Six albums in and almost exactly 10 years since the release of her commercial breakout with Kiss, Carly Rae Jepsen’s status as a pop music cult figure of sorts is still going strong. But when you have albums like 2015’s E•MO•TION, which appeared on countless year-end lists and arguably played a big part in today’s … Continue reading Carly Rae Jepsen – The Loneliest Time
Bubblegum Pop
ITZY – Crazy In Love
For the second straight week, a K-pop group outside the leading two of BTS and BLACKPINK with unspeakably massive fanbases has cracked the week’s most popular albums – this time it’s female five-piece ITZY with their official full-length debut, Crazy in Love. While only nine official tracks in length, with instrumental versions of some of … Continue reading ITZY – Crazy In Love
Little Mix – Confetti
UK girl group Little Mix are finally out of their contract with Simon Cowell’s now-defunct Syco Records – a move the members have been shamelessly excited about in a rather hilarious way – and have returned with their celebratory sixth studio album. The group’s Jesy Nelson has described Confetti as a simple attempt to write … Continue reading Little Mix – Confetti
Ava Max – Heaven & Hell
Well, we’ve certainly come a long way, but the debut album from ascendant global power-pop princess Ava Max is here a little over two years after the release of its closing track, worldwide smash hit “Sweet but Psycho.” Despite quite a few shaky throwaway singles that never made the cut as Max slowly discovered her … Continue reading Ava Max – Heaven & Hell
Katy Perry – Smile
10 years removed from her record-setting album Teenage Dream, the kind of musical world – and the world at large – that allowed such an extravagant and carefree pop album to dominate as much as it did has shifted. After trying somewhat awkwardly to make the transition on her previous project, Witness, which she deemed … Continue reading Katy Perry – Smile
Poppy – Poppy.Computer
Internet sensation Poppy extends her mysterious and technologically obsessed online persona to a debut collection of ridiculously fun and J-pop inspired pop tracks. Anyone who has seen one of Poppy’s bizarre, unsettling videos, often with a satirical twist on our reliance on technology and celebrity culture, knows that it’s hard to look away. Something about … Continue reading Poppy – Poppy.Computer
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 