New Music Friday - 11/04/2025

Albums:

• Cortisa Star - E.M.O. (EVIL MOTION OVERLOAD)
• Emerson Azarian - Hyperfixation

Singles:

• Bea and her Business - Rich
• Chrissy Chlapecka - Cherry Do You Love Me
• colby! - Out of Sight
• Delacey - Star Eyes
• Jessie Murph - Blue Strips
• Lana Del Rey - Henry, come on
• Louise - Borderline
• Madison Rose - RED LIPSTICK
• MARINA - CUNTISSIMO
• NERIAH - Napoleon Complex
• Nova May - STARBOUNCE
• Paige Cavell - Runaway
• Tom Aspaul - That Girl
• Sadie Jean - The One That I Want (But I Don't Know Why)
• Sugababes - Weeds
• yeule - Evangelic Girl is a Gun

 

Cortisa Star - E.M.O. (EVIL MOTION OVERLOAD)

FITS: This is a hyperpop style project it seems, but I'm actually not a fan of this. I like the production but I don't like the vocals, which is sad. I just don't like how they sound. I don't know if it's the rapping or just how Cortisa Star sounds, but either way, not a mega fan of it. 5/10

ALOT: No, this is not it either. Sad, this project is not going to be for me it seems. Again, I do somewhat like the production, but I'm just not a fan of the vocals and the overall song. Unfortunately, I like it even less. 4/10

DRAMATIC: Nope, nope, nope. I just don't like how it all sounds. It's another flop for me. The songs are not even that long and yet they feel like they go on for too long, it's just not good. 3/10

MISIDENTIFY: I feel like a lot of what I say for the rest of these tracks is going to be quite similar. The production is interesting, and something, but I just don't like the songs, especially with the vocals. 3/10

BOMB: I guess this one sounds better to me with the production but that doesn't make it sound good overall sadly. I just can't get past how Cortisa Star sounds on these tracks. When she was slower in this track, it sounded a lot better. 5/10

UP (feat. Chase Icon): Chase Icon is just eating as ever! And well, that's all I have to say... Production is a bop though. 5/10

PARIS: Ooo, the production on this one does sound like something unique for this project. Maybe this song is what I wanted all along, I don't know? Later through the song, I'm actually not so sure. I think it's towards bad and grating again sadly. 4/10

EVIL ASF: Kinda a bop! Except the vocals, girl... 4/10

FUN: Yikes, this one sounds even worse than some of the others somehow. Like, some of the lyrics eat. It just sounds actively BAD to me. Even the production sounds bad on this one. Thankfully it barely lasted over a minute because that was an earsore. 2/10

BAD ASF: FUN production, by contrast! I really like the production on this one. I don't mind the vocals so much on this one but I'll never like them. They're almost something to get past and ignore somewhat, I don't know. That's never good. 6/10

CORTISA CRUMP: NOPE, NOPE, NOPE! Like, yikes. BAD. Am I being subject to a form of torture? You know what, I give up. No new music for me ever. If this is what I have to go through. 2/10

GET IT DOWN: Me talking about the score that the tracks on this album will get, as well as the album itself. Me when I rap really fast too. Me when I write on paper that this song is also mediocre. It does sound better than some of the others though. 5/10

Overall Verdict: Wow, that was BAD. It's really rare that I listen to an album that I just basically HATE listening to. I think I'm biased to picking artists and music that I already like, which means my scores tend to be higher up, and perhaps too high in some cases. But this truly takes the cake in one of the worst things I've heard for a while. It felt like a form of mental torture to listen to it. On the positive side, there's some interesting production elements here and there, and some of the songs are close to being bops. Lyrically, I think Cortisa Star is fitting this genre well, so I have no complaints there. But those vocals, and how some of the songs sound, YIKES. No thanks! I will not be returning to this.

Emerson Azarian - Hyperfixation

Say It Louder: Okay, maybe I could like this album based on how it started. That sound (froot) sounds familiar though. This is a very serviceable bop. Another song that doesn't reinvent the pop genre but it sounds decent! The bridge bit was maybe a bit grating in places but I can look past it thankfully 7/10

That's Just You: We're going into more of an R&B leaning vibe here I think. It's definitely a lot more chill than the previous song. It's a decent song, I like listening to it. May have felt like it dragged on a bit too long though? Which is surprising considering how short it is. 6/10

Undo Your Love: Since when did we completely switch genres? Like, this is sounding like an Ariana Grande song now?? Well, it's a good job I really like Ariana Grande, and I like this too. But like, it REALLY sounds like it could be an Ariana song with the beat, how Emerson's voice sounds, and some of the vocal layering and all. 6/10

Nature: The first track was VERY misleading as to the vibe of this album. Like, I really do like this vibe still, but that's like 3 chiller tracks in a row, after a BOP. I do worry that some of these tracks will start to blend into each other somewhat soon as well. 6/10

Too Little Too Late: The distorted vocals here do provide a bit of a difference, so that's something. Feels like the songs are blending into each other a bit more now though. 6/10

Boys Do What They Do: I guess Boys Do What They Do. It's another of the same song really to me. Like, it may be my lack of experience with more R&B leaning songs showing, but there isn't much variety here. Like, this is not me saying it sounds bad by any means, it doesn't. It sounds good! 6/10

Lucky Stars: This one benefits from being a bit more upbeat I guess. This one reminds me more of a Tate McRae song honestly. It does stand out from the repetitiveness of the previous songs, but I'm unsure how much I actually like it because of that. I'm not sure I like it that much because it reminds me of Tate. Okay, you get points for a key change in the last chorus, I always eat them out. It just feels like the song overall feels a bit...eh. 6/10

Up a Notch: And we're maybe back down again? Look, she even does YEAH's in the background, am I supposed to think this ISN'T Ariana Grande? But yeah, it's another R&B leaning song. It's good at being that. 6/10

Plans Tonight (feat. Britton Rauscher): Maybe the feature will switch things up a bit more. It's the same type of song at the start. Oh no, it's a man, never mind! But to be fair, he provides a breath of fresh air, so that's something. They sound good together. 6/10

I Got It All: Did we decide we're doing synth pop again now? Where's the vision? I mean, I'll take it, because I like these songs, but still! To be fair, this does feel a bit like some of the previous songs but maybe more dancey and boppy. I'm glad it's here though, it sounds good. I feel like this reminds me of another artist too, but I can't quite place them. Is it Mabel maybe? 7/10

Whenever I Want You: Wow, it's a car! It's a high note! It's another of the same song! Not really much more to say there. 6/10

When He Says He's Done, Believe Him: Oh no, is that an acoustic guitar? Phew, it's not just that. I'll take another of the same over that. 6/10

Hyperfixation: Well, this one does sound a bit different with the production. I think it still is fundamentally pretty similar though, so the same score. Cool switch up at the end! 6/10

Overall Verdict: I ended up downgrading the scores from 7's to 6's because although individually I liked a lot of them, in the context of the album, they started dragging on me a LOT. There's only so much I can take basically the same song but a bit different. This is the problem that I found with Tate McRae's most recent album too. It was basically the same song but shifted slightly and by the end of the listen as an album it was very grating. Don't get me wrong, the songs are good individually, there's nothing really wrong with them. But as an album, less good. The first track was also highly misleading as to what the rest of the album would be like. Fans of R&B leaning Ariana, artists like FLO and also Tate McRae could like this album I think.

 

 

Singles:

Bea and her Business - Rich: That is NOT where I thought this song would go. I don't really like the first part of the song but the production after that (the bass?) is great. It makes what I think of this song confusing. That ongoing instrument throughout is really annoying, whatever it is. But then a lot of it is great. That instrument goes enough into the background in the final chorus especially I can look past it. Good song overall! 7/10

Chrissy Chlapecka - Cherry Do You Love Me: I better like this! Okay, we're going towards more of a rock-ish vibe here, that's interesting. I'm not sure I'll ever like that as much as the pop influence but still, it's a good song! Just not really what I was expecting. I wonder if she's going to continue going in the rock direction? 7/10

colby! - Out of Sight: It's nothing special but it is a cute alt pop song I think. It's decent but nothing really stands out to me. 6/10

Delacey - Star Eyes: It's an acoustic type song. Like it's not just a guitar by itself. But these songs are just never really my vibe. The chorus is somewhat catchy so that does make it a bit better. But it's not a standout for me. 6/10

Jessie Murph - Blue Strips: Oh no that intro hurt my ears. This does kinda give me country vibes but not in a good way. Yikes. Please make it stop. Jessie's voice isn't for me. The production is kinda decent but HELP. 4/10

Lana Del Rey - Henry, come on: It's starting with a guitar, those aren't often my favourite songs. We'll see how it goes. Lana sounds good in her distinctive style, but the guitar isn't my favourite. The piano adds good stuff though. Okay, now it's built up a bit with the other instruments too I'm liking it a fair bit more. It reminds me of some of Lana's like boppier sad songs. I can't place what song it is because I don't know her music that well but it REALLY reminds me of a previous song I've heard of hers. Anyway, it's a GREAT song. This genre of music is not my favourite but Lana really makes many good songs. Surprisingly, I could listen to this song a lot, and I don't generally say that for songs in this genre. 8/10

Louise - Borderline: Okay, this could be a good song. It feels like a classic pop song in a good way I think? It's absolutely nothing special but I think it's a perfectly acceptable pop song. It sounds good. I guess my only fault with it is that it feels almost like it could be any other typical pop song, it fits that formula quite well. It doesn't reinvent the wheel but not all songs need to. 7/10

Madison Rose - RED LIPSTICK: Okay, this seems fun! Or actually, maybe not? The vocals are a bit too...dark? Does that make sense? I think the song just doesn't sound good really. It's more...grating and somewhat unsettling. Nah, this is a definite flop. When the production picks up into the chorus, it gets better, but still. 4/10

MARINA - CUNTISSIMO: How can a song with this title be bad? Interesting sorta grand intro. Okay YES OKAY MARINA this is the PRODUCTION we wanted. I'm not sure how I like how the title of the track is used in the background there. Does she have an obsession with child vocals this album or things that sound kinda like that? Whatever, unlike in Butterfly I can more easily look past it. The synths in this song are just infectious. Plus MARINA sounds great. YOLO mention, well...kinda iconic. I like the fun switch up in the pre-chorus too. We will be leaving that loser on read! 8/10

NERIAH - Napoleon Complex: Ariana song reference! I really like the production of this one. It's reminiscent of a lot of sad relationship songs with this style of production (can't think of the artists currently). I've definitely essentially heard this song before, but it's really good. Some of the lyrics feel a bit clunky in places, but it's a great song other than that. 8/10

Nova May - STARBOUNCE: Guitar...okay. Haha, of course it didn't just have a guitar. Who's surprised? Hmm, I'm not sure I'm really feeling this one as much. It feels like it's missing something for me? I really liked Nova's last single, but like, I want to be bouncing? I am just not quite feeling it sadly. Like, this is the definition of the type of song I SHOULD really like, but I can't entirely place why I don't. Is it that it feels like it's not quite there, like it's missing something? 6/10

Paige Cavell - Runaway: It kinda sounds like a Becky Hill song somewhat? I mean, maybe it's just because it's a dance song. Is that fair of me? Not a fan of some of the vocal layers there. Paige sounds good! Like, damn, those are some VOCALS! Erm, no. Not a big fan of this. Me when I'm a generic dance production and I'm not really inspired. Vocals do eat though, can't lie. 6/10

Tom Aspaul - That Girl: A bit too repetitive in the start maybe. I like it otherwise. The effects on Tom's voice, I'm not ever sure if I do or don't like them that much. It doesn't affect things too much. The song is a BOP although I'm not sure I'm a fan of the chorus being that repetitive. It's better with the extra additions in the background though. 7/10

Sadie Jean - The One That I Want (But I Don't Know Why): Oh no, it's GUITAR time. Eh, this screams indie pop singer messy relationship song. It sounds alright but that's kinda that. Ended rather abruptly too. Like, did they forget the end of the song? 6/10

Sugababes - Weeds: They needed something after their tour was getting dragged. Rent was due. And y'know what, this is a nice track. It's not my favourite type of music but it's very atmospheric and chill. It's beautiful, like the song says repeatedly. I'd definitely listen to this song again. They sound good. Maybe they will get their rent money after all. 7/10

yeule - Evangelic Girl is a Gun: The vocals feel a bit too buried for me in the song, I can't really decipher what's being said. And again yeule's voice and style of music makes me feel unsettled, which I don't like. I guess it's for some people, but it's not for me. You'd think I'd like this kind of music with its distortions and general feel but honestly a lot of it creeps me out. Is it getting faster or am I just overthinking things? If it is, it's adding to its creepy factor. I just don't like their music for the most part it seems. Reminds me of them opening for Charli XCX, which I did not enjoy. 3/10