Addison – Addison Rae
American social media personality, singer and actress Addison Rae released her debut album “Addison” on June 6, with a tracklist of 12 songs. As someone who has been a prominent influencer on TikTok for several years, Rae provides insight on her fluctuating career path, as despite the other professions she dabbled in, she says singing is her passion. Throughout the 33-minute duration, Rae reflects on her negative experiences in the music industry and portrays her resilience and determination to continue pursuing her dreams through her vulnerable lyricism.
“Addison’s” bold production is cohesive throughout the album, adding depth and enhancing every song through the heavy synths and bass drums, with atmospheric instrumentals to emphasize its introspective theme. The first track, “New York,” has layered vocals and similar instrumentals that adds complexity to — in contrast to the rest of the album — mask the bland lyricism about how much she loves New York, with a fast tempo and corresponding beats that sets the optimistic tone. While the album’s production is not overwhelming, each song has copy-paste instrumentals that don’t account for the specific themes of each song, which makes listening to the album feel redundant. The layered vocals make Rae’s words sound borderline incoherent in songs like “Aquamarine,” stripping the focus away from the impactful theme of resilience in the song.
Even though Rae wasn’t purposeful in her production, the order of the tracks tells the progression of her thoughts in a way that effectively conveys her determination to pursue her dreams. Along with lyrics like “I’m not hiding anymore / I won’t hide / The world is my oyster” in “Aquamarine” and “Feeling lost but I’m found again” in “Times Like These,” Rae’s soothing and light soprano complement the calm instrumentals as she segues into songs about acceptance and enjoying life despite the emotional turmoil. In addition, “Life’s no Fun Through Clear Waters” and “Lost & Found” are interludes that stand out from the rest of the tracklist to emphasize Rae’s commitment to achieve her goals in spite of the hardships of being in the media. As a result, Rae’s thought-provoking and vulnerable lyricism resonates with and inspires listeners to continue pursuing their dreams regardless of the hardships that come along with the journey.
“Addison”’s cohesion and introspection make up for the repetitive production of the album, solidifying Rae’s promising career in the music industry like her album extrapolates upon.
RATING: 4/5 (reviewed by Meghna Dixit)
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS – KATSEYE
Global girl group KATSEYE — consisting of members Lara Raj, Yoonchae Jeung, Manon Bannerman, Daniella Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Sophia Laforteza — released their second EP “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” on Friday, June 27. Consisting of five songs, the EP includes songs “Gnarly” and “Gabriela,” which were both pre-released as singles and debuted at 92 and 94 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively. Despite the popularity of these individual tracks, “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” comes across as an incoherent collection of singles that happened to be released around the same time, though the title attempts to make the lack of cohesion appear intentional.
The first track “Gnarly,” includes lazy and repetitive lyrics throughout, with lines like “I’m the s—” and “Gnarly” chanted over and over again. Katseye talks about things that are “gnarly,” including “this song,” “fried chicken,” “Teslas” and themselves, which, along with the electronic beats and pounding drums, is overstimulating. “M.I.A,” the last track, is similar in its message about self-empowerment, but in lieu of bland lyrics about fried chicken, it explores their individuality and independence in relationships with lines like “No, you won’t put a leash on a -” and “Boy, I know that you’re getting attached / Don’t get comfortable, ‘cause any minute now / I’ll go M.I.A.” However, the intimidating bass and thumping drums shifts the focus from the lyricism and importance of the message, warding away listeners as a result.
In contrast, songs like “Mean Girls” and “Gameboy” are intentional in their production and lyricism, mixing higher vocals and bass to add depth to the song. “Mean Girls’” soft, breathy vocals juxtapose the beating drums in the background to emphasize the duality of KATSEYE’s relationship with the music industry, exemplified through lyrics like “This is why I hate the internet / But you’re not going to kill my happiness / So I’ll forgive, and getting closer to forget.”
Even though “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” includes some exemplary songs with important themes, it lacks cohesion due to the stark contrast with songs like “Gnarly” and “M.I.A.” The EP instead sounds like a compilation of unrelated songs written around vaguely similar times, making “BEAUTIFUL CHAOS” all chaos and no beauty.
RATING: 2.5/5 (reviewed by Meghna Dixit)
Virgin – Lorde
Electropop artist Lorde returned from a nearly four-year hiatus with her fourth studio album “Virgin” on Friday, June 27. Following 2021’s “Solar Power,” this highly anticipated album features 11 synth-pop tracks, which is a pop genre that uses electronic sounds from keyboards. The album explores themes of bodily autonomy, gender fluidity and unapologetic self-expression. The album cover, a pelvic X-ray with an IUD and a jean zipper, boldly sets the tone for the record’s raw vulnerability and transparency.
Throughout “Virgin,” Lorde’s lyricism resonates strongly, exploring deeply intimate topics. In “Broken Glass,” she confronts body dysmorphia, singing, “I wanna punch the mirror / To make her see that this won’t last,” capturing both physical frustration and emotional fragility. The song also creates space for interpretation, such as the contrast between superstition and reality, shown in the following lyric,“It might be months of bad luck / But what if it’s just a broken glass?” Similarly, in “Favorite Daughter,” she unpacks the exhausting cycle of seeking familial validation and handling impossible expectations, showing how it’s hurt her sense of self worth. An example is in the chorus, where she sings “’Cause I’m an actress, all of the medals I won for ya / Breaking my back just to be your favorite daughter.” These confessional moments develop cohesive themes of identity and self-worth throughout the album.
“Virgin’s” production style also elevates its immersive listening experience and adds to its lyricism. Lorde makes deliberate instrumental choices that add emotional depth to each track, distinguishing her work from conventional pop. In “Shapeshifter,” for example, the instrumental breaks, layered synths and steady rhythmic beat creates an emotion heavy atmosphere that mirrors the song’s theme of maintaining an emotional guard and the longing for authenticity.
However, this atmospheric direction comes at a cost. While the experimentation demonstrates artistic growth, “Virgin” lacks the marketability that made her previous albums immediate hits. The tracks favor mood over the radio-friendly sound that dominates current pop, resulting in a listening experience that feels less exciting compared to her earlier work. Without the dramatic crescendos and pop hooks that defined albums like “Melodrama,” the songs are less likely to gain widespread attention or radio play.
While “Virgin’s” subdued approach may leave fans missing the immediate impact of Lorde’s earlier work, the album perfectly succeeds at an intimate and cohesive exploration of themes, involving self exploration, reinvention, and personal struggles.
RATING: 4/5 (reviewed by Maahi Dev)
DON’T TAP THE GLASS – Tyler, The Creator
Tyler, The Creator released his ninth album, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS,” on Monday, July 21, as a surprise drop. The album explores themes of freedom of expression and the fear of public judgement, specifically the fear of being recorded while dancing in public, inviting listeners to put their phones down and use the album as a space for pure dancing and in a sense, breaking free. Featuring various collaborators, the album blends hip-hop, dance, house, funk and techno. To match the theme, all the tracks are short and packed with energy, making them perfect for dancing. At just 28 minutes and 30 seconds, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” is Tyler’s shortest album release to date.
The album’s opening track, “Big Poe,” sets a lively tone, kicking off with a series of lyrical instructions. It starts with, “Welcome / Number one, body movement / No sitting still,” then “Number two, only speak in glory / Leave your baggage at home,” encouraging the audience to leave negativity behind while listening, and the third lyric is the title itself, “don’t tap the glass.” This creative start makes the album’s listening experience more interactive and engaging, aligning perfectly with its upbeat and energetic vibe. The fast beats, playful lyrics and memorable choruses keeps the album fresh and fun throughout, especially in the viral track, “Sugar on my Tongue.”
However, the album’s energetic production sometimes crosses the line from energizing to overwhelming. The heavy use of techno-like sounds, distortions and fast-paced beats can create a cluttered, chaotic atmosphere, especially when paired with fast lyric delivery. In “Mommanem,” for example, muttered vocals, panting sound effects and high-pitched background chords contribute to a sense of overload rather than the danceable energy the album achieves in other tracks. Additionally, despite the album’s lighthearted and less traditional approach, it lacks lyrical complexity, which leaves many songs feeling shallow and limited in depth. While this simplicity might appeal to listeners looking for quick, feel-good tracks, it also means the album offers little to revisit or reflect on after the first listen. With its emphasis more on vibe, the album seems to be meant for a one-time listen, a viral moment, or an addition to a party playlist, rather than something meant to leave an impact.
While “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” offers a bold, energetic listening experience, its lack of depth and overwhelming production choices ultimately leave it feeling more like a passing trend than a lasting musical statement.
RATING: 3/5 (reviewed by Maahi Dev)
