makes the best uses of all the samples she uses. this time "out on a limb" by teena marie. an addictive listen especially when it gets to the end. a want to hear the end but not for it to finish ..

OTAKU HOT GIRL ((10/10))

― a fan favorite already, especially for megan's anime fans. can we acknowledge adam mcarthur, yuji's (jjk), english voice actor getting on this track to talk about how he likes grammy winners like megan?? with fat asses?? oh i know that's fucking right !

+ the jjk sample used in the song?? i love the eery sound and feel of the sample and how she incorporated it into the song. but WHO REALLY DOES IT LIKE MEGAN?? she searched and sought out for the puzzle pieces to perfectly connect to each other in this song. everything being smooth and blending together so effortlessly.

not to mention the japanese she was speaking, who's not bilingual? "can't touch me, like gojo" and the domain expansion line? yeah. this pulled the anime nerd out of me. her brain. also noting that megan had to keep changing the song days before her album released to appease the anime studio. give her, her flowers..

to listen to the part she sampled click here ..

FIND OUT ((9/10))

― once again in love with the instrumentals she uses. the tingly feel the noise effects give make it yummier. not much to say about this one, need to let it marinate a bit ..

BOA ((8/10))

― artistry on ten. references on ten. looks on ten. dancing on ten. only thing is i expected more from the song. i love the use of the sample from gwen stefani's "what you waiting for".

it definitely is an experience to watch the music video. the anime, movie, video game, and tv show references she was putting out, was being picked up.

a bunch of iconic looks that have been referenced already and will continue to be. you can tell a lot of work and creativity went into this one. not to mention the creative and comedic deaths. she showed her hot girl nerd for this track !

MAMUSHI + YUKI CHIBA ((7/10))

― again w the japanese, bilingual queen. a chill song that added some more flavor to the album. they're both speaking of their luxury being celebrities and glamor of it all. yuki and megan are bonding and relating to each other over those aspects ..

WORTHY ((7/10))

― a feel good self assuring song. she speaks of how she's worthy of the love she craves and deserves nothing less than that. everyone should have this type of confidence and this should be everyone's default thought process ..

MOODY GIRL ((10/10))

― she in her feelings with this one. relatable and a song that i connect with. feeling lonely with a room full of people and like she's the only one that feels that way and the only one that sees she's not okay. she's not feeling herself, looking in the mirror and thinking things she would never usually think. also being told and feeling forced to feel some other way as if she isn't trying to feel better.

feeling like everyone is against her and no one else is trying to understand how she feels.

i love the way she talks about her mental health in her music and captures negative feelings so perfectly. these types of songs are always overlooked by her songs about her sexuality. also the people who say she only talks about being sexual and having money when these songs are sitting here, get on !

the mellow background vocals add onto the sad girl theme of the song. we FEEL the sorrow she's feeling. wanting to party away the emptiness and despair she feels, wanting to move past the feeling but just stuck on it. one of my favorites and i fear it's gonna be underrated <//3 ..

ACCENT + GLO RILLA ((8/10))

― an addictive duo that i will always come back to. the passing of the baton in this song is my favorite. catchy, flowy, and throwing shots. need a music video where they're fighting something together ..

SPIN + VICTORIA MONET ((8/10))

― a duo i wasn't expecting but goes so well together. again megan spitting fire ass verses. she’s collecting all the rnb girls. "messy, men wanna kick it like neymar let a man know i'm the goal, i don't chase y'all".. in this track they speak on people being hypnotized by them and their every move ..

DOWNSTAIRS DJ ((10/10))

― will forever love how open megan is with her sexuality. the start of this song with watery sparkly noises matches the vibe of the song. in this song she's talking about self pleasure and taking care of herself. she's not ashamed like how society wants women to feel. truly normalizing women being open. she's real as fuck, will tell you a joke but never a lie !

MIAMI BLUE + BIG K.R.I.T. BUDDAH BLESS ((7/10))

― she's always able to make the most obscure beats sound cohesive and good. what should be challenging, she achieves effortlessly. again not much to say, it's still marinating ..

COBRA ((10/10))

― one of my favorites in the album. cobra delves into the hardships megan faced and the reality of her mental health throughout these years. the many difficulties she had to face alone with an audience watching her every move wasn't an easy feat but she did it with grace, something that many admire about her. she continues to keep it real with her fans and show her scars.

the symbolism and visuals tying in together with shedding her skin and becoming a different person and moving on from that part of her life is genius. the rebirth of megan. thinking outside the box feels like the usual with megan.

+ her versatility with the beat of the music. just by how the song starts it gets you excited, not knowing what to expect until the beat drops surprising you. this song shows you a different side of megan and feels like a complete 180 compared to her other work ..

OVERALL RATING :: ((9.3/10))

final thoughts :;

megan thee stallion's first independent album.her artistry, on a completely different level, her flow and delivery 10/10. she has such a creative mind that extends from just rap and music. it SHOWS in her visuals in her music videos. it is such a beautiful art that she continues to make and she is consistent with it. her music goes past the bounds of any rapper right now. her versatile blend of rap, instrumentals, and her niche interests.

this album also having her constantly switch up her flow and each song being their own. nobody can say anything about that ever. people who say she doesn't change her flow only listen to her surface music and don't bother to acknowledge her artistry and songs aside from her features.

also her work when it comes to sampling other songs. she completely transforms the samples she uses and makes it her own, using it as a seed for her music. doing it megan's way.

a feature i wished and was hoping for was kehlani. she would've had a perfect spot in this album and would add so much. i also wished she would have explored more with other alternative genres as well and hope she does so in the future.

i will never get tired of her referencing animes. always being discreet and behind fire and smooth bars making everything fit together. she said people hate her because she's a hot nerd and right ! will forever be obsessed w thee stallion and enamored with her work and grind. my favorite album from her now !

@lunaarorbiter

[partywithponies]

I don't think people should get mad about negative reviews of the things they like if the negative review is objectively funny.