Kelly Clarkson "Meaning of Life" Album Review

Oh yeah, this is one I’ve been pretty excited for. It is time for my review of Kelly Clarkson’s new album “Meaning of Life.” I’m sure Kelly Clarkson needs no introduction: the first American Idol winner has led a hugely successful career since, releasing 7 albums (3 US-chart toppers) and a large number of chart-topping singles. And over the years, I’ve enjoyed a large number of her songs, from “Miss Independent” to “Behind These Hazel Eyes” to “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” and of course, the beautiful “Piece by Piece” (the Idol version, not the original version). And the few I listed don’t even include megahits like “A Moment Like This,” “Breakaway,” “Since U Been Gone,” and “Because of You.” Kelly has made the most of her American Idol win, and she’s had a lot of success since. So, on her 8th album, does she keep it up? Let’s check that out, song-by-song:

A Minute (Intro): I’m not usually into super-short tracks, but for the very short time this plays for, it really hooks me in! I actually really hope Kelly turns this into a full song because if she does, I’m telling you, it would be a hit!

Love So Soft: I love the hook on this one! Kelly also once again shows that she is a vocal powerhouse, and the track as a whole is really fun! I really enjoyed this one, a great start to the album!

Heat: The beat is really fun on this one, Kelly’s vocals are once again really powerful, and I love the hook on this one! I can see this one getting a few replays from me, it’s a really good track!

Meaning of Life: I really like the instrumental on this song, the verses are really fun, and the hook is really memorable. Kelly reminds us here that her vocals are amazing, and I like the lyrical content (it’s really nice seeing her finally realize that, after talking about being alone for a while, she’s so much happier now that she has someone special in her life). Another track I can see myself replaying quite a bit!

Move You: I like Kelly’s lyrical content that talks about wanting to move someone emotionally, and the beat is really strong. I wasn’t sure what to think throughout the first half, but once we get to the third verse, the amount of passion on Kelly’s vocals and the instrumental melody kick in and make the song so much stronger! There’s not much of a hook on this track, but it’s still a really enjoyable song I think I’ll end up replaying quite a bit!

Whole Lotta Woman: I’m getting some Bruno Mars vibes on here! There are some really clever lyrics here, a LOT of passion and soul on this, and I think this is a good “anthem” for women that might need a bit of confidence. Really great track, I had a lot of fun with this one!

Medicine: The hook on this track is one of the album’s best! And even beyond the hook, Kelly’s extremely passionate and beautiful vocals on this track make it really memorable! The beat is also really catchy, head-nodding stuff as well! This is gonna end up being a replay-button breaker!

Cruel: Slowing things down a bit here, this is one of those tracks that put a smile on my face that just wouldn’t come off! Kelly’s vocals, the beat, the hook, everything, just wow! This track is beautiful, another replay-button breaker!

Didn’t I: Kelly’s performance on this track, once again, is really fun and charismatic, the hook is really fun, and I like the more electronic drum-beat on this track. I wouldn’t call it my favorite on the album, but it’s still a pretty fun track overall!

Would You Call That Love: The instrumental melody and beat on this one is really fun (I especially like the way that it starts), Kelly’s vocals are beautiful as usual, and the hook is really passionate and memorable. Another really great track!

I Don’t Think About You: The piano melody on this is very reminiscent of “A Moment Like This,” but this song does more than enough to set itself apart, largely thanks to Kelly’s vocals (which have obviously matured since that first single) and the beautiful, really memorable hook! Not my favorite on the album, but it’s a really strong track that might even grow on me in the future.

Slow Dance: This one has a really light, really nice instrumental, a really solid hook, and the lyrics are also really interesting (I like how it talks about seeing through someone, but still wanting to teach them how to take things slowly). Another one that isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s a really good song that, no pun intended, would be pretty fun to slow dance to.

Don’t You Pretend: A track that feels familiar in the best of ways: it’s got a really beautiful instrumental sound, a fun hook, and some more really strong, passionate vocals from Kelly. She’s been hitting the ball out of the park with a lot of the tracks on this album, and she does it again on this track.

Go High: Ending off this album, we have a track that is apparently inspired by Michelle Obama’s quote “when they go low, we go high.” The track is really upbeat, fun, and passionate, and motivational. Given the subject matter, I think it’s really appropriate to finish off the album with this one, and I think it’s a really strong ending that’ll probably end up growing on me a bit more in the future.

Overall, I walked into this album very excited, and I’m glad to report that the album more than delivered on expectations! American Idol’s first winner shows us that she’s still got it, and her beautiful vocals and ability to create really memorable hooks really shows on this album. There’s a lot of memorable tracks on this album, and I think Kelly continues to show us that she can keep up with the times and make really fun, emotional, passionate, beautiful music.

And as they say on American Idol, Kelly, it’s a very big “yes” from me!

Favorite tracks: A Minute (Intro), Love So Soft, Heat, Meaning of Life, Move You, Whole Lotta Woman, Medicine, Cruel, Would You Call That Love, Don't You Pretend

Least favorite tracks: Didn't I (if I really had to pick one)

Rating: Excellent

Ty Dolla $ign "Beach House 3" Album Review

Alright, look, Kelly Clarkson just released a new album and I can’t wait to listen to it, but before I get on that, I wanted to give you a review of the new Ty Dolla $ign album “Beach House 3.” I can’t say I listen to Ty that much, but it seems like, whenever he puts out a huge single, I end up breaking the replay button on it. Back in 2015, I broke the replay button with “Paranoid” (and later with its remix), and since then, I’ve looped tracks like “Or Nah,” “Saved,” and more recently, “Wavy.” So I don’t listen to each and every one of his songs, but it so happens that when I do, I end up really enjoying them. So, of course, I wanted to check out this new album and see if he can keep up his success. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Famous: Okay, I can’t say I was expecting to hear a light acoustic guitar jam AT ALL on this thing. That said, the apparently John Mayer-assisted track features Ty unplugged, talking about how people just want to be famous, and his vocals are on point, the lyrics are really memorable, and overall, this is a really strong start to the album!

Famous Lies: I’m sure you guys already know how I feel about tracks that end up being a minute or less, and this one, while not bad, is exactly the same. I’m sure it could’ve been pretty decent if it was a full track, but as it is, it just ends too quickly.

Love U Better (ft. Lil Wayne and The-Dream): Really beautiful vocals from Ty and The-Dream on this one! The beat is funky, the track is irresistibly fun, the hook is really memorable, and even Lil Wayne’s verse is really fun! This one’s gonna end up being a replay-button breaker, for sure!

Ex (ft. YG): For some reason, this song reminds me of Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic album. It’s pretty funky, and Ty’s vocals are really strong as always, and the hook is pretty solid, but I’m not too crazy about YG’s feature. A small step backward from the previous track.

Famous Excuses: Another 1-minute or under track that I feel doesn’t even really need to exist on the album in the first place. It just kind of takes away from everything. One minute, I’m jamming out to some replay-button-breaking banger, and the next I’m wondering how some half-baked idea for a track even made it. Actually, with all the weird, unfinished-feeling interludes on here, I can’t help but wonder if Ty was listening to The Life of Pablo while making this thing (which would be a huge coincidence, since that was my last review).

Droptop in the Rain (ft. Tory Lanez): The hook on this track is pretty fun, if slightly repetitive, but the verses aren’t nearly as strong overall. And I don’t know what it is, but I’m not really crazy about Tory Lanez’s vocals on this track. Not a bad track, but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this one too much.

Don’t Judge Me (ft. Future and Swae Lee): The beat on this track is really fun, and I really like the hook a lot on this one! And I’m not usually crazy about Future, but his short verse on this one is pretty enjoyable. And, of course, I can’t go without mentioning the really strong feature performance from my man Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd. And even though the outro changes sound really weirdly, it doesn’t detract from what is one of the album’s stronger songs.

Dawsin’s Break (ft. Jeremih): Unfortunately, we follow up on one of the album’s stronger songs with a track that’s a bit underwhelming. Ty’s vocals are great, as usual, but unfortunately, the hook is really boring. Jeremih is also featured on this track, but his talents are not used to their fullest potential on this one. All in all, a pretty forgettable track overall.

Don’t Sleep on Me (ft. Future and 24hrs): This is a track that might grow on me in the future. The hook is kinda fun, and Ty’s performance on the first verse is pretty fun. I’m not as crazy about Future’s performance on this one (are we shocked?), but he has his moments on this track, same goes for fellow featured artist 24hrs. This one could end up being a pretty fun one with a few more listens, but I need to let it grow on me a bit.

Stare (ft. Pharrell Williams and Wiz Khalifa): Pharrell’s performance on the hook is interesting, Ty’s vocals and flow on the verse are strong, and Wiz Khalifa’s verse is pretty fun as well. I don’t love the song overall, but I think it might grow on me in time.

Famous Friends: 38 seconds of what could’ve been a banger. Moving on.

So Am I (ft. Skrillex and Damian Marley): For an album called “Beach House 3,” this one feels the most “beachy” to me. And all in all, this Skrillex-assisted track is one of the album’s best! The beat is really catchy, I love the instrumental melody, and Ty’s vocals are on point, as always. Damian Marley’s verse is also really fun. I think I’m gonna be looping this one in the future.

Lil Favorite (ft. MadeinTYO): This one sounds familiar to me, but I can’t put my finger on why. Even so, I love the instrumental on this one, the beat is really strong, the hook is catchy, and as always, I love Ty’s vocals. This also features an artist named MadeinTYO, who I’ve never heard of, but his verse is fun, too. I think this will be a replay-button breaker, too.

In Your Phone (ft. Lauren Jauregui): While the beat on this one is fun, and Ty’s vocals are great (as are featured artist Lauren Jauregui of Fifth Harmony), I don’t find the hook to be that memorable on this one. Nothing too bad, just not as memorable as some of Ty’s better singles.

All the Time: I liked the way this one started, and the song is helped by Ty’s nice vocals and a decent hook. While I don’t love the song, I think it might end up growing on me, and it could even end up becoming a favorite of mine because it gives me some 2000’s R&B vibes that I really like. Definitely a pretty fun one.

Famous Amy: 36 seconds of what could’ve been put at the beginning of the next track.

Side Effects: Great lead-in from “Famous Amy,” a really fun beat, and a catchy hook make this one pretty enjoyable overall. Definitely one of my favorites from the album, really think I’ll come back to it quite a bit in the future.

Famous Last Words: Again, why is this even its own track? It could’ve been the beginning of the next one!

Message In A Bottle: This one is really boring to me. Ty’s vocals are nice, but his overall performance lacks the charisma and energy of the previous tracks. I like the attempt at going for something slower here, but this is a case of “good idea on paper, bad idea in practice.”

Nate Howard Intro: A motivational speech from poet and professional speaker Nate Howard. While I probably won’t revisit this too much, I’m a sucker for some spoken-word poetry, so I respect that Ty ended on this one. I can’t say it’s one of my favorites, of course, but again, I respect the decision to stop there.

Overall, I have to say I didn’t love this album. Vocally, Ty remains as strong as ever, and instrumentally, thanks to guys like Hitmaka, DJ Mustard, and Mike-WILL Made It, the production here is pretty solid, but unfortunately, this album was too much of a mixed bag. There are a few tracks on here that are definitely replay-button breakers that I’m sure I’ll be revisiting in the future, but unfortunately, there are also several unremarkable tracks on here, and the many interludes on here feel like one of two things: either an unnecessary portion that could’ve just been tacked on to another track or an example of missed potential. Ty tries a couple of different musical styles on this album, but unfortunately, he doesn’t succeed at all of them, and the result is an album that is too inconsistent. Definitely some tracks I’ll go back to on here, but also some that I’d like to forget about as soon as possible.

DOLLA $IGN!

Favorite tracks: Famous, Love U Better, Don't Judge Me, So Am I, Lil Favorite, Side Effects

Least favorite tracks: Dawsin's Break, Message In A Bottle, any of the "Famous _____" interludes

Rating: Okay

Kanye West "The Life of Pablo" Album Review

I’m a year late and, again, this is just out of complete curiosity, but I decided that I wanted to take a look at Kanye West’s 2016 album “The Life of Pablo.” We all know Kanye at this point, and regardless of whether or not you like him, there’s no denying that he’s a very successful artist. I was curious about this release because, for me, it felt like it flew by the wayside a little bit. Maybe it was the fact that it was a streaming-only album, maybe he didn’t hype up the singles a lot, I have no idea, but it felt like this one just dropped but didn’t really make itself known to me. That, and I’ve been hearing a lot about the album being really unfinished and purposely messy, so I’m fascinated to see if that actually works in its favor. So, let’s go:

Ultralight Beam: I like Kanye’s vocals on the hook on this one, and I can see what people say about the messiness actually being a good thing here. The-Dream’s vocals are solid, Kelly Price’s verse is really strong, Kirk Franklin’s outro is great, and of course, Chance the Rapper’s feature is amazing. I actually had a really fun time with this song, and while it feels extremely “stream-of-consciousness,” it’s so interesting and I just feel like I want to go back to this more after the review.

Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1: The hook on this one is pretty catchy, as is Kid Cudi’s feature, and I think Kanye’s verse, while not his strongest, is still pretty solid. It is really short and kind of half-baked (again, that’s the point), but while it lasts, it’s a good song. I think it might even grow on me in the future.

Pt. 2: Very different sound from Pt. 1 (I mean, this one samples “Panda” by Desiigner, and it features moments from Desiigner’s song throughout), and while Kanye adds some interesting things throughout (his verse is particularly strong), I can’t help but feel like he could’ve just called this “Panda (Remix),” because that’s essentially what it is. And again, it ends really suddenly and awkwardly, though I do think this is again kind of interesting, in that it feels very “stream-of-consciousness” for Kanye. I don’t know, as much of a half-baked knock off as it is, I feel like I might end up going back to this song in the future. That’s weird to say, but there’s something really interesting about it.

Famous: This was the song that riled up a lot of people (“…me and Taylor might still have sex / Why? I made that bitch famous.”), and I think it’s the most “commercial” of the songs here. Rihanna’s vocals on the hook are solid, and Kanye’s verses are pretty solid, but I honestly don’t see myself going back to this track in the future, oddly enough. It’s a solid song, but even though it’s arguably the album’s most popular track, I don’t feel as much of a desire to go back to it, unfortunately.

Feedback: Kanye’s flow on this one is pretty strong, and the hook is really catchy on this one. It’s extremely short, and again, rather unfinished, but it’s really fun and really interesting overall. I just feel like it’s something I’ll want to go back to, because it’s like, oddly hypnotic.

Low Lights: This song doesn’t even have Kanye on it, it’s a completely uncredited vocalist. This one is very spiritual and booming, but it’s really short and really messy. In fact, I’d honestly say it’s hardly even a song. If not for the uncredited vocalist’s solid performance and lyrics, this probably would’ve been under the list of “least favorite tracks” for this album, but I think those two things alone helped save this. That said, I won’t be revisiting this track anytime soon.

Highlights: I think the hook on this is really catchy and Young Thug’s feature on the hook is pretty solid. Kanye’s performance on the verse is really strong as well, and The-Dream’s vocal performance on the outro is good. I really like this track, it’s definitely one of my favorites on the album.

Freestyle 4: Kanye is given the chance to let loose on this one, but unfortunately, his performance on this one is just not nearly as fun or memorable as some of the other tracks on here. Desiigner is here as well, and I’ll be honest, I was kind of digging his verse, but then, of course, since it’s been this way throughout the album, it cuts off before he even gets a chance to really do anything. This is a rare case where the messy, unfinished nature of the album works against the song.

I Love Kanye: Even though it’s only 44 seconds and it’s a really strange interlude, I actually think this track is pretty clever, in that it’s Kanye being really conscious, addressing the ideology of him loving himself too much, and talking about his criticisms. And for that, I can say this track, as short and possibly memetic as it is, is pretty good overall.

Waves: I like the instrumental on this one, and I really like Chris Brown’s hook as well. Kanye takes a bit more of a back seat here, but his performance is not bad overall. It’s rather empty, and it feels far shorter than it is, but I feel like I’ll be going back to this for sure.

FML: Kanye’s performance and flow on the first verse of this track are really bland, boring, repetitive, and unmemorable overall, and while the second verse is much better, it’s hard to trudge through the first verse to even get there. And while I do like The Weeknd’s vocals on the hook, I don’t think this is one of the strongest hooks he’s made. Definitely one of the album’s weaker tracks.

Real Friends: The beat on this one is pretty solid, I like Kanye’s performance on the verses, and I really like Ty Dolla $ign’s feature throughout the track. I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this one too much, but all in all, it’s a solid song.

Wolves: I really like the way this one starts, and I like Kanye’s hook on this one a lot. While the verse can be a bit long, Kanye’s overly-autotuned vocals are actually pretty enjoyable. Vic Mensa’s vocals on the bridge are really great, too, and Sia’s surprising appearance is pretty solid, too. And even though I’m not usually crazy about “empty space,” the instrumental outro on this track is great. This is another track that I really like.

Frank’s Track: This was originally going to be the outro to “Wolves,” but it was cut and made into a track in and of itself. I’m glad it was cut from “Wolves,” as the ending of that song was already strong enough, and while this is really short, I’m glad it still made it on the album, because Frank Ocean’s vocals are really great on this one.

Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission: A voicemail to Kanye from Max B and French Montana. This…was a thing…that somehow made it onto the album…NEXT!

30 Hours: While Kanye’s flow on this track is solid, there’s not much of a hook on this one. Still, there are a few pretty clever lyrics on this track, and while it’s certainly not my favorite on the album (it’s a bit too long and boring), it’s a decent track overall. Oh, and Andre 3000’s on here. Just thought you guys would like to know that.

No More Parties in LA: Kanye’s hook on this track is not his strongest, but for me, this song was saved entirely by Kendrick Lamar’s verse. Don’t get it twisted, Kanye’s verse is still pretty strong. My only other issue is that this song feels a bit too long. It’s a pretty solid track, just far too long overall.

Facts (Charlie Heat version): Kanye’s interpolation of “Jumpman” by Drake and Future feels like a diss on Nike, and ultimately, it stales out way too quickly. It’s too repetitive and not nearly as fun as some of the other tracks on this album.

Fade: This one has a pretty fun beat overall, I like Ty Dolla $ign’s vocals on this feature, and I’ll say the same about Post Malone’s vocals on his verse. Kanye hardly appears on this track, so it’s hard to really grade his “performance” when he only has a couple lines. I don’t know if I’ll be revisiting this track a lot, but I think the “stream of consciousness” thing works pretty well on this track.

Saint Pablo: This final track on the album feels really personal, and I like how Kanye starts talking more about his insecurities on this one. Sampha is featured on this track, and I like his vocals a lot. Even if the track is pretty long, it actually feels like a fully finished, organized, clean track. It’s a really good song, and it’s definitely a great end to the album.

Overall, I can say that this album was pretty enjoyable. It’s really unfinished, messy, and unpolished overall, but for the most part, that works in its favor and makes it kind of hypnotic. Several tracks are so unpolished and incomplete that you kind of just want to go back and experience them again. It’s not like it’s “unfinished for the sake of shock factor,” it’s Kanye consciously releasing something really sloppy for the sake of the art. It’s not perfect: it doesn’t end as well as it started, and sometimes the sloppiness of it works against a few of the tracks, but overall, I had a pretty good time with this album.

I’d ask what you guys thought of this album, but YOU AIN’T GOT THE ANSWERS, SWAY!

Favorite tracks: Ultralight Beam, Feedback, Highlights, Waves, Wolves, Saint Pablo

Least favorite tracks: Freestyle 4, FML, Siiiiiiiiilver Surffffeeeeer Intermission, Facts (Charlie Heat version)

Rating: Good

Niall Horan "Flicker" Album Review

Alrighty, another one I didn’t think I’d be doing, it’s time for a review of Niall Horan’s new album “Flicker.” Yes, that Niall Horan. The one that was in One Direction. He has a new solo album, and even though I know absolutely NOTHING of him, I figured it would be nice to give the album a listen and see if his solo work is as good as One Direction’s group work. So, as always, let’s go song-by-song and break this down:

On the Loose: Already gives me some flashbacks to some One Direction songs, which kind of worries me for the rest of the album, because I hope it’s not “One Direction’s music but this time it’s just Niall.” His performance is nice, though, and the song has a pretty catchy beat, even though the hook is kind of boring.

This Town: I like the lighter, stripped-down guitar melody on this track (kinda reminds me of “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s), the hook is really sweet, and while it’s probably nothing you haven’t heard before, it’s really sweet, enjoyable, and easy to get into. As familiar as it is, I actually really like this one! I can see it being a replay-button breaker!

Seeing Blind (ft. Maren Morris): Niall tries his hand at a country-like song on this track, even choosing to feature country star Maren Morris on this one. And overall, the beat is pretty fun, both of their performances are solid, and the hook isn’t bad. Might not be a replay-button breaker, but I do think it’s a pretty good song!

Slow Hands: This one tries to be a bit more edgy/sexy than previous tracks, and regardless of whether it succeeds, it’s really funky, catchy, and fun overall. Niall’s performance is strong (I really like how he sings on the verses a lot), the hook is fun, and the beat is pretty catchy. Another one that I really like, and might end up breaking the replay button on!

Too Much to Ask: Back to the lighter ones, this one is pretty emotional, and it has a really strong hook and a great performance from Niall. I’m not sure that I love the verses as much as the hook, but I like the instrumental and I feel like this song might grow on me in the future.

Paper Houses: While I like the instrumental on this one, and I think Niall delivers a nice performance, I don’t really think the song is very exciting. There are a few decent lyrics on here, but overall, it’s just kind of boring to me.

Since We’re Alone: I like the beat on this one, and the hook is really strong. Niall’s performance is, once again, very nice, and luckily, the verses are as fun as the hook on this track. I really like this one!

Flicker: Once again, I like the lighter guitar melody on this one, I liked the overall subdued sound of this track, and the hook is pretty solid. I probably won’t break the replay button on this one, but all in all, this is a pretty good song.

Fire Away: This one feels kind of boring, from the rather generic instrumental melody to the forgettable hook and the relative lack of charisma in Niall’s voice, this is definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album. It’s not that it’s “bad,” it’s just really bland and forgettable.

You and Me: The guitar melody and overall instrumental sound on this track are really strong, I like Niall’s kind of deeper voice on the verses, and the hook is really nice. This is a really great song that I hope to listen to more after this review, and seeing as how this is the last song on the non-Deluxe Edition of the album, it’s a good way to end off if you happened to get the non-Deluxe Edition.

On My Own: Our first bonus track has a really vibrant and exciting instrumental melody, a solid performance from Niall, and a pretty memorable hook. I’m not as big on the verses on this track, but all in all, it’s a pretty fun song overall.

Mirrors: The next of the three bonus tracks isn’t terribly exciting, and it does kind of feel like an acoustic version of a previous One Direction song. The hook is okay, but the verses aren’t really that memorable. It’s competently made overall, but it’s nothing too special.

The Tide: Our final bonus track is very upbeat, and it’s got another really solid performance from Niall. The verses are pretty solid, and the hook is good as well. I won’t break the replay button on this one, and again, it does sound familiar, but I think it’s a solid song and an appropriate ending to the Deluxe Edition of the album.

Overall, I can say I’m pleasantly surprised with this album. I didn’t know what to expect out of this, but I think it was pretty solid overall. I worried at first that it was gonna turn out to be “One Direction music but just Niall,” but I think he showed on this album that he found his own voice and his own style, and he delivers some pretty solid performances across this. The instrumentals are also really fun, too, and many of his hooks are really memorable. I don’t think it’s absolutely amazing, and some people might be turned away by the fact that a lot of it sounds kind of familiar and that he kind of talks about a lot of the same things throughout the album, but all in all if you loved One Direction back in the day (and, for that matter, if you still like them now), you’ll really enjoy this. As for me? Well, I’ve never really been a “Directioner,” but I think their music is pretty good and their library features some pretty strong, memorable takeaway tracks. Same applies here: I don’t love it, but as a whole, it’s good, and there are some really good takeaway songs from this album.

Oh, by the way, don’t call him Neil. It’s Niall. Just reminding everyone.

Favorite tracks: This Town, Slow Hands, Since We're Alone, You and Me

Least favorite tracks: Paper Houses, Fire Away

Rating: Good

Belly "Mumble Rap" Mixtape Review

Alright, this is something I wanted to review just out of extreme curiosity. It’s time for a review of Belly’s new mixtape “Mumble Rap.” My experience with Belly begins and ends with “he’s part of XO, he and The Weeknd are like brothers, and they did ‘Might Not’ together, which was pretty good.” Other than that, I know little of him. The first time I saw The Weeknd, Belly opened for him and didn’t leave a lasting impression, but the second time I saw him, Belly came out during The Weeknd’s setlist to be a part of “Might Not.” The Weeknd was hyping up this new tape on his Instagram, so I have to see if it’s worthwhile. Here we go:

Immigration To The Trap: Alright, Belly’s got some flow! I see why The Weeknd pipes him up so much. This was a really fun track that, despite being very short, was still an impressive showcase of Belly’s rapping abilities and clever lyricism. A good start to the tape for sure.

Make A Toast: I love the instrumental on this one, and once again, Belly’s flow is really great. For some reason, this gives me some good throwbacks to the rap music I used to hear on the radio as a kid. It’s a really enjoyable track overall.

The Come Down Is Real Too: Once again, I’m getting some old-school vibes from this one. This one is really fun, Belly’s flow is still strong, the instrumental is exciting and enjoyable, and the hook is really catchy. Really strong track.

Mumble Rap: The opening to this track is honestly kinda creepy. I also find it really interesting that the only “mumbling” in this song is on the hook. While said hook is not particularly “amazing” (I feel like that was kind of the point), this track changes things up a lot from the others and feels more “modern.” That doesn’t stop Belly from delivering another strong performance on this track. Another pretty fun track overall, even though it’s not my favorite so far.

Lullaby: The intro of this one is really interesting, and the song as a whole feels a lot more emotional and personal to Belly. Lyrically, it feels like it really came from the heart, and it feels like there was a lot of passion on this track. And the result is a track that’s probably the best on this mixtape so far.

Bobby Brown: A more upbeat track that has a decent hook and some good flow from Belly, but ultimately, I don’t feel like I’ll want to listen to this one much after this review. It’s upbeat, but I don’t think it’s as fun as some of the other tracks on this tape.

Papyrus: Belly has a lot of fun with the lyrics on this one, and while it’s really short, it’s got some solid flow and a fun, solid beat overall. I wouldn’t call it my favorite track on the tape, but it’s a good one for sure.

Alcantara (ft. Pusha T): Another slower track, but one with some more fun lyrics and good flow from Belly. Pusha T is also featured on this track, and his verse is also pretty fun. The song ends rather abruptly, but kinda creepily, and in a really good way. I like this track.

Clean Edit: Remember how I said that the last track ended creepily? Well, the way this one leads in from that track really adds to the creepiness. And I really like his track a lot largely thanks to the subject matter. Belly performed at the Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto and received criticism because he used profanity at what was considered a “family-friendly” event, even though his performance occurred past midnight and that organizers were made aware that he would be using such words. Here, he talks about how he will not apologize for his actions, and he calls out the media for making him seem like the bad guy and being quick to report negative things about him while ignoring him when he gets nominated for an Oscar/Grammy Award. He uses this to make a track with great flow and really awesome lyricism. I enjoyed this one a lot.

P.O.P.: I actually remember hearing this when Belly opened for The Weeknd back in May. I was a little horrified because P.O.P. stands for “power of pussy” and hearing him yell that while being with my female cousin at the concert made us both say “oh my.” Hearing the master track instead of the loud version is a lot better, in that it sounds more subdued and less “shouty.” And as mortified as I was of the hook when I first heard it, I gotta admit it’s kinda catchy. And Belly’s flow and lyricism on the verses make this one for me to resist.

All Alone: As I’ve said countless times before on this review, Belly’s flow is really strong and his lyricism is really solid. I also really like the extremely-autotuned vocals on the outro, and while this track as a whole is really short, it’s a fun, really solid end to the mixtape.

Overall, I’m actually very impressed with this tape! When The Weeknd posted about this on his Instagram, I was a little nervous that The Weeknd was just trying to be nice and support his XO boy, but even if that was the case, it’s a good thing he was so supportive. This tape is a lot of fun, the lyricism is really strong, Belly’s flow is rock-solid, and I find it really interesting that Belly called this “Mumble Rap” kind of ironically since there’s really little to no “mumble rapping” to speak of on this thing. If anything, in my eyes, quite a bit of it feels pretty old-school. Hearing this gave me some flashbacks to the rap songs that used to play on the radio when I was a kid (I couldn’t help but think about “Gold Digger” by Kanye West & Jamie Foxx, for some reason). And in this case, sounding more old-school really worked, and it made this a really strong listen. I honestly hope Belly gets a bit more attention in the future because he’s good.

Favorite tracks: Immigration To The Trap, Make A Toast, The Come Down Is Real Too, Lullaby, Alcantara, Clean Edit, P.O.P.

Least favorite track: Bobby Brown

Rating: Excellent

Sam Smith "In The Lonely Hour" Album Review

You guys knew it was coming, it’s time for my review of Sam Smith’s 2014 album “In The Lonely Hour.” Sam Smith is an artist I’m relatively familiar with, and I’ve enjoyed the few songs I’ve heard from him. However, I’m only slightly familiar with some of his singles, so with the recent announcement of his new album “The Thrill of It All,” along with the release of his fantastic new song “Too Good At Goodbyes,” I figured now would be a good time to revisit this album and see how it holds up. So, let’s go:

Money On My Mind: I really like the lyrical content on this one, but I’m not really crazy about the hook on this one, and while Sam’s vocals are pretty good, I feel like this is not one of his best songs.

Good Thing: Once again, I really like the very personal lyrics on this track, but while the lighter sound and tempo of this track is solid, I think the hook is kind of boring. Not a bad song, but I think Sam has done better.

Stay With Me: The song that really helped catapult Sam to popularity is still a really enjoyable song years later. Sam’s performance is really strong, the hook is really beautiful, and as a whole, this one sounds amazing. Really enjoyable track!

Leave Your Lover: While the verses on this track aren’t Sam’s best, I really like the hook on this track a lot. As always, Sam’s performance is also very good. Not my favorite Sam Smith track, but it’s pretty solid overall.

I’m Not the Only One: I know this is a really popular track, but I wasn't initially all that crazy about it. I think it grew on me a lot because of Sam’s very beautiful vocals, and the absolutely fantastic hook. Definitely a really good song.

I’ve Told You Now: The verses are pretty catchy on this one, the beat is head-nodding stuff, and Sam’s very passionate vocals only help make the already-strong hook even better. I really like this one!

Like I Can: Really strong hook, a fantastic performance by Sam, and some really catchy verses make this one of Sam Smith’s better songs. I’ve broken the replay button on this one, and I still find it very enjoyable!

Life Support: Sam brings the goods with his vocals on this track, and his performance is very strong. I first thought the track was a little boring, but the hook really grew on me over time. This one was definitely a grower for me; it's a good showcase of Sam’s vocal skills, and one of the better songs on the album.

Not In That Way: For me, this song succeeds entirely on the shoulders of Sam’s beautiful vocals and strong performance. The verses are fine, and the hook is pretty good, but what really lifts the song is Sam himself. It’s a really enjoyable song.

Lay Me Down: Another one that I feel is lifted entirely by Sam’s vocals. It takes a minute to actually kick in, and while that can often be boring to me, this is a case where I don’t mind it because Sam’s performance is really beautiful. This is a really enjoyable track!

Restart: This is a really upbeat track with a really catchy, fun beat and a pretty strong hook as well. After all the very light, kind of empty tracks on this album, it’s nice that the first Deluxe Edition bonus track is really upbeat and danceable. And it’s really enjoyable as well.

Latch (Acoustic): A lot of people remember the original version of this track, but this acoustic version is, in my opinion, better than the original version. Sam’s vocals, as always, are beautiful, and the hook is much more potent and meaningful when the song is acoustic. The original version? Good. The acoustic version? Incredible.

La La La (Naughty Boy ft. Sam Smith): This is actually a track by Naughty Boy that features Sam Smith (it was made while Sam was still on the come-up), and it’s available on the Deluxe Edition of the album. It’s upbeat and catchy, but also really dark in regards to its lyrics. Even if he sounds a bit raw on this one, Sam’s vocals are strong once again. It’s not my personal favorite track, and I’m not 100% feeling the hook, but it’s not a bad song overall.

Make It to Me: Ending things off, we have another one of my favorite Sam Smith songs. Sure, it’s short, but for the little time it plays for, Sam treats us to some beautiful vocals, a fantastic hook, and lovely instrumentals. A really memorable track, and a great end to the Deluxe Edition of this album.

Overall, I can say I definitely enjoyed this album. It’s extremely light, and some of the tracks on here can be a bit too boring for my tastes, but Sam’s beautiful vocals and consistently strong performances help make up for that. His lyricism is also really strong, and there are quite a few memorable, really enjoyable tracks on here. It’s certainly not the best thing I’ve heard, and it feels like a little bit more effort could’ve been put into the tracks that didn’t end up becoming singles, but all in all, I walked away pretty satisfied with this album and, for the most part, I dug it. It’s not gonna turn me into a diehard fan of his, but it’s certainly a good start.

So, who’s ready for “The Thrill of It All?”

Favorite tracks: Stay With Me, I'm Not The Only One*, I've Told You Now, Like I Can, Life Support*, Not In That Way, Lay Me Down, Restart, Latch (Acoustic), Make It to Me

Least favorite track: Money on My Mind

Rating: Good

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

Alessia Cara "Know-It-All" Album Review

As I mentioned, the next album I plan to review doesn’t release until October 27th, so I’m gonna spend some time catching up on albums I’ve missed. Next up is Alessia Cara’s 2015 album “Know-It-All.” You guys know that I absolutely LOVE Alessia, but I haven’t listened to this album fully. I’m only really familiar with the singles on the album, so I have quite a bit of catching up to do. Let’s see if she can do it big on this album, shall we? Song-by-song, here we go:

Seventeen: I like the lyrics about growing up and wanting to turn the clock back to being 17, Alessia’s vocals are great, the song is upbeat and catchy, and the hook is fantastic. Definitely an awesome start to the album!

Here: This was pretty much the song that first put Alessia on the map, and it’s still a fantastic song! The beat is catchy, Alessia’s performance is beautiful, the hook is really memorable, and I really like the lyrics on this one (as someone who’s naturally awkward and has been kind of antisocial when it comes to parties, I can relate to it quite a bit). Another amazing song!

Outlaws: I like the upbeat sound, the piano track, Alessia’s typically-strong vocal performance, and the pretty solid hook on this one. It did need to grow on me a little bit, but now that it has, I find it to be a really good track.

I’m Yours: This one has a really enjoyable hook, and the lyrics are extremely clever, as they talk about how someone really perfect comes along and ruins your belief that you don’t want a relationship. Alessia says things like “how rude of you, to ruin my miserable, and tell me I’m beautiful,” lines that I find so clever and so meaningful (and slightly relatable). This is another extremely memorable track!

Four Pink Walls: Alessia has some really solid flow on the verses of this track, and as always her vocals are really strong. Her lyrics about how her life changed as a result of her becoming a singer are also really great, and the beat is extremely catchy. I love this song, too!

Wild Things: Another widely known song of Alessia’s features more beautiful vocals, another catchy hook, and a really strong, upbeat instrumental. The lyrics talking about self-acceptance are also really good, too. This is another really fun, really awesome song, and I think I’ll end up breaking the replay button on it.

Stone (ft. Sebastian Kole): A much lighter song, this one is really sweet, from the nice instrumental to the lyrics talking about being someone’s “stone” (a fancy way of saying “being someone’s rock”), and of course, even though I don’t have to, I’ll repeat that Alessia’s vocals are wonderful. She can lift a song with her vocals alone, but even beyond those vocals, these songs are really pretty and all-around enjoyable.

Overdose: In some ways a slightly darker song (in how it relates love to drugs), this song also features some really fun verses that show off Alessia’s good flow, a catchy hook that reminds us of Alessia’s beautiful vocals, and a really solid, enjoyable beat. Another really great song.

Stars: Back to the lighter stuff, this song features a really nice piano melody, some really heartbreaking lyrics about being in love but fearing actually starting a relationship (not kidding, the lyrics almost made me cry, largely because I can relate to them), and of course, Alessia’s beautiful vocals help to perfectly round this song out and really make it incredible.

Scars to Your Beautiful: One of my absolute favorite songs. Amazing instrumental, fantastic vocals from Alessia, an incredible hook, and some incredibly beautiful lyrics about being happy with yourself and understanding that you have natural beauty, this song is absolutely gorgeous. Not only is it the perfect end to the non-Deluxe album, but in my eyes, it is an absolutely perfect song. More than a replay-button breaker, this is a song that’s stuck with me and will continue to stick with me.

Here - 2:00 AM Version: This version is only on the Deluxe Edition of the album, and the big difference between this version and the original version is that this one is rawer, in that it’s just Alessia and her piano. I like how Alessia has a little more freedom on this track and said freedom only makes me geek out even more because Alessia’s voice is beautiful, and hearing her sing a few more runs makes life even more worth it. I’m not sure if I like this version or the original better, but I can say that both versions are amazing.

River of Tears: Another Deluxe Edition track, this one is really light, and it features some more heartbreaking lyrics and even more beautiful vocals from Alessia. This is another really strong track, and again, it came damn close to making me cry. That’s not easy to do, so kudos, Alessia.

My Song: Ending off the Deluxe Edition of the album is a more upbeat and kind of uplifting song, with another beautiful performance from Alessia and really enjoyable lyrics about Alessia’s music living on long after she’s gone. And I can tell you for sure her music will be remembered, especially this song because it’s really great!

Overall, I’m so glad I ended up loving this album! Alessia Cara is a beautiful vocalist and a really strong lyricist, and she was able to successfully use her talents to create an emotional, beautiful, and at times heartbreaking album filled with extremely memorable, fantastically enjoyable songs. I legitimately love each and every song on this album and listening to this album in its entirety only made me love Alessia that much more: beyond her general likability and personality (as displayed by her interviews and YouTube videos), she really is an incredible, talented, wonderful musician.

Now can we take a moment to bow down to Alessia? Because she really is the Queen of everything!!!!!

Favorite tracks: All of them!

Least favorite tracks: None of them!

Rating: Excellent

Charlie Puth "Nine Track Mind" Album Review

……well, I don’t know what I’m doing with myself, but since I have no albums to review, I’m gonna take a look at Charlie Puth’s 2016 album “Nine Track Mind.” This album was absolutely destroyed when it came out last year, and at the time of this writing, it’s the 15th worst-reviewed album on Metacritic. So, of course, bile fascination got the best of me, and I had to see if this album was really as awful as everyone made it out to be. I even went through the act of finding the Deluxe Edition, too. So…let’s go:

One Call Away: Okay, I’m not gonna lie, when this song first came out, I loved it. Now, I hear it and just feel like it’s a lot less charming and a lot more soulless and generic. It’s a pity because Puth can clearly sing, but this song is just painfully boring.

Dangerously: Once again, Puth has a good voice, but this song just feels kind of boring. The hook is really boring, the instrumental feels like it’s taking too much from other songs (I’m getting flashbacks to “Set Fire To The Rain” by Adele and “Grenade” by Bruno Mars), and all in all, the song itself feels generic, and doesn’t have enough to charm to make up for its lack of originality.

Marvin Gaye (ft. Meghan Trainor): Even this more upbeat song kind of makes me want to fall asleep. Granted, Meghan Trainor’s performance on this track is not bad, but I couldn’t help but smirk throughout the song, and not because it was clever, but because it was cheesy. There’s an audience for this kind of song, and it doesn’t sound bad overall, but it’s definitely kinda cheesy. Oddly enough, though, I feel like this one could grow on me in the future if I give it a chance.

Losing My Mind: Okay, I do like the beat on this one, the verses are really fun, and the hook is really solid. Puth’s performance is also really good. I’m not gonna lie, this might actually end up being a replay-button breaker for me. I don’t know what it is but I actually like it!

We Don’t Talk Anymore (ft. Selena Gomez): The hook on this one is actually pretty catchy, and the verses are really fun. The beat is pretty catchy, too. Selena Gomez’s guest appearance is also pretty solid. Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have been ignoring this song for so long. It’s actually a pretty good song.

My Gospel: Can’t say I really love this song, but the hook is not too bad on this. My big problem is that it feels a bit too generic, and doesn’t have enough charm to make up for that. Not the worst the album has to offer, but nothing too memorable either.

Up All Night: While this one sounds kind of nice, everything about it screams “you’ve heard this before!!!!!” From the piano track to Puth’s vocals, to his performance on the verses, to the hook, it all just feels so “blah.” And, yes, it’s very sweet, but it’s not very charming or memorable overall.

Left Right Left: Another one that, despite sounding nice, is just too boring and generic overall. Even if it sounds upbeat, the hook is really boring and the song is wholly unmemorable. The song is supposed to be about “moving on,” but it doesn't feel like it’s a really accepting “move on” song.

Then There’s You: I really like the pre-chorus on this track, the hook is pretty solid, and the instrumental is not bad, either. The verses aren’t quite as strong as the hook, but overall, this one’s pretty good.

Suffer: Unfortunately, we follow up one of the album’s better songs with a laughable, cheesy, and rather boring track overall. The hook is only memorable because of Puth’s incredibly silly way of singing the word “suffer,” and everything else about the song feels boring and unremarkable.

As You Are (ft. Shy Carter): And, once again, despite having a nice sound and an upbeat feel, this song is, again, enough to put you to sleep. This feels really generic, and Puth’s performance on this track is not nearly as strong as some of his other songs. And even though Shy Carter shows that he can rap on this track, he fails to really bring much excitement overall. Another “blah” kind of song.

Some Type of Love: This one admittedly has a pretty funky beat overall, and I do like Puth’s vocals on this track. I’m not sure if it’s my favorite track on the album, but I do think it’s a decently enjoyable song overall, and a good end to the non-Deluxe Edition of this album.

River: This one is actually pretty fun. I like the hook, Puth’s performance on this one is really strong, and I like the instrumental (the snaps also work really well here). Might listen to this one a little more in the future.

Does It Feel: Really catchy beat, solid vocals by Puth (even if they are a bit overly-autotuned), and some really fun verses overall. The hook isn’t the best on the album, but it’s still pretty enjoyable. Another enjoyable bonus track.

Nothing But Trouble (Instagram Models) (Dance Remix): Unfortunately, we end off the Deluxe Edition of this album with some very generic dance music that just feels entirely at odds with the rest of this album. I’m…just gonna forget this song ever existed and move on.

Overall, I’m kind of conflicted on this one. On one hand, it does have some legitimately enjoyable, really solid songs that I might listen to long after this review. However, there are also some very forgettable, contrived, and less enjoyable tracks. It’s hard to really tell which outweighs the other on this album: I counted 9 tracks I legitimately didn’t like, and 6 that I did like, but the difference is that the six tracks I enjoyed were tracks I really enjoyed. This is gonna be a tough one for me to rate, but just know that I don’t hate this album as much as everyone else did. It’s certainly really generic and lackluster, but there are also some pretty solid takeaway tracks.

Favorite tracks: Losing My Mind, We Don't Talk Anymore, Then There's You, River, Does It Feel

Least favorite tracks: One Call Away, Marvin Gaye, Suffer, As You Are, Nothing But Trouble (Instagram Models) (Dance Remix)

Rating: Okay

P!nk "Beautiful Trauma" Album Review (30th Review)

Alright, I’ve been hyping this up for some time now, it is time for my review of P!nk’s brand-new album “Beautiful Trauma.” I’m not really much of a P!nk fanatic, but there’s something about her as a person that I just really like, and I can say I’ve enjoyed quite a few of her songs. “Get the Party Started,” “Who Knew,” “So What,” and “Sober” were big during my elementary school years, and I found all of them to really good, enjoyable tracks. P!nk then kept things going strong during my middle school/early high school years with songs like “Raise Your Glass,” “Fuckin’ Perfect,” “Try” and “Just Give Me a Reason,” songs that I heard even more often and, once again, really enjoyed. Though I drifted away from her music in my later high school years (her only huge hit during that span was “Just Like Fire,” a song I personally am not crazy about), I still think she’s a really talented artist and I applaud her for being able to stick around, stay relevant, and keep making great music for so many years. So, here she is with her SEVENTH studio album (yeah, I know!) and her first since 2012. Is it an album we can raise our glass to? Let’s go track-by-track and find out:

Beautiful Trauma: WELCOME BACK, P!NK!!!!! Wow, this song is amazing! P!nk’s vocals, as usual, are beautiful, the beat is really catchy, and it’s a perfect blend of light and upbeat. The hook is also absolutely phenomenal. This song put a huge smile on my face and it just wouldn’t come off! Absolutely amazing song!

Revenge (ft. Eminem): P!nk shows us on this one that her rhythm as a rapper is tremendous, and the hook is really awesome. The lyrics are also really clever, and Eminem has a really great verse on this song. Yet another really awesome song!

Whatever You Want: Sounds like a pleasantly old-school P!nk song, and her vocals remain tremendous. The hook is also really memorable, and the beat is really fun. This album’s been off to a great start so far!

What About Us: I really like the lyrics on this one, and the instrumental is pretty catchy. P!nk’s vocals are once again amazing, as well. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite on the album, but it’s a pretty good song that might grow on me with time.

But We Lost It: P!nk takes a break from the upbeat party songs to bring us a lighter piano ballad, and all in all, it serves as another good showcase of P!nk’s incredible vocals. The lyrics are also really solid on this one. I won’t break the replay button with this one, but it’s certainly a solid song.

Barbies: Keeping things light, we have an acoustic guitar song about nostalgia, and I love it! It’s got some great lyrics, another fantastic performance from P!nk, and the hook is really strong. It’s a pretty emotional song, and I find it to be extremely memorable.

Where We Go: While this one is very high-energy and it has a solid hook, I can’t say I’m really crazy about it. Not sure what it is, but something about this song just feels kinda “meh” to me. It’s upbeat, but I guess, for lack of a better word, it’s not really that catchy. It’s alright, though, one very minor speed-bump won’t kill the album for me.

For Now: Another old-school sounding song with some really great lyrics, a good hook, and another strong performance from P!nk. While I wouldn’t call it my favorite track on the album, I think this one has plenty of potential to grow on me. Even if it doesn’t, I can say it’s a pretty good song overall.

Secrets: As soon as the instrumental started playing at the beginning, I was really intrigued because it sounded really awesome. And while the hook on this isn’t one of the album’s best, it’s a really fun, solidly enjoyable song that gives me a lot of good throwbacks.

Better Life: This one’s really funky! Catchy beat, great flow on the verses, a really strong hook, a charismatic performance from P!nk, this one has it all! It’s definitely really fun and I’ll be breaking the replay button on this one for sure!

I Am Here: A very upbeat and lively song with some interesting, somewhat dark lyrics. I like P!nk’s vocals a lot on this one, and the hook is pretty strong, though I’m not crazy about the “post-chorus,” if you will. In fact, this would be one of my favorites on the album if not for the “post-chorus.” I’m sorry but hearing a bunch of people sing “where does everybody go when they go” as they do on this track is…honestly kind of boring. The song is still good, though.

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken: Another piano ballad, but this one is really beautiful! I love the hook a lot, and P!nk’s performance, once again, is really emotional and fantastic. I’m gonna want to listen to this one a lot more in the future, it’s really enjoyable.

You Get My Love: I was initially a bit hesitant when I saw that this was 5 minutes long (none of the other tracks even pass the 4:30 mark), and then a little more worried when it was a slow piano ballad. “Would I get bored quickly?” I wondered. And then I remembered that P!nk is a beautiful singer and then all my worries went away. I like how light and slow this one is, too, and for some reason, I feel like this is gonna be one of those songs my future wife and I will want to slow dance to. A really beautiful end to this album.

Overall, P!nk has done it again! Once more, P!nk has put out a fantastically enjoyable album in “Beautiful Trauma,” and once more, she reminds us that she is a vocal powerhouse, able to handle both upbeat, super fun songs, and much slower, lighter ballads. P!nk reminds us that she has not skipped a single beat and that she’s still one of the best in the business. Raise Your Glass, everyone, because P!nk’s new album delivers big-time! 17 years after her first studio album, P!nk’s still got it!

Favorite tracks: Beautiful Trauma, Revenge, Whatever You Want, Barbies, Better Life, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, You Get My Love

Least favorite track: Where We Go, if I had to pick one.

Rating: Excellent

Poppy "Poppy.Computer" Album Review

…well, didn’t think I’d be saying this, but it’s time for a review of the new Poppy album “Poppy.Computer.” I’m not super familiar with Poppy (I’M POPPY), but I’ve seen some of her more abstract, confusing, kind of avant-garde YouTube videos, and I find them to be beautiful in the most confusing way (I’M POPPY!!!). So, now that she has released her first album, let’s see if she can come through with something entertaining (I’M POPPY!!!). Oh, sorry, Poppy’s so excited that I’m reviewing her album that she won’t stop chiming in. Don’t let it bother you, let’s just get on with the review (I’M POPPY!):

I’m Poppy: (I’M POPPY) There’s something really strangely charming about this track. It’s catchy, and it feels like there’s some really strange, interesting hidden meaning behind the positive lyrics and the upbeat, loud music on this. It’s a song I feel like I’ll just want to keep going back to out of strange fascination. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Let’s Make A Video: (I’M POPPY) Again, I find this to be weirdly interesting. It’s upbeat and fun to listen to, and while it feels kinda normal after the last song, it kind of feels like this song was made to be the most subtle callout of soulless pop. I don’t know what it is, but I really like this. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Bleach Blonde Baby: (I’M POPPY) Why are these songs so hypnotic? Is it because they are satirical? Poppy, help me out here! (I’M POPPY) Got it, thanks. But yeah, I like how this is like a socially-aware song hidden behind a cliché pop sound that’s actually really catchy and enjoyable. Good job, Poppy. (I’M POPPY!!!)

My Microphone: (I’M POPPY) Poppy turns into a character on here whose only purpose is to sing, and I find that to be so interesting. And again, the “cliché rock/pop sound” actually works brilliantly on this one. There’s a childlike innocence on these tracks with some interesting hidden meanings. I like this. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Moshi Moshi: (I’M POPPY) I like the use of Japanese lyrics on this track, and again, there’s something kind of irresistible and hypnotizing about the childlike sound of this one. Poppy kind of distances herself from reality, and it’s supposed to be cheesy, but it’s actually really fun and enjoyable. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Computer Boy: (I’M POPPY) A very obvious callout of people who are too obsessed with computers and social media *cough cough ME cough cough*, I oddly don’t find this one as hypnotic as the others. (I’M POPPY?) Yeah, I’m sorry, Poppy, there’s something about this one that just isn’t grabbing me for some reason. I like the lyrics a lot, but the instrumental bored me a bit more on this one. (I’M POPPY.) I’m glad you understand. And hey, maybe I’ll try to listen to it a couple more times and see if it will grow on me. (I’M POPPY!)

My Style (ft. Charlotte): (I’M POPPY) I like the harder lyrics on this one, the hook is pretty catchy, the social commentary is definitely there and Poppy’s performance on the song is really great. (I’M POPPY!!!) Yep, be happy, Poppy, because this track is really enjoyable. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Fuzzy: (I’M POPPY) There’s something about this track I’m not loving too much. Like, I think it feels strange to me that Poppy wants someone to love her when she’s so distanced from reality as it is. (I’M POPPY.) Listen, Poppy, I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a lover, because we all deserve love, but I just find it strange that you want to leave your little bubble. (I’M POPPY.) Eh, can’t fault you for that. Still not my favorite song on the album. (I’M POPPY.) Thank you for understanding. (I’M POPPY.)

Interweb: (I’M POPPY) The social media commentary is REAL on this track. It’s really well-written, though, and this one sounds so interesting. It’s not my favorite track on the album, but I do really like it. (I’M POPPY!)

Software Upgrade: (I’M POPPY) This is the aftermath of the “Computer Boy” track, and I’ll say that was a quick aftermath. Poppy, did, uh, did you and the Computer Boy have a falling out? (I’M POPPY.) Aww, I’m sorry to hear that. You’ll find someone better, though. (I’M POPPY!) That’s the spirit! Anyway, I really like the lyrics a lot on this one, and while I might not break the replay button with it, I like the slightly darker sound on this track. Give it a few more listens, and it might grow on me. (I’M POPPY!)

Pop Music: (I’M POPPY) So, after all the upbeat loud songs on this thing, we have…an acoustic song. Uh, Poppy, care to tell everyone what influenced you to do that? (I’M POPPY.) I see. Well, I think it sounds very pretty, the lyrics are really interesting, and I definitely want to listen to this song a lot more in the future. (I’M POPPY!!!)

Overall, Poppy’s new album “Poppy.Computer” is undeniably strange, a bit weird, and rather distanced from reality. But, in a weird way, I actually like it a lot. (I’M POPPY!) It’s oddly irresistible, really fun, and it has some really solid lyrics. I wasn’t sure what I’d think of this before listening to it, but you know what? I loved it! (I’M POPPY!!!) Yes, Poppy, I really liked this album a lot, and I’ll definitely go back to listen to it more. Oh, don’t worry, Poppy, I’ll say it for you this time. Ahem…

I’M POPPY!!!

Favorite tracks: I'm Poppy, Let's Make A Video, Bleach Blonde Baby, My Microphone, Moshi Moshi, My Style, Pop Music (I'M POPPY!!!)

Least favorite tracks: Computer Boy, Fuzzy (I'M POPPY?) Yes, we talked about this already, and you accepted my opinion. (I'M POPPY.)

Rating Excellent (I'M POPPY!!!)

Lil Pump "Lil Pump" Album Review

Okay…I have no idea what I’m getting myself into, but it’s time for a review of Lil Pump’s debut album…"Lil Pump." I have no idea who this guy is: he seems to be making his way towards Internet fame, but I’ve never even heard his music before. So why am I reviewing his newest album? Well, Anthony Fantano (a popular YouTube music critic that calls himself “The Internet’s Busiest Music Nerd”) gave this record a 7 out of 10 and that’s slowly becoming a meme (you gave ______ a 5 but you gave Lil Pump a 7?). So, I have to see for myself if this thing is anything close to a 7. That, and a lot of the songs are pretty short, so it’s not like this is gonna take too long, and what’s the harm in trying something different? So…here we go I guess:

What You Gotta Say (ft. Smokepurpp): I mean…it’s not cringe-worthy or anything like that. It’s not like this song is anything overly special, but it’s competently made, and I can certainly see the appeal in a song like this. Pump and his featured artist…ahem…"Smokepurpp," have some fun on this track and, while it’s nothing I’ll go back to, I see the appeal of it.

Gucci Gang: Again, no way would I go back to this after the review, but I see the appeal of this. It’s fun, and I think the hook is somewhat catchy. Not terrible, just not for me.

Smoke My Dope (ft. Smokepurpp): I’m probably gonna repeat myself on this one, but this one is fun, just not for me. It’s silly, but there’s appeal in something like this, and some of the lyrics were actually pretty funny. Not a bad song, Lil Pump and Smokepurpp have some fun on this one.

Crazy: Lil Pump, on this one, doesn’t do much to differentiate himself from the many other “Soundcloud rappers” that have been rising to fame, but again, it’s silly fun, even if it’s a bit repetitive.

Back (ft. Lil Yachty): It follows the same formula as many of the previous songs on this project, but again, it’s energetic, and there’s fun to be had on this one. Lil Yachty’s feature, again, is not that bad.

D Rose: The hook is kinda fun on this one, and once again, there’s some fun to be had with this track. I’m sure it’s gonna be a popular “party song” in the future. I won’t be surprised if I see videos on Instagram/Snapchat of parties where this song is playing.

At The Door: So far, this is the weakest song on the project to me, but again, I feel like this has more to do with the fact that this just isn’t for me. I’m sure others will have a lot of fun with this one.

Youngest Flexer (ft. Gucci Mane): I can’t lie, I had fun listening to this track. The hook didn’t feel super boring, and you know what? Gucci Mane’s verse on this thing was actually not bad. I’m not sure what this whole review says about me as a person, but this song was fun.

Foreign: I don’t know what’s going on, but I actually kind of like this song. Can someone explain what this is? Like, there’s gotta be some sorcery going on here.

Whitney (ft. Chief Keef): Once again, there’s plenty of energy on this track, but I can’t say I’m very crazy about Chief Keef’s verse, and the hook was kind of boring to me. There’s definitely some appeal in this song, though. It’s just not for me.

Molly: It’s nothing you haven’t heard before, but it’s a relatively fun party song that I think there’s definitely an audience for. It’s not for me, but it’s a competently-made song that I’m sure others will get some longevity out of.

Iced Out (ft. 2 Chainz): Has a fun instrumental and a good beat overall. It’s definitely a pretty fun song with a decent hook and an okay verse from 2 Chainz. I can see this being a really enjoyable party song.

Boss: I’m not really crazy about the production on this one, but Pump does a decent job on the verses on this thing. The hook is also kinda catchy, even if it’s a bit repetitive. It’s nothing amazing, but it’s a decent track overall.

Flex Like Ouu: This one honestly bored me a bit. Even if it’s pretty fast, it’s not really memorable, the hook is really forgettable, and the verses aren’t as fun on this one.

Pinky Ring (ft. Smokepurpp and Rick Ross): Rick Ross’s verse on this is honestly pretty boring, but the hook is not bad and Pump’s verse is pretty fun. Oh, and shoutout to SmokePurpp, because even though his name is really weird, he referenced “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” successfully on this track. Again, I can see the appeal of a song like this. It’s not for me, but it’s nothing too bad overall.

Overall, I can’t really take this record seriously at all, but taking it at face value, I’m pretty sure that’s the point. Lil Pump just kind of went in and said “let’s just do something,” and he did. It’s not my kind of music, but there’s definitely an audience for this, and all in all, it’s relatively fun, and there are some good party songs here. It does follow a bit of a flowchart, but it’s admittedly not a cringefest, and overall, it’s not too bad. I know what you’re thinking, “what?” Trust me, I’m thinking the same thing.

I think I need to go take a shower.

Favorite tracks: Smoke My Dope, Youngest Flexer, Boss

Least favorite tracks: At The Door, Whitney, Flex Like Ouu

Rating: Okay

Ed Sheeran "X" Album Review

Alright, moving right along, we have Ed Sheeran’s 2014 album “X” (pronounced “multiply”). Most of you probably recognize at least one or two tracks on this, but today we’re gonna look over all of them. So…let’s do it!

One: I love the super-light acoustic guitar sound, Ed’s vocals are absolutely gorgeous, and the hook is fantastic. This is honestly one of my personal favorite Ed Sheeran songs, and it’s a tremendous start to the album.

I’m A Mess: The hook is really strong and Ed’s performance is pretty great on this one. I’m not as crazy about how it ends (“for how long I love my lover now now” on repeat a bunch of times just gets a bit boring), but it’s still a good song overall, and it's definitely grown on me with some repeat listens.

Sing: This one grew on me over time. I initially wasn’t too crazy about the hook, but I’ve gotta say it’s a really fun, upbeat song and Ed’s rapping on the second verse is incredible. A really fun song overall.

Don’t: Catchy, great flow on the verses, a solid hook, and a great beat make this one another really fun one. I’ve broken the replay button a lot on this song and it wasn't even one of my favorite Ed Sheeran songs (I recently added it back to the rotation). The fact that I’m willing to break the replay button on a song that’s not even one of my favorites shows that it must be a pretty good song.

Nina: I like the way this one starts and I like the piano track on this one, and the verses have some pretty fun lyrics and flow, but I’m not really crazy about the hook on this one. I don’t know, it’s just kind of boring and unmemorable to me. Not a bad song at all, but not one of my favorites.

Photograph: Beautiful vocals from Ed, an amazing hook, and some incredibly sweet lyrics make this one of my personal favorite Ed Sheeran songs. This is one I’ve broken the replay button on and I’m prepared to keep doing that.

Bloodstream: This is a much darker song, but it’s a really beautiful one. I like the acoustic guitar track, I love Ed’s vocals a lot and, even though the song does that thing I usually don’t like in the bridge (where it just repeats the same phrase rather generically, in this case, it’s “all the voices in my mind, calling out across the line”), for some reason I actually like it this time around. Another great song.

Tenerife Sea: I love the acoustic guitar track on this, the hook is really beautiful and I love Ed’s performance on this one. This is one of those songs that I’ve only listened to a couple times, but every time I hear it, I fall in love with it. I think I need to do some replay-button breaking on this one.

Runaway: A really personal song that has a pretty strong hook, some fun lyrics, good flow from Ed on the verses, and a nice sound overall. This is another really fun song overall.

The Man: Ed’s rapping skills are once again very solid on this one, the hook is pretty fun, and this has a nice beat overall. It’s not my favorite song on the album, but it’s a pretty fun, pretty enjoyable song.

Thinking Out Loud: Come on, everyone knows this song because it was probably the slow dance song at one of your Proms (in my case, it was my slow-dance song TWICE). And you know what, I still love the song no matter how many times I’ve listened to it. It’s still got some beautiful lyrics, incredible vocals, and a fantastic hook. There’s a reason this song is arguably Ed’s most popular: because it’s amazing.

Afire Love: This song about Ed Sheeran’s grandfather who died from Alzheimer’s has some great lyrics, an incredible hook, and a beautiful performance from Ed. Why have I been ignoring this song for so long? It’s fantastic!

Take It Back: The first of quite a few bonus tracks that are only on the Deluxe Edition, Ed’s rapping is once again really strong, and the hook is a lot of fun! I’m not sure if this one is a replay-button breaker, but I do think it’s pretty fun overall.

Shirtsleeves: Our next Deluxe Edition-exclusive bonus track features a really cool-sounding beat, a great performance from Ed, and a beautiful hook. I haven’t listened to this one too much before this review, but I think it’s gonna become a replay-button breaker in the future.

Even My Dad Does Sometimes: Third bonus track that's only featured on the Deluxe Edition, I’m not as crazy about this one. It sounds pleasant, and Ed’s vocals are beautiful as usual, but I don’t really find the hook as memorable on this one. Maybe I just need to listen to it a few more times? We’ll see.

I See Fire: Not only is this track only available in the Deluxe Edition but this bonus track was featured in the film “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” It’s really light and it has an amazing hook, beautiful vocals, and some awesome lyrics. Another personal favorite of mine, and another replay-button-breaker.

All of the Stars: Now this bonus track is only available on the physical release of the Deluxe Edition, and it was also featured in the film “The Fault in Our Stars.” On this track, Ed’s vocals are mesmerizing, the lyrics are pretty good, and the hook is really really strong! A beautiful way to end off this album. I’ve been ignoring this one for far too long, time to change that.

Overall, you guys already know what I’m gonna say: Ed continues to bring us songs with beautiful vocals, catchy instrumentals, and memorable hooks. Sure, his music may be “trite” and “pandering,” but there’s a certain beauty to his music that keeps me coming back for more listens. It’s honestly something I just can’t put my finger on, either. Ed just has something going for him that just appeals directly to me, and while others may not be crazy about it, I find his songs to be incredible and worthy of multiple listens. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go break the replay button a bit more on these songs.

Favorite tracks: One, I'm a Mess*, Sing*, Don't*, Photograph, Bloodstream, Tenerife Sea, Runaway*, Thinking Out Loud, Afire Love, Shirtsleeves, I See Fire, All of the Stars

Least favorite track: Nina, if I had to pick one.

Rating: Excellent

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

Ed Sheeran "+" Album Review

As promised, here is my review of Ed Sheeran’s 2011 debut studio album “+” (pronounced “plus”). I don’t need to introduce Ed to you guys, so let’s get right into this, shall we:

The A Team: This was most likely every longtime Ed Sheeran fan’s first true experience with him. It still holds up phenomenally: Ed’s performance is beautiful, the lyrics are really strong, the acoustic guitar instrumental is great. Still one of my personal favorites from Ed.

Drunk: Another one I personally love, I love the guitar track, Ed’s vocals are amazing, and the hook is really catchy. One of my personal favorites, and another one I’ve broken the replay button on.

U.N.I.: I love the hook on this one, and Ed shows us that he’s got some really good flow on the verses. Of course, the instrumental and Ed’s performance is fantastic as usual. Great great great song.

Grade 8: Upbeat song with a really great hook and a cool beat. It’s not my personal favorite on the album, but I feel like I’ve been ignoring this song a bit too much lately and I need to fix that. Really enjoyable song.

Wake Me Up: Once again, Ed’s performance is wonderful and the lyrics, while a little silly at points, are very sweet, but I don’t know, this kind of feels a little unorganized, as if it’s still a work-in-progress. That said, it might grow on me a bit because there’s too much charm and sweetness for me to ignore it. Maybe I need to listen to it a few more times.

Small Bump: This song sounds really nice and has some beautiful vocals, but I think what makes it really work is the lyrics: the song is about a close friend of Ed’s who was pregnant, and at the end of the song, said close friend ends up having a miscarriage. The reveal comes at the very end, and it hits pretty hard. I can’t say this is my favorite track on the album, but it’s a heartbreaking, really pretty song overall.

This: Ed’s vocals are beautiful as usual, and the light acoustic guitar track is great, but I think this song just bored me a little bit. I don’t know what it is, but no matter how many times I try to listen to it, I just can’t get into it.

The City: I like the pacing and the upbeat nature of this song, and I think Ed’s vocals are amazing as usual, but I’m not really crazy about the hook on this one. It’s a good, fun song overall, but I wish the hook was as fun as the verses.

Lego House: When I was still working at my part-time job, this song played almost all the time. While I initially thought I was getting tired of it, going back to listen to it has made me appreciate it a lot more. It’s beautiful sounding, has some really sweet lyrics, and a great performance from Ed. Really enjoyable song.

You Need Me, I Don’t Need You: Another song where Ed shows us that he has incredible flow (he can actually rap!), his lyricism on this one is amazing (“they say I’m up-and-coming like I’m fucking in an elevator” might be one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard in my life), and the hook is irresistible. Another great track.

Kiss Me: Love the hook on this one, love the sweet lyrics, love the instrumental and vocal sound on this track…as you can tell, I love this one.

Give Me Love: This one is really beautiful sounding and really nice, but I’m not crazy about when it switches sound in the bridge because that’s when it starts to feel repetitive and kind of boring, even with Ed’s passionate screams. This song also does have a hidden rendition of “The Parting Glass.” It sounds nice, though I’m not sure I’d sit through all of “Give Me Love” to get to it. Don’t get it twisted, I don’t dislike this song, it’s just that about half of it is excellent, half of it is just “whatever.”

Autumn Leaves: This track is exclusive to the Deluxe Edition of the album. It’s light, has a nice piano instrumental, some really heartbreaking lyrics (it’s about a friend of Ed’s that passed away), and a typically beautiful performance from Ed. Surprisingly, this is the first time I’m hearing this song, and I’m prepared to break the replay button with this one.

Little Bird: Another bonus track exclusive to the Deluxe Edition. I love the upbeat sound on this one, the lyrics are very sweet, the hook is really catchy, and Ed’s performance is spot-on as usual. Another personal favorite of mine.

Gold Rush: Our third bonus, Deluxe Edition-exclusive track sounds a bit different from other Ed Sheeran songs, and honestly, I’m not crazy about this one. The hook isn’t amazing, and while the lyrics are sweet, I don’t think the vocals are as fun as the guitar track. One of the few “meh” Ed Sheeran songs, and if I had to make a list of my least favorite Ed Sheeran songs…well, I wouldn’t really WANT to, but this would be up there on the list somewhere. I don't know, though, maybe it might grow on me?

Sunburn: Ending off the set of bonus tracks (and the Deluxe Edition of the album as a whole), this song sounds nice and has a great instrumental. Once again, the lyrics are heartbreaking as well, and I really like the hook. Not my personal favorite Ed Sheeran song, but it’s a very good one.

Overall, you guys already know what I’m gonna say: I loved this album. People might say he just “panders” and all that, but his first studio album features plenty of memorable, sweet songs and, even if his lyrics “pander,” I feel like I can relate to them in some ways, which makes him music more enjoyable for me. On top of that, he’s got a great voice and his acoustic guitar tracks are very enjoyable. Yes, I, an Ed Sheeran fan, love this album. Big surprise, I’m sure.

Favorite tracks: The A Team, Drunk, U.N.I., Grade 8*, Lego House*, Kiss Me, Autumn Leaves, Little Bird

Least favorite tracks: Gold Rush, if I had to pick one.

Rating: Excellent

(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)

Shania Twain "Now" Album Review

Alright, the moment I’ve been waiting for: it is time to review Shania Twain’s new album “Now.” Shania Twain is one of my personal favorite female artists, and I love a lot of her songs. Since I was a child, my mom owned the green version of her album “Up,” and while I never liked to admit it as a kid, I loved the album. 15 years after “Up,” she’s back with a brand new album. I have been hearing some mixed things, which has made me even more curious. So, let’s go song-by-song and see if Shania really can only go "Up" from here:

Swinging’ With My Eyes Closed: I like the hook on this track, but something feels kind of off about Shania’s voice on the verses. It kind of feels a bit robotic, like a weird autotune-ish filter was added to her voice that just made her sound worse. It’s not a bad track overall, but it’s not an amazing start to the album.

Home Now: Definitely sounds a little more like the Shania we know and love on the verse of this one, and I like the instrumental here. Not particularly crazy about the hook, but overall, not a bad song.

Light of My Life: Shania’s performance on this one is just boring! And it pains me to say that, because I love Shania, but while this starts promisingly with a cool instrumental, Shania just can’t help but sound really bored throughout this track. This album is not off to a great start.

Poor Me: Man, someone’s been listening to some Chainsmokers, because this sounds A LOT like “Don’t Let Me Down.” It actually comes somewhat close to being blatant. And unfortunately, I’m not crazy about the hook on this one, and while the song as a whole isn’t terrible, it’s nothing too great either.

Who’s Gonna Be Your Girl?: With this track, it feels like Shania is kind of at a fork in the road where she can’t decide if she wants to stick to the old stuff that put her on the map or try to modernize her stuff to keep up with the times. As a result, the song isn’t bad, and I like the instrumental, but unfortunately, it’s just pretty unexciting. I was so hoping this album would start off better, this makes me kinda sad.

More Fun: On this track, it feels like Shania is kind of stepping out of her comfort zone and trying to do something that sounds a little different, but once again, it feels a bit half-hearted. There’s no energy on this track, and while the instrumental is not bad, it just doesn’t fit for Shania. Yikes, this isn’t looking great.

I’m Alright: While this track doesn’t sound too bad, and the hook is pretty decent, I’m not crazy about the filter/effect that they are putting on Shania’s voice on this one. It just makes her sound a bit too robotic and not as exciting as before. Definitely not a bad track, but nothing amazing either.

Let’s Kiss and Make Up: This one actually feels like Shania is trying to modernize her music, but unfortunately, despite a catchy instrumental, Shania’s performance fails to really provide any excitement. This new autotune-y sound kinda takes away from what made her old songs so amazing. Halfway through the album, I’m not impressed, and that’s making me sad. Hopefully, the rest of the album can salvage this.

Where Do You Think You’re Going: While I like the slower speed and the nice piano track on this one, I again feel like the weird autotune-like vocal filter really takes away from the prettiness of Shania’s voice, and it makes this a little harder for me to listen to.

Roll Me on the River: While this has a cool sound to it, I felt like this one was, again, a bit boring, and again, Shania sounded a bit too robotic on this one. The disappointment is real with this album so far.

We Got Something They Don’t: I really like the instrumental and groovy bass-line on this track, and the hook is pretty solid, too. This one is honestly pretty fun. I’m not sure I’ll be going back to this song much after the review (largely because I kind of want to blank this album out of my mind), but I’ll admit, I do like this song, especially after the long streak of tracks that were, to put it nicely, not good.

Because of You: The lighter acoustic guitar sound on this track is quite nice, and I actually like Shania’s vocals on this one. This one is pretty nice overall, and while I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorites, I think this one has some room to grow on me in the future.

You Can’t Buy Love: Very lively song with a solid beat and a pretty good hook as well! This is another track I’d describe as “fun.” Again, not sure if I’ll revisit this one a lot, but I do think it’s a good song and, slowly, the album is redeeming itself (though it might be a bit too late).

Life’s About to Get Good: A pleasantly old-school Shania song with a really upbeat sound, a good beat, an enjoyable hook, and some really enjoyable lyrics! Another good song!

Soldier: A light, pretty sweet song with a great piano track and some nice vocals from Shania overall. Not one of my personal favorites on this album, but this one is pretty enjoyable overall.

All in All: I like the instrumental on this one a lot! And while Shania’s vocals have that annoying autotune-esque sound to them, I think this song is pleasantly old-school sounding, and I think the hook is pretty good. A nice solid end to this album.

Overall, while things started to get better towards the end, I’ve gotta say I was very disappointed by this album. Shania’s voice (possibly thanks to the autotune-like effect) sounded a bit more robotic and boring on this one, and I think that being that she’s been out of this whole music thing for 15 years, Shania reached a crossroads where she had to decide between sticking to the guns that made her so successful in the past or modernize her songs for the sake of staying relevant. As a result, the album just feels like it doesn’t know what it wants to be, and unfortunately, her overall sound was lacking a bit throughout this album. And while the final six tracks were much better than the first ten, I don’t feel like they did well enough to save the album from being such a giant disappointment. I still love Shania, and I really wanted this to be great, but I guess not every album can be a hit.

I’m sad now.

Favorite tracks: We Got Something They Don't, You Can't Buy Love, Life's About to Get Good

Least favorite track: Light of My Life

Rating: Bad