Who knew that when the music industry’s biggest mastermind at the game of marketing dropped the months-long promotion cycle and released something spontaneous that it would result in her masterpiece? It seems as though the real marketing strategy is great music, as Taylor Swift’s surprise “indie” album folklore is now the 2nd biggest streaming debut … Continue reading Taylor Swift – folklore
Month: July 2020
Ellie Goulding – Brightest Blue
Keeping with the spirit of the chaos of 2020, here we have yet another excellent pop album from a somewhat unexpected source. Ellie Goulding has been absent from the music scene since 2015’s Delirium, and has since returned with a variety of interviews where she discussed the stresses of fame and feeling like a manufactured … Continue reading Ellie Goulding – Brightest Blue
The Chicks – Gaslighter
Back with a new name and one of the best producers in the business, The Chicks storm back onto the musical scene. Their first album since winning the 2007 Album of the Year Grammy with Taking The Long Way, a somber and reflective look at a world that had recently sent them a firestorm of … Continue reading The Chicks – Gaslighter
Quinn XCII – A Letter To My Younger Self
“What a great album, 10/10,” a voice, presumably one of Quinn XCII’s friends, proclaims as his latest album fades out. Not quite, but it’s pretty good. The Detroit pop singer-songwriter’s third studio album sees him continuing to blur genre lines with a generally upbeat and soulful vocal delivery, firing off a number of catchy tunes … Continue reading Quinn XCII – A Letter To My Younger Self
Juice WRLD – Legends Never Die
How strange is it that we’re getting back-to-back number one albums from rappers who have left us far, far too soon? Juice WRLD’s death at the age of only 21 last December was, once again, a tragic loss of an artist who was only getting started and well on his way to being one of … Continue reading Juice WRLD – Legends Never Die
HONNE – no song without you
UK electropop duo HONNE’s third studio album – well, technically, according to them, their first “mixtape” – has arrived, and it’s full of sentimental love songs and the duo’s typical cheery and minimal songwriting style. Recorded partially with the duo stuck apart and with less tools than usual at their hands while in quarantine, the … Continue reading HONNE – no song without you
Pop Smoke – Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon
After making enormous waves in bringing the unique sounds of New York drill to the mainstream and tragically passing away at age 20 only a few short days after dropping his breakout mixtape, Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut studio album – what a strange phrase – has arrived. Executive produced by legendary rapper 50 Cent, whose … Continue reading Pop Smoke – Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon
G-Eazy – Everything’s Strange Here
Nope. Not in the mood to listen to this one again. Thousands upon thousands of streams on Spotify. For this album. It's 35 minutes but it feels so much longer. I mean, like, FIRST of all, which insane label executive gave the OK for G-Eazy to make an entire album where he sings in that … Continue reading G-Eazy – Everything’s Strange Here
HAIM – Women In Music Pt. III
After a couple of agonizing delays for this massive fan of their debut, pop-rock sister trio HAIM’s third studio album has finally arrived. While Days Are Gone was a gamechanger as HAIM exploded onto the scene with their sharp songwriting and pristine rhythms, the added sheen of production and looser song structure on their follow-up … Continue reading HAIM – Women In Music Pt. III
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 