While one of his former bandmates becomes one of the world’s biggest artists, another gears up to drop his third album after some consistently moderate success and two more dramatically nosedive after scoring top 10 hits, the most unique post-OneDirection career trajectory yet has been Louis Tomlinson’s, who started out slow and has been steadily … Continue reading Louis Tomlinson – Faith In The Future
Pop Rock
The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
After one of the most polarizing, provocative and sometimes pretentious bands somehow released a couple of its greatest works back-to-back after expanding the tracklist and letting frontman Matt Healy’s cluttered mind roam wherever it wanted to, it seems The 1975 have reversed course with their latest. Standing at only 11 tracks in length, that mind … Continue reading The 1975 – Being Funny In A Foreign Language
5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5
One of music’s biggest cult fanbases comes through for their Australian pop-rock idols once again, propelling them to the top of the charts without much of a hit single to speak of. After lifting themselves up from the depths of trendy early-decade drudgery with their last project with the more pop-oriented and often anthemic CALM, … Continue reading 5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5
FLETCHER – Girl Of My Dreams
Girl Of My Dreams is technically New Jersey vocalist FLETCHER’s debut studio album, but there’s already been a rollercoaster of a journey to get here. When I was lucky enough to interview her, she told me all about the internalized struggle to finally include pronouns and narratives in her music that made it abundantly clear … Continue reading FLETCHER – Girl Of My Dreams
YUNGBLUD – YUNGBLUD
For all of the members of the tight-knit modern-day mainstream pop-punk crowd, YUNGBLUD presents an interesting phenomenon – he’s the one who seems like he belongs the least, trying too hard to be wild and crazy in order to align with the tired “welcome to the freakshow” narratives, but listening to his music consistently gives … Continue reading YUNGBLUD – YUNGBLUD
Panic! At The Disco – Viva Las Vengeance
After the legendary pop-rock and emo project’s biggest breakthrough into the mainstream yet with Pray For The Wicked – Taylor Swift collabs and politicians dancing to the inescapable “High Hopes” included – the third release as a Brendon Urie solo act, now verging on a 20-year career carrying on the Panic! moniker, arrives after a … Continue reading Panic! At The Disco – Viva Las Vengeance
Demi Lovato – HOLY FVCK
Through all of her trials and tribulations, it seems unbelievable that Demi Lovato has been a cultural force long enough that she’s now releasing her eighth studio album. Last year’s Dancing With The Devil saw her return after a four-year hiatus rife with tragedy, continuing to showcase some of the best vocals in the game … Continue reading Demi Lovato – HOLY FVCK
Maggie Rogers – Surrender
Three and a half years after a viral video of Pharrell reacting to her music made her one of pop’s most promising new figures overnight, Maggie Rogers is back with a new sound, a new haircut and a degree from Harvard. Sharing its name with her thesis in religion and public life, Surrender finds Rogers trying out … Continue reading Maggie Rogers – Surrender
Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 2
10 months after releasing their fifth studio album with an ominous “Part 1” subtitle, one of the planet’s most maligned bands are back with the sequel to what might have been their most unfortunate project yet. They haven’t been gone in the interim, scoring their first top 10 hit in half a decade by teaming … Continue reading Imagine Dragons – Mercury – Act 2
Tate McRae – i used to think i could fly
Rapidly gaining fans worldwide as she falls in line with the surge in popularity of bluntly delivered tracks sung by a teenaged female narrator, Alberta’s Tate McRae has finally elected to stick the “debut album” label on i used to think i could fly after scoring a couple massive hit singles. While the 18-year-old has … Continue reading Tate McRae – i used to think i could fly
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 