New Music Friday - 22/08/2025

Albums/EPs:

• ADÉLA - The Provocateur  
• Ava Max - Don't Click Play
• Caity Baser -  There, I Said It
• Laufey - A Matter Of Time
• S1RENA - MP3 M1XTAPE

Singles:

• Carly Rae Jepsen - More 
• colby! - University  
• Dasha - Like It Like That
• Florence + the Machine - Everybody Scream 
• Heidi Montag - Icon  
• Issey Cross - Butterflies 
• Kelli-Leigh - Elevate  
• Maggie Lindemann - spine 
• Netsky & Bebe Rexha - Light That Leads Me
• Pixie Lott - Coming Of Age
• Rosie Darling - Say Less (Say More) 
• RYL0, ChiChi & REYSHA RAMI - Ambrosia  
• SG Lewis (feat. London Grammar) - Feelings Gone 
• Sigrid - Fort Knox

ADÉLA - The Provocateur:

Superscar: Fantastic start. This is a pretty great pop song! That chorus is infectious! 8/10

SexOnTheBeat: Kinda gives me a bit of Addison Rae vibes here. Great song! Catchy and just fun. 8/10

Machine Girl: This song has been recommended to me a lot by Algorithms TM, and you know what, it's good. That chorus is annoyingly catchy, in a good way. 7/10

Homewrecked: Another great song! It's just some pretty solid pop throughout. Good listen! 7/10

Go: I thought this was going to be a flop, but then the chorus hit! Niceee! Remains a great boppy project. 7/10

DeathByDevotion: Good song yet again! They're all pretty similar vibes so that makes sense. The switchup towards the end was fun, probably my favourite part of the song. 7/10

Finally Apologizing: Okay productionnnn. It's a good song, but I especially like the chorus. Anyway, yet another good song to end the project. 7/10

Overall Verdict: I do think this ended up being the right length, as I think I would have started to get fed up with more songs. The project is quite cohesive (in a good way). It really shows ADÉLA's talent in making pop music, because these songs are all good. Some are great, and take it to the next level, but this is a great first project all around. 

Ava Max - Don't Click Play:

Don't Click Play: Okay, then I won't. Skip. Honestly, this has some pretty decent production. I'm enjoying it. Vocals could be better, but honestly, I can look past that. Good production! Abrupt ending but honestly, a good bop all around! 8/10

How Can I Dance: Oh yikes...that start is rough. Ew, what is this? Why does it sound like trash? Honestly, that was some hot garbage. It sounded...bad. Moving on... 3/10

Lovin Myself: This one isn't quite as bad but nor is it especially good. It's just...mediocre. Like, oh dear. Did these songs get made at a different time from the first song? 5/10

Sucks To Be My Ex: Not the villain era...This feels like it's more like the first track but...I don't know, it still feels not great. I almost had hope the chorus wouldn't suck but then it did...girl. Bad song... 4/10

Wet, Hot American Dream: This album is such a mess...like, wow. I don't see what the vision is behind this album whatsoever. The verses of this song...bad. The choruses are decent enough I suppose. But the verses... 5/10

Take My Call: Oh, no, I can tell this will be bad just from the start. That start is criminal...Is this even Ava Max? Nope...This is just highly mediocre at best. Actually, no, it's not even that good. 4/10

Know Somebody: Is this like the Mandatory Ballad song but it sucks? Well, that sucked. That was bland as hell. Like, what is going on with these songs? 4/10

Lost Your Faith: This has more of a dark pop vibe that exists on a few tracks. I definitely like it more. It feels more like a song? The Hallelujah part is a bit cringe but whatever. The chorus is decent! 6/10

Fight For Me: Well that was also highly mediocre. Well done Ava! You really convinced me to Not Click Play next time. 5/10

Skin in the Game: Another really bland and mediocre song. Like, wow, impressive how bland and not good this is. 5/10

World's Smallest Violin: Again, it just feels like a mess of a song. It has some cool production elements but it still just sounds like...nothing almost. 5/10

Catch My Breath: Let's go video game music. I thought it had potential but then...it flopped again. Thank god it's over. 4/10

Overall Verdict: This was bad. There's no getting around that. Like, how has Ava managed this? Diamonds and Dancefloors at least had good songs and some cohesiveness to it. This just feels like a mess. It feels bland, uninspired, a bit phoned in, and with bad lyrics too. All around, it's just a flop. 

 Caity Baser - There, I Said It:

Watch That Girl (She's Gonna Say It): I'm not clapping for you. Does feel like an intro track. I don't like it so far...and oh no the production change is cringe. With those twinkles? This feels like a project that will deal with serious subjects but it just sounds bad...and some of the lyrics are cringe. Got 10 songs to work it out? Girl, there's 8 on this project. Was that an oversight? Anyway, bad! Parts of it are a bit catchy in places I guess... 4/10

The Story Of Her: Like, haha, goofy old-time sound. No thank you. That song happened I suppose. 4/10

Drank Me Dry: Similar sound here. It's very old-time chill type vibes. It's not my favourite sound in general but I'm also not sure Caity Baser does it well honestly. It's not TERRIBLE, I will say that. 4/10

The Weight Of You (I'm Glad You Died): Boring piano, boring other instruments. So that was kinda nothing again. 4/10

A Hymn For Him (Interlude): Omg cute grandad. This is sweet. Nice interlude. Probably one of the best parts actually. [No rating]. 

Good Man: A bit more 'boppy'. Kinda reminds me a bit of some of her previous work honestly. Anyway, still bad. Surprise. 4/10

As I Am: Honestly, this one wasn't too bad overall. It was pleasant enough to listen to, even with nothing really that special. Some lyrics still cringe though.  5/10

Beautiful Girl: Boring yet again, but not the worst song to have ever existed. It just is a song. It has lyrics and production. 5/10

Overall Verdict: I will say, in a way this is better than Caity Baser's last project I reviewed. Because it was consistently bad and not just terrible, and this at least had a cohesive vision and story to it. A lot of the stories told are genuinely emotional topics, but I don't think Caity's vocals are great, nor do I really like the production. So, it's a bad project still, but it is better than Caity's last! Take the wins where you can!

Laufey - A Matter of Time:

Clockwork: Stupid ding-dong start. Pleasant song though. It's about what I expected. Not majorly for me but a pleasant listen. Good voice. 6/10

Lover Girl: Pretty similar here. Pleasant song, typical Laufey, but not hugely for me. 6/10

Snow White: Guitar? Okay. To be fair, this is probably my favourite song so far. It has a really nice vibe to it, and I think the guitar really made it. Great voice too. 7/10

Castle in Hollywood: Has more of a 'bop' vibe to it. Enjoyable song! 7/10

Carousel: Back to pretty classic Laufey that I'm not a huge fan of but is pleasant to listen to. 6/10

Silver Lining: Oooo, this is pretty fun! A more 'boppy' song again. Enjoyed it more! 7/10

Too Little, Too Late: Honestly, thought this was going to be just a ballad, but it built up in an interesting way. Really quite an enjoyable song in the end! 7/10

Cuckoo Ballet (Interlude): Sounds almost Christmas-y in parts honestly. Or it gives me that vibe anyway. This was a cute instrumental interlude. At over 3 minutes though, it feels a bit like a full length song too. 7/10

Forget-Me-Not: Really pretty vocals in this song that elevates it specifically. Grand production too. 7/10

Tough Luck: Another 'bop' type song. Quite enjoyable! I really do like the variety of songs on this album. 7/10

A Cautionary Tale: Wasn't feeling this one quite as much. Still a pleasant listen though. 6/10

Mr. Eclectic: Short song! It was a bit more 'boppy' again but I wasn't feeling this one as much. Short length probably didn't help. 6/10

Clean Air: Something we won't have with all those cars about... Anyway, almost had a bit of a country edge to it in places. But it was enjoyable! Good song! 7/10

Sabotage: Almost thought we were going into Hallelujah then. Excuse me? That evil production breaking through? Jumpscare alert. Honestly, I really enjoyed the switchup in production, was probably my favourite part, and that's probably because it was the least like Laufey. Interesting end to the original album! 7/10

Seems Like Old Times: Very much gives bonus track vibes. Not sure what it adds beyond any of the other tracks. It's pretty similar. Pleasant, but yeah. 6/10

Overall Verdict: The negatives: the album was too long, it didn't need quite as many songs. But that's really about it. The rest is a matter of my preference really. Laufey doesn't make music that I would say is majorly for me, but I still enjoyed listening to this album, especially the 'boppier' songs. And Sabotage in particular had an interesting experimental edge it would be cool to see Laufey lean into more on the next project, but we'll see. It's probably not a project I will listen to again, but I don't regret having listened to it.

S1RENA - MP3 M1XTAPE 

1NTRO: Not the Skype noise. Some people won't remember but I do. Well, interesting intro. I liked it. [No rating].

MP3: Ooooo, I like this. Wait, this is not in English (German?)? Slay, let's gooo. Enjoyable song. Short though. 7/10

VERL1EBT: Another pleasant and enjoyable song. It's got a chill bop slightly electronic edge to it that I like. If that made any sense at all. 7/10

DRUNKELBLAU 1NTERLUDE: Interlude time already? Girl these songs are not that long. Anyway, pretty nice interlude (is it an interlude? It just feels like another song to me honestly). Good song. 7/10

PLANET: Pretty similar to this. Similar vibe, similar chiller electronic bop vibes. 7/10

ADRENAL1N: Again, pretty similar. Don't really have much new to say. I guess this one is a bit less chill maybe? 7/10

R1SKANT: I think this is my favourite song so far. I think the production really elevates it more for me, and makes it more catchy for me. Great song! 8/10

OXYTOC1N: Another song I enjoyed more! Greatttt song. It's not fundamentally different but I did enjoy it more than a lot of the others. 8/10

DNA 1NTERLUDE: Not the best interlude honestly. It was again almost like a song, but I feel like it was one of the worst sadly. Something about it did not quite land with me. 5/10

DNA: Good song again, definitely better than the interlude! A better song to end on for sure. 7/10

Overall Verdict: This was enjoyable! I didn't realise S1RENA sung in German, but that did not take away from my enjoyment at all (I typically struggle to get more into songs that aren't in English honestly). This is a solid mixtape, quite cohesive, I think it has some good bops on it, and is a good demonstration of S1RENA's artistry. Am excited to hear more in future! 

Singles:

Carly Rae Jepsen - More: Look, I'm biased, okay. I love Carly Rae Jepsen's music. But this is SO GOOD. It's such a fun dance-pop song, made exactly in the fantastic CRJ vein. It's so *her*. It's nothing fundamentally new from her but I think this is why many of us love CRJ's music. Also, it's so not Emotion sonically, but we'll ignore that because it's a bop. FANTASTIC song! There's genuinely nothing wrong with it. 10/10 

colby! - University: This kinda just passed me by. It was a bit boring honestly. A bit nothing. Meh. I saw them at Mighty Hoopla and I wasn't a major fan so I can't really say I'm surprised by this. 5/10

Dasha - Like It Like That: A country song by Dasha? Who is shocked? I am not. Honestly, this was a great song by her. This is what we want! I'm not a super fan of country but this is it done really well in my view. 8/10

Florence + the Machine - Everybody Scream: Not liking the start of this. This is the kind of alt pop that is not really for me. I don't like all the vocals and all, it's almost a bit too eerie for me. But it's a good song still! 6/10

Heidi Montag - Icon: I feel like I could have liked this a lot more. The parts around the chorus are not as good in my view. The verses were fantastic but then sadly it fell off a bit (not to a terrible place, but still). If it was all as good as the verses...it could have been so much better. Good song still, I enjoyed it. But I am kinda disappointed too. 7/10

Issey Cross - Butterflies: Wacky vocals here, classic D&B song. It was decent enough, nothing special though. 6/10

Kelli-Leigh - Elevate: A fun and enjoyable dance track! Pretty classic dance track but that doesn't make it any less good. This one landed with me! 7/10

Maggie Lindemann - spine: Enjoyable song! It's a good boppy song. I like the vocals. Also, he really does need to grow a spine, god. 7/10

Netsky & Bebe Rexha - Light That Leads Me: Pretty typical dance track, but honestly, it's pretty good. It's especially good when it pops off. Slayyyyyy! 8/10

Pixie Lott - Coming Of Age: Terrible vocals, wow. Like...what is going on there? Anyway, mehhhhhhhhhhhh. 5/10

Rosie Darling - Say Less (Say More): This was a chill song. It was pleasant and nice. Nice vocals. Typical alt/indie pop song I fear, but it was good. 7/10

RYL0, ChiChi & REYSHA RAMI - Ambrosia: I recognise two of these names! Who's proud of me? I'm so on top of the underground divas. Pretty decent song. It's what I expected from these names honestly. I enjoyed it! Kinda wish I liked it more but it is what it is. 7/10

SG Lewis (feat. London Grammar) - Feelings Gone: Honestly, kinda boring. Kinda expected with London Grammer but still. Even SG Lewis's beat could not save it really. It was just a bit bland and went on too long. 5/10

Sigrid - Fort Knox: Oh Sigrid, what is this mess? Those vocals...disaster. And this is a taste of your new album? Oh dear...Wow. Parts of it are catchy but parts of it are just...so messy. Interesting ending though.... 4/10