It seems that even an experimental indie darling like Mitski can’t escape the tide of 80s inspiration washing over all facets of the music industry right now. The art pop singer-songwriter’s first project since the incredibly acclaimed Be The Cowboy in 2018 – which topped just about every year-end list there was, Mitski returns after … Continue reading Mitski – Laurel Hell
Singer Songwriter
Lana Del Rey – Blue Banisters
After her last project was renamed a couple times, delayed a couple times, and briefly abandoned in favour of promoting a joint poetry collection and spoken-word album, the glamorous folk-pop singer-songwriter that is Lana Del Rey has been uncharacteristically following through on her lengthy list of promises and announcements as of late. Releasing her second … Continue reading Lana Del Rey – Blue Banisters
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Now having firmly established herself as an artist that you have to look out for at the Grammys every time she releases, Brandi Carlile continues to push on as one of the most celebrated working songwriters of the moment. Taking a break after her critically acclaimed last solo album to join the country supergroup The … Continue reading Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Any follow-up after capturing all four of the Grammys’ top categories with a debut album released at age 17 would have been an extremely tall order. While one of music’s brightest new stars may have ever so slightly fallen victim to the sophomore slump – or at the very least, the astronomical expectations she created … Continue reading Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Clairo – Sling
Two years after her beloved and critically acclaimed debut Immunity, breaking out onto the scene in a massive way at the age of only 19, bedroom pop singer/songwriter Clairo is already at the stage of her career where she’s receiving the Jack Antonoff treatment. Apparently the producer who never rests for an instant, Antonoff once … Continue reading Clairo – Sling
Olivia Rodrigo – SOUR
While it seems like more and more teen stars are rising to popularity every day, it feels like it’s been a very long time since someone had the kind of overnight success and overwhelming support that 18-year-old Olivia Rodrigo is currently experiencing. The closest comparison might be someone like Billie Eilish, but even she had … Continue reading Olivia Rodrigo – SOUR
Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Lana Del Rey has been a polarizing figure, and one of the most consistently compelling and thought-provoking songwriters working today, for close to a decade now. But after dropping the borderline worship of all things classic Americana and releasing a raw and honest masterpiece responding to the troubling times we’re living through, what could possibly … Continue reading Lana Del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
Quinn XCII – Change of Scenery II
Apparently completely dialled into making music and the creative process while riding out the COVID-19 storm, Detroit singer-songwriter Quinn XCII delivers his second pandemic album and is currently on pace to land his biggest first-week debut yet. As evidenced by the album’s title, a sequel to a 2015 EP, XCII relocated to his main producer’s … Continue reading Quinn XCII – Change of Scenery II
Taylor Swift – evermore
Taylor Swift might be the only person on earth having a truly productive 2020. Deep into re-recording her old songs in the midst of a dramatic custody battle for her masters and only four and a half short months after dropping her masterpiece, folklore, Swift has elected to release another set of tracks in the … Continue reading Taylor Swift – evermore
Shawn Mendes – Wonder
Fresh off a tumultuous world tour, a full-on dive into an almost too adorable relationship with fellow music superstar Camila Cabello and a Netflix documentary where he expressed burnout with the music industry, Canadian heartthrob Shawn Mendes has returned with his fourth studio album. It’s very easy to forget that Mendes is still only 22 … Continue reading Shawn Mendes – Wonder
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 