New Music Friday - 25/04/2025

Albums/EPs:

• Jenna Raine - Only Started Growing
  
• Jensen McRae -  I Don't Know How But They Found Me!
• Litany - Sadgirl
• Lo Lauren - Wonderlust
• Self Esteem - A Complicated Woman

Singles:

• Aly & AJ - Dandelions
• Charlotte Lawrence - Us Three
  
• ELIO - Lucky October
• EMELINE - you should be scared
  
• HAIM - Down to be wrong
• Jessie J - No Secrets 
• Kali Uchis - ILYSMIH
• Lorde - What Was That
• Maggie Rogers (feat. Sylvan Esso) - Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl 
• Maude Latour -  Miss America
• Megan Thee Stallion - Whenever 
• MORGAN - MY MY MY
  
• Natalie Jane - how u been? 
• Nemo - Casanova
• PinkPantheress - Stateside
• renforshort - feeling good
  
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Vertigo
• Zara Larsson - Pretty Ugly

Jenna Raine - Only Started Growing 

Roses: Not the acoustic guitar! Jenna sounds good though to be fair. It's kinda catchy. I'm kinda getting country vibes? Yep, with the chorus I am DEFINITELY getting country vibes. It's a decent country song. 7/10

Good Grief: The harmonies were fun! She sounds good again, and the song is also catchy. I would listen to it again. I presume the EP will be like this the whole way through. The chorus is especially catchy actually. How it's sung and structured. Now why did that feel so short? 8/10

Hitch Hiking: Oh, it's a sadder song moment. My favourite, the Mandatory Ballad Moment. A bit boring but ultimately fine, it still sounds decent. 6/10

Who Am I: I thought this was another boring one at first, but no, it really pops off towards the end. I really enjoyed this! She sounds great. And relatable, I need someone to tell me who I am too. 8/10

21: I remember when I was 21...ages ago. Another hit actually! Great song. Can't relate to being 21 though. Ouch. I'm old. 8/10

Never Too Late: I'm very impressed by this EP. Another great song. Maybe I'm just more of a fan of country than I thought. The bridge sounded great. Well, all of it sounds great actually. 8/10

Overall Verdict: A great country (or at least country leaning) EP. I don't have as much familiarity with the genre, but it doesn't seem anything especially out of the ordinary to me. But it doesn't have to be. It has some really catchy songs, and Jenna sounds great. Definitely an artist I'll be looking out for more in the future!

Jensen McRae - I Don't Know How But They Found Me!

The Rearranger: Uh oh, if this is how this is starting, this is very much not going to be an album for me. It's the horror of the acoustic guitar! Okay, not quite as bad as I thought it would be! It picked up somewhat. It was fine in the end! 6/10

I Can Change Him: It's a slower song, and it's fine I suppose. She sounds decent. It has guitars. It picked up a bit again to be fair to it. Me when I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can). It's not my favourite but it's a decent enough song. 6/10

Savannah: She really does sound good here. Her voice is a highlight. The singing, girl! It really does shine through here. This may well be my favourite song so far. It's not my typical genre but who cares? 7/10

Daffodils: A cute song. It's slow all the way through and I do appreciate that. It is pleasant to listen to, even if there's nothing too special about it. 6/10

Let Me Be Wrong: I appreciated this song! It's more of a direct boppy vibe. I don't really have much more to say. Maybe my music taste is wrong though? Some regular readers would say so. 7/10

Novelty: Now that I think about it, Jensen really reminds me of another musician's music, but I wish I could place it. I often say this but then completely forget who it is and it's ANNOYING. But this is another gooood song. Sounds good, enjoyed listening to it. 7/10

I Don't Do Drugs: Me neither, girl! We're living the dream life. Not sure I was a mega fan of just the vocals with the vocal effects. That part was a miss. The rest was alright. Not my favourite but a pleasant listen. 6/10

Tuesday: Wow, the vocals on this. The VOCALS. I love them. Jensen is EATINGGGGGG. Like, the song isn't my favourite still, but I just love the way she sounds here. She is FEELING the emotions.  7/10

Mother Wound: Resist the urge to make the joke, Kieran. Resist it! Another fantastic song. I really feel the emotion. Oh, that was it? That was a shorttt song. Okay. 7/10

Praying For Your Downfall: Me to my Dad. Also, clock those lying ass people lying about their height. This was an alright song. Not really my favourite. There's a bit of an annoying quality to it. Maybe it's because the vocals are higher in places? Unsure. Still decent though. 6/10

Massachusetts: I like this as a closing track. It sounds somewhat like one. Lots of mentions of video games! It was a decent enough listen but not my favourite again. 6/10

Overall Verdict: I feel like there's a lot lyrically I could delve into if I revisit this project. I can just never probably internalise lyrics on a first listen. This is an example of "not quite my type of music, but it's good". You can tell this album came from an emotional place, you can hear it in Jensen's voice, which is STUNNING. Although a lot of the songs are somewhat quiet or laid back, they have interesting elements in them, and again, that VOICE carries. So while I don't think I will return to this, I don't regret having listened to it. Decent album!

Litany - Sadgirl

Vertigo: It has a guitar. I guess it's okay. Well, the chorus made it somewhat more interesting. The start was very bland. From that point onwards, it's a decent song. It has a catchy element to it. The outro is sorta annoying to me as well sadly - the way it's sung. 6/10

Sadgirl: We're going kinda funky I guess? This is kinda a bop actually. The production is funnnn. It's short (when aren't these songs short now?) but it's fun. That sounded like it could have been a fun transition into the next song but it was not to be sadly. 7/10

Jelly Tot: Oh, it's that sound, I've heard that sound somewhere before. This song is also fine. This is another bop actually! Sometimes I hate those shouty like vocals in the background but I like them here. Laugh at the end was cute. 7/10

Hello, Anxiety (feat. Kai Bosch): Not her being younger than me, this is to be outlawed. This wasn't my favourite song honestly. I found it a bit bland and boring. I mean it's technically fine, nothing really wrong with it as such. 5/10

I Need a Man: Me too girl, me too. I can relate. #WhoElseCanRelate? But it is just a short ballad moment. It's fine. Nothing really special to it. It is somewhat just there. It gets more intense at the end but I'm not really sure I'm a fan of that either. 5/10

Liar Liar: I'm not sure how to describe the vibe of this one. It's different from the other songs. I do like it. Could do without the cringe pants on fire lyric though. It really IS cringe. It's a fun song! I enjoyed it. 7/10

Kingpin: I liked the dun-dun-dun-dun structure in the pre-chorus. The chorus is kinda catchy too, especially with the KING-PIN, BLAME-HIM thing. I enjoyed that. It maybe started to get a bit too repetitive by the end but it was still a fun listen. 7/10

Future Us: Well, this is...interesting? I think I like it somewhat? It's a bit annoying but it's kinda a bop? I don't know? Is that some sort of saxophone or something? Fun! We don't need cringe studio chatter! 6/10

American Dream: ring ring ring ring. Is it another Mandatory Ballad? It has a guitar, it's a ballad, it's fine. 6/10

Jean (Two Ships): It's another okay song, nothing really gags me especially. Okay, it's not just a slow ballad, more of a midtempo. I'm still not especially gagged by it. It kinda just exists. 5/10

Alright: The guitar moment to close off the album? No, we're going somewhere. That's grand! She sounds good in this! It's decent but not my favourite. Does also feel kinda repetitive at times, and I'm not a major fan of how it ended. But it still does sound decent. 6/10

Overall Verdict: This is an okay alt-pop release. There are some songs that are quite decent, but a fair amount who are only decent or merely okay. It was quite inconsistent for me. It definitely doesn't grip me in the way a lot of albums have, so I'm not sure I'd return to it honestly. There's nothing about it really that's so fundamentally bad, but nor is it that good.

Lo Lauren - Wonderlust

Wonder: This is going to be a more pop EP I see! The production seems a bit...eh? That almost...child-like production, if that makes sense? Okay the chorus has won me back a bit more. But I feel there's something off about the vocals. They don't seem like they're clear enough? And it definitely feels annoying in places. Like, it feels technically weak in places, but it is also a bop and I did enjoy listening to it. 7/10

Before The Kiss: The production is definitely eating on this project. It's one that I should like, and I do like it. I enjoyed this! It sounds good. Songs that have the dun-dun-dun thing going on with vocals are often fun too. 8/10

Born to Run: This is more funky! It's another B O P! I was born to enjoy music like this. It hitssss. Maybe I've just learned to ignore the vocals, or maybe I was wrong about there being an issue. Who knows? Well, it didn't need to end that abruptly. 8/10

Rose & Jack: Oh no, it's Mandatory Ballad time. It's like...alright. But it's not what I'm here for. 6/10

Would It Be So Bad: The start I was like...meh. But it thankfully improved into more of a bop. Also, wow, we're getting HORNY here. I'm here for it. 7/10

Overall Verdict: A decent pop EP! It definitely has some bops going on. The Mandatory Ballad was not the best, but I'll look past it. Also, I'm not sure if I was hallucinating the vocal issues or maybe that was just the first song or what, but I'm past it now. Definitely one to listen to again.

Self Esteem - A Complicated Woman

I Do And I Don't Care: Why is this literally me? Ew, do I like those vocals at the start? Not sure about that. Ew the choir can screw off actually. Okay, weird talking moment? ADHD mention! Although weirdo people diagnosing her with ADHD, huh. Okay, I think this is weirdly growing on me. I like the talking moment with the production and getting deep. I just HATED the choir like moment at the start. Awful. I really like the singing part at the end too, honestly. It's great, even if repetitive. Maybe this song is great other than the start. It's a great intro song. 8/10

Focus Is Power: I have a feeling I'm going to really like this album actually. Maybe the choir works better here. Is this like an empowerment song? I actually really like this. It sounds like a really empowering song, and maybe that's what the choir element is kinda aiming for throughout. I wonder if it's going to be more of a thing in the album. 8/10

Mother: How can a song called Mother be bad? But she's NOT mother? Okay, pack your bag. This has an...interesting vibe. It's kinda sexy in a sense? It's weird vocals with the production. But I like it? She's not me mum. Loving the accent actually, but I'm biased. It's kinda really repetitive but I do like it. 7/10

The Curse: The curse of acoustic--okay, maybe not. It's a very decent song, I like the layered or choir vocals again. It's a nice theme throughout. This is a good song but it isn't my favourite. 7/10

Logic, Bitch! (feat. Sue Tompkins): Okay long intro. Piano time. Is this going to be a slower song? Yeah, not sure this is a major slay for me. It's a fine slower song but...eh. Not the setlist mention, meta. Anyway...it's fine. I can't say the feature did much for me. They both sound good I guess? What the hell was that weird ass interlude at the end? Okay. 6/10

Cheers To Me: We're going back to the bop vibe. I hear SYNTHS. This is definitely more my vibe. It's a boppp. I really do like this, especially the chorus of this. It's one of the sad bops. I can definitely think of a guy who was my worst idea, oops... The bridge is a bit cringe but whatever. 8/10

If Not Now, It's Soon: It's another layered vocals/chorus type moment. I think I'm definitely appreciating it more than I did before though. The chorus is kinda eating. 7/10

In Plain Sight (feat. Moonchild Sanelly): More of a lowkey bop. Not that much to it but it's decent. The feature seems decent. It's another almost spoken interlude type thing like the start of the album, and I do like it here as well. The end explodes and is more boppy, and I like itttt. Another choir like moment too. 7/10

Lies (feat. Nadine Shah): Woah, what is this? Different sort of vibe altogether. Kinda distorted vocals. Woah, not where I expected things to go. She's a BOP. Actual screaming! Okay, even though it's kinda dark and distorted, I'm not sure it's as good as I thought it might be? Still good though. Not the kinda moans at the end, which I guess makes sense with the next song. I just remembered this song had a feature...okay. 7/10

69: It's genital time, and hating on 69 time! In such a boppy way! She finds scissoring interesting, queen. This is just an iconic and horny bop. Yes, no! Yes, no! Moans. All you want really. Camp, iconic, and a serve. 9/10

What Now: Another choir moment. They do sound good to be fair. Okay, this song is literally just the choir for the most part, but they DO sound really good. It doesn't really need that much more. In fact, I think I liked the bit where the production kicked in less than just the singing. 7/10

The Deep Blue Okay: Not sure this is my favourite so far. The piano is kinda annoying, and I'm not a mega fan of the singing here. All I could focus on is that dumb piano. Thankfully it gets overpowered by some of the other production later. That sounds good. Okay, maybe this song could be really good after the piano point. Just why did 1 minute of it have to suck? I really like this actually with all its switchups. I'm just not sure I could give it higher when the first minute exists... Maybe the end bit isn't the best either. It's a ride, for sure. 8/10

Overall Verdict: I really did enjoy this album. It's good, as obviously everything from Sheffield has to be (what's Rotherham? I've never heard of that). It has some really good, enjoyable bops, and Self Esteem sounds good, as well as the choir in a lot of the songs (though sometimes I'm not as much of a fan of how the vocals sound). In places, the lyrics are a bit cringe and clunky, but I can look past that too. This is a good album that has some great songs on it, and I'd recommend that people should listen to it.

Singles:

Aly & AJ - Dandelions: I'm not sure there has been a single single (hah!) from this upcoming project that I actually really liked. This project is definitely not going to be for me. This one kinda gives me country vibes to some degree. But not the type of country song that is for me. It's fine though. 6/10

Charlotte Lawrence - Us Three: It's a guitar! I do actually like this song. It's a decent song. I could definitely check out more music from Charlotte. It is kinda another generic alt pop song but it's fineee. 7/10

ELIO - Lucky October: I generally really like ELIO's music so we'll see what this is like. She sounds great like ever. She sounds good but I feel it's a bit bland. It doesn't sound bad or anything but yeah. Not bad but definitely not my favourite. 6/10

EMELINE - you should be scared: Okay miss vocoder. But...also miss bland. It got somewhat better. So I suppose it has that going for it. It is an alright song in the end. 6/10

HAIM - Down to be wrong: Not sure this is going to be my favourite. It has a sound to it I'm not really sure is for me. Like it feels like it should be a bop but it kinda just annoys me instead? Maybe I'm judging after listening to that crime of a Zara Larsson song (more on that later), but still. Not for me at all. It's not quite there for me. 4/10

Jessie J - No Secrets: Sounds like a decent R&B song. Jessie sounds good. When the beat comes on, it sounds better! I definitely enjoyed this song. 7/10

Kali Uchis - ILYSMIH: Let's hope this single is better than the last one! Not majorly my thing but it's an enjoyable listen, she definitely sounds good and it's a very chill and at least somewhat enjoyable song to listen to. 6/10

Lorde - What Was That: It's good to finally have new Lorde solo music after so long! It sounds like it's going to be good. She sounds as good as ever. Ooohhh, those synths are going to go somewhere. Okay, it's a certified EAT. Synths = success for me often. Hmm, it gets a bit underwhelming with the 'drop' but I can look past that. It's very infectious, I can't lie. Solar Power was found crying in the corner. Instantly a favourite song for me from her. 9/10

Maggie Rogers (feat. Sylvan Esso) - Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl: It has synths but it's also just...not good. Did I lose all ability to lose music or something? But it's just a bit...bland to me. It got a bit more interesting to be fair to it. It's just...kinda nothing. It's a song to exist I suppose. That's all I can really say. 5/10

Maude Latour -  Miss America: Not a fan of this at all. It sounds bad and messy. I'm afraid it's a certified flop. It really just sounds like a mess of a song. Is it mixed well? BAD! It just hurt my ears. 3/10

Megan Thee Stallion - Whenever: At first, I thought this was a great song and a great lead single to Act III (I think it is?). But the problem is that it's VERY repetitive. And although the production was great for me at the start, it got incredibly grating for me afterwards. It's not awful but sadly not the gag I was expecting. 6/10

MORGAN - MY MY MY: I really like this! It reminds me of some of Mabel's older music honestly. It's a boppppp! She sounds great, and it's just a serve. Fantastic song! 8/10

Natalie Jane - how u been?: I like the production, maybe not the vocals so much. Ack, that kinda screaming vocals, not sure I'm a fan of them here. This is unfortunately...not it. Alt pop screamy song about a shitty ex or something. It's a no from me. Abrupt ass ending to a kinda ass song. 4/10

Nemo - Casanova: Nemo was a fantastic Eurovision winner, so I have faith in them to deliver a bop! And this seems like it will be another one of them. The production is for sure eating, and they do sound good. It doesn't quite show off their vocals as much as the Eurovision song but not every song has to. 8/10

PinkPantheress - Stateside: This sounds like it will be another bop. Yeah, this is definitely a winner. Ehhh, not a major fan of where it went, but it's not bad, just not as good as I would have wanted. Still a good song. 7/10

renforshort - feeling good: This is good! First time I've heard of this artist, but I really do like this song. It really reminds me of another song. I wish I could place the song when I think that, but I just never can. The production is good, and so is she! 8/10

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Vertigo: Not really sure I'm a fan of the vocal effects here. However, past that intro, this is a BOP! I actually really like it. Production is eating and you just want to move to it. The vocals may get a bit lost in the production but it's still pretty good. 8/10

Zara Larsson - Pretty Ugly: Oh no, what is this? Bad! Bin it! Those vocals...yikes. This song is DEFINITELY ugly. I don't want it in my ears ever again. Disgusting. A song that is devoid of personality and just pains me to listen to. It's generic as hell, but it's not even good at being that. Garbage!! 2/10