My reviews of the latest singles.
Billie Eilish has had quite a year. She debuted her first full-length album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, scored her first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Bad Guy,” and snatched three VMAs at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards (for New Artist, Push Artist, and Editing). Launching off of her newfound success, Billie used her podium to bring attention to an issue very dear to the singer: climate change.
In her notoriously nonchalant, California style, Lana Del Rey released a cover of Sublime’s “Doin’ Time,” which will be featured on her upcoming album, Norman Fucking Rockwell. Sublime was known for embodying the SoCal vibe – something Lana herself loves to exude – but tragically the band broke up after lead singer Bradley Nowell died of an overdose shortly before their third album’s release. The song explores a theme well known to Del Rey—domestic violence—and is slated to be featured on the upcoming documentary about the ska-punk band, titled Sublime.
Continue reading “Check Out Supersized Lana Del Rey in Her New Video for Sublime’s “Doin’ Time””
It’s been 14 years since Missy Elliot’s last album release – 2005’s The Cookbook – and the wait was well worth it. Her new five-track EP, titled Iconology, reminds us that she’s still the HBIC and fully capable of whipping up fresh tracks at any given moment.
Continue reading “Missy Elliott Goes Full Old School on Us in New Video for “Throw It Back””
The road to recovery has been a long one for Iggy Azalea, but things seem to be coming together nicely for the Australian rapper. Her sophomore LP, In My Defense, suffered major delays and has been in the works for the last five years. After being dropped by label Island Records, Iggy decided to create her own independent label, which is part of the reason why In My Defense is coming to fruition. That said, it’s finally been given an official release date of July 19 (with an option for fans to pre-order it). To celebrate this major achievement, Iggy rolled out the club banger track “Just Wanna,” which takes things straight to the bedroom.
Continue reading “Iggy Azalea Is on the Prowl in New Track “Just Wanna””
Taylor Swift has played many characters throughout her career. From country gal to pop princess to villain, the girl can wear a lot of hats. And she wears them well. With her latest release, “ME!,” Swift throws it way back and reignites every flame that put her on the map in the first place. Ultra-optimistic, happy-go-lucky, and so-full-of-cheer-you-could-just-scream, she made the choice to shed her out for revenge Reputation image in favor of her brand’s tried-and-true: the upbeat and impossibly catchy love song. Think “You Belong With Me” and “Shake It Off”—singable high notes and blind hope stuck on repeat.
Continue reading ““ME!” (ft. Brendon Urie) Brings Back the Old Taylor Swift”
Ariana Grande is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s solidifying her seat atop the throne of pop with every new release. Her fifth studio album, Thank U, Next, just dropped, as did her racy video for the song “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored.” And it’s a certified bop.
Clearly no longer stuck in the zone between girlhood and womanhood, Britney Spears bared it all in her high-tech, mid-2000s smash “Toxic.” The video is one part James Bond, one part Bollywood strings, and multiple parts Spears. The result: a fun and white-hot club banger that still stands the test of time.
Continue reading ““Toxic” by Britney Spears: One of Pop’s Most Iconic Music Videos”
“Music To Watch Boys To” from Lana Del Rey’s third album, Honeymoon, is a pop-noir slow-burner that dives head first into her trademark bleak songwriting. For this track, Del Rey teamed up with “Summertime Sadness” collaborator Rick Boyles, and the outcome is undeniably dark. Executed to perfection, the song is far more than it appears to be.