New Music Friday - 26/09/2025

Albums/EPs:

• Caroline Kingsbury - Shock Treatment 
• Lilyisthatyou - LILITH 
• Mariah Carey - Here For It All
• Maxwell Luke - A SWAN FROM GATORLAND 
• Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving
• Perrie - Perrie
• Purity Ring - purity ring 
• Rochelle Jordan - Through The Wall 
• Sofia and the Antoinettes - WOMEN WHO LOVE TOO MUCH 
• Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun

Singles:

• BANKS - Teardrop 
• Chrissy Chlapecka - Passionfruit 
• Girls Aloud - Naked In the Shower
• Girls Aloud - Watch Me Go (We’re Disco)
• Girls Aloud - You Go Too Fast (Demo)
• Jade LeMac - Sleeping with the Lights Om 
• Magdalena Bay - Second Sleep  
• Magdalena Bay - Star Eyes 
• Maren Morris - Beat the Devil 
• Mikayla Geier - diva  
• Rita Ora - All Natural
• Sophie and the Giants - Pink Champagne 
• Tom Aspaul - Wish It Was You
• Yaeji, underscores & Aliyah's Interlude - booboo2 

Caroline Kingsbury - Shock Treatment:

Shock Treatment: Those are some fun synths. This is a really cool song honestly! It's boppy in a different way, I feel like I haven't heard this sound far too often. It's good! 8/10

Chocolate: This is super fun. I like this. It's boppy and it has a great energy to it. The production is really a highlight! It's good stuff. 8/10

Meteorite: This was a slower, more pleasant song, and I did like it, but it's not quite as good as the previous two songs. 7/10

Pain and Pleasure: We're going for the Mandatory Ballad? Alright. Not mega gagged by this. It was alright though. 6/10

I See God In You: We're back to bops thankfully. That's what we want. It's not quite as good as the first couple of songs but it has a good energy. Almost indie like, I think. 7/10

What Kind of Person: It was a good bop to end the project with! I liked its energy. Good stuff! 7/10

Overall Verdict: I liked this. It gave off indie pop (pop rock?) vibes to me, but this time, it was done well, and in what I think was a reasonably unique and good way. I liked the vocals and production. There were a couple of excellent songs, and it was a great project throughout. Nice! 

Mariah Carey - Here For It All:

Mi: I don’t care about much either girl. Do I actually like Mariah’s vocals? Oh… They don’t sound too good for me here. Okay, in the end, it’s actually a fairly chill catchy bop of a song. I liked it. Boo to fade-outs though! 7/10 

Play This Song (feat. Anderson .Paak): I don’t really like the feature here. I’m not feeling them working together sadly. Nor am I feeling this song as much. Some of the vocals… Hmm. Miss! 5/10

Type Dangerous: Cool production at the start. Go girl give us nothing. Feeling the vocals a lot more here. This was good! Catchy. Short too though. 7/10

Sugar Sweet (feat. Kehlani): A song with Kehlani can’t flop. Okay, maybe it’s flopping a bit. It’s a chill bop but not really my favourite. Kehlani sounds good though. Boo fade out! 6/10

In Your Feelings: I can’t really totally place it but some of the production and songs here do feel a bit…cheap. Like… Mehhhh. 5/10

Nothing Is Impossible: Oh it’s Mandatory Ballad TM time. And so far, I’m just not feeling it. It just feels cheap and soulless. Sometimes the vocals are good though! 4/10

Confetti & Champagne: Oh, another bad song? Like, was this phoned in? I do NOT like those vocals. Kinda cool production though. I like the chill but a bit out there production it has. But far from enough. 4/10

I Won't Allow It: It’s a bop? Kinda? Again vocals feel a bit off but hey. It’s still mediocre sadly. I just do not feel this. 5/10

My Love: Mehhhhh. Meh. Meh. Like what is it about these songs? 5/10

Jesus I Do (feat. The Clark Sisters): Sounds a bit like Church music (a bit derogatory). It's okay but it just does nothing for me at all really. 5/10

Here For It All: Just a bit boring honestly. It's not bad but it just passed me by and it went on too long. 5/10

Overall Verdict: Honestly, I just think this was mostly just quite boring. There were a couple of good songs, but honestly, this really didn't speak to me whatsoever. It really did not make much of an impression at all. Some of the vocals felt a bit meh. I just didn't feel anything. Oh well. Not terrible, but not good either.

Lilyisthatyou - LILITH:

CANADIAN IDOL: Hmm, this isn't quite what I expected, we're kinda going rap? Sure. Sounds alright-ish. Well, that is cool screaming in the chorus. It's kinda catchy in parts. 6/10

PROFESSIONAL: Okay, this is more catchy. That chorus is good. Good stuff. Nice song. 7/10

NARCISSUS: This is a bigger bop. I do think it's the vocals that are the main thing dragging it down for me unfortunately. Decent but not amazing even though it has boppy energy. 6/10

I'M SO DRUNK RIGHT NOW: "I don't know what club I'm at, I just know my ass is fat." Okay legend. Feel similarly about this. It has a bit of a boppy energy but it doesn't quite make it there. 6/10

NO FAVORS: Again, pretty similar. Not the popstar stuff. You're no Slayyyter. Again, it has kinda boppy production, somewhat electronic, but it's not quite at the level I would want. 6/10

VENUS: Kinda sounds like Katy Perry would jumpscare me here. Again, similar. It's kinda boppy but it just doesn't quite land fully with me. Okay we've suddenly gone cunty. That's good. 6/10

FOR LILITH: This is a bit different. I enjoyed this, it was good. It was the right level of boppy, and it actually connected with me. There were catchy parts of how it was sung, and the production was interesting and fun. 7/10

NEED YOUR LOVE: We're back to how I felt for most of the project. Decent, but not quite there. Nice listen, but not super good. Fun switchup towards the end with the slowed down stuff. 6/10

Overall Verdict: It was a decent enough pop project, it definitely tried to be a boppy, somewhat dancey project, and it didn't quite manage that to a level that I would have liked. The attempt was there, but for the most part it did not quite make the landing. Was a nice listen, I enjoyed listening to it, but I will not be returning to it. 

Maxwell Luke - A SWAN FROM GATORLAND:

AMERICAN HEART: The worst kind of hearts. Oh it's a drum. THAT VOICE? I was not expecting that. Okay. I can't tell, do I like Maxwell's voice? I feel like I think this is a decent listen, but also hasn't really gagged me that much. Gives indie pop boy a bit. 6/10

GIRLFRIEND: This could be a better song for me. The production is more boppy and interesting to me. The vocals work better for me here too. I feel the lyrics in this one, they're definitely connecting with me. 7/10

SICK OF HOME: Hmm, more of a miss for me. Vocals work less well. It's kinda boppy but also definitely more of a miss. I liked the ending of the song though! 6/10

LUCKY BOY: This does kinda scream indie bop. Omg not him touching himself, scandal! I enjoyed this one more. Vocals, production, the chorus all worked together a lot more. Ended a bit abruptly but hey it's a good song. 7/10

CHURCHES & DIVE BARS: Okay deep voice. I am liking the vocals here, they work well with the song. I liked it when it got to the 'full' part of the song. It all works well for me. It feels emotional and I like it. 7/10

ONE MAN SHOW: This is a bop! I'm enjoying this song. The "let me be your one man" is not the best but we'll look past that for an otherwise good song. 7/10

DYING IN YOUR ARMS: Bop! Kinda generic indie boy pop song but you know what, it's good. I enjoyed it. 7/10

I MISS MY FRIEND: Missing your friends is so cringe and gay. Slow ballad type song. Nice voice. It was enjoyable. I liked it. 7/10

THE MAN THAT NEVER LIVED: Ended Taylor Swift. I liked this song. Again, gives indie boy bop but does it well. Could maybe like it more upon more listens. 7/10

FLAMBEAU: May be my favourite so far! Like it's not really too different but it's just hitting more. The production, the vocals, it's just catchy and enjoyable. 8/10

TAKE MY LOVE: That was a nice transition. Into cringe I fear. Okay it lost the cringe thankfully. That's something. I enjoyed this. Good ending track! Also hit more for me for some reason. 8/10

Overall Verdict: I was not expecting this, but this was a good indie boy pop record. I'm often a hater of them, but this was good. It was pretty typical of the genre, but it did it quite well! I definitely enjoyed this, and hopefully I'm going to force some of my friends to listen to him soon. Watch out for that! 

Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving:

The Art of Loving (Intro): Oh, that really was an intro. It was fine. It did its job. Nothing really that special about it. Nice vocals. [No rating].

Nice To Each Other: A perfectly pleasant song, but it's kinda just that. Well, it's kinda boppy but not quite there. 6/10

Lady Lady: Again, this is just a pleasant listen. 6/10

Close Up: And again. I feel like this will be the thing I say all the way through. 6/10 

So Easy (To Fall In Love): This was a pleasant song, nice vocals, but this one connected with me more. It was more boppy. 7/10

Let Alone The One You Love: Honestly, I think I'm feeling this more now. Good song. Good vocals, I enjoyed the production too. 7/10

Man I Need: Another boppy song, another enjoyable song. Pretty similar. 7/10

Something Inbetween: Me when I just keep repeating the same words because I feel the same about the songs. 7/10

Loud: Not quite feeling this one as much, even though Olivia's voice is lovely as ever. I think it's the production. 6/10

Baby Steps: Okay, maybe that was just a good middle part of the album, and I'm not feeling it again, or I'm suddenly in a bad mood or something. Kinda interesting production though. 6/10

A Couple Minutes: The song is longer than that! Fraud! Liar! Yeah, not really feeling this. Not really feeling much of anything, even though the vocals are nice. 5/10

I've Seen It: It does feel like a final song but it's a bit bland and boring for me sadly. Oh well. 5/10

Overall Verdict: This was a pleasant listen, but not one that really resonated with me that much. That's more on me, because I don't think this genre is generally my thing, I don't think it's bad or anything. There were some boppy songs I liked, as well as nice vocals throughout. Some parts were unfortunately just a bit boring to me. Anyway, decent album. 

Perrie - Perrie:

Forget About Us: This kinda screams generic from the start but hey. Maybe it can improve! There's just not that much passion to it. It does improve when it gets more boppy, but it still feels quite generic to me. At least it did improve! 6/10

If He Wanted To He Would: So true, so true. Okay, maybe Perrie's voice kinda works here? Maybe this is something? Okay Shout Out To My Ex Version 2, you did that. Didn't really feel the bridge though. Have to give it to her, the rest of the song was pretty good. 7/10

Sand Dancer: Okay, maybe the singles I did hear made me misjudge how I would feel about this album. Because this is kinda good?? It's another bop. Strong vocals again. Boppy! 7/10

Rocket Scientist: OMG a song for me? That's me! May not vibe with this song as much based on the start but we'll see. I blame the guitar. Her vocals really carry here. They shine even more. Good song! 7/10

Baby Steps: The chorus is fun here. Again good vocals. It's catchy, the way it's sung. 7/10

Bonnie and Clyde: Welcome back Katy Perry ballads. Strong voice obviously, but definitely not my favourite song out of them all. 6/10

Pushing Up Daisies: Was a bit unsure how I felt about this song at first, but the final chorus connected and told me it was a bop after all. 7/10

Cute Aggression: Yeah, this is another bop. The chorus is fun! 7/10

Miss You: Oh, an actual ballad now? Again, her vocals really shine here. Impressive! I can't remember if this was one of the singles I didn't like but you know what, it's working for me regardless now. 7/10

Punchline: I like this, but I feel like I'm starting to get a bit fatigued by this album at this point. It doesn't need to be as long as it is in my opinion. It's starting to get a bit stale and repetitive. 6/10

Put You First: It's the guitar, uh oh! It's decent? But yeah, like, I'm at the point where I'm like "what is this adding?". Awww, the child is kinda cringe, but also kinda cute. 6/10

Absofuckinglutely: Like, again, it's decent, but I'm getting tired. Also, "Absofuckinglutely" is just a bit cringe. 6/10

Where You Are: Okay I'm more than officially done. Again, it's okay, but like...arghhh. 6/10

Same Place Different View: I actually thought this was the last song. I said out loud as another song played "fuck me, it's not over yet?". Like, no. This would have been a cute little ballad to end on but no...there's more. Argh. 6/10

You Go Your Own Way: Stop. Wasn't really feeling some of the vocals here. I don't know, maybe this was just a bit mediocre in the end.  5/10

Goodbye My Friend: Wow, the actual last song. We did it team! It's an okay enough last song, it's decent. But it should have been over a long time ago. 6/10

Overall Verdict: Definitely an album that could have done with some editing and being cut somewhat. It did not need to be as long as it did. It probably would have got a higher score from me then, as there are some duds. Surprisingly, though, I liked this more than I thought I would. It's not super good, but it's at least decent, and I can see the potential for Perrie to make a better future record with edits and taking the better parts of this album. So I won't be returning to it, but it wasn't the absolute disaster I feared. 

Purity Ring - purity ring:

relict: So true vocals. This could be a good project. It's starting well anyway. The repetitive production here is quite catchy but I'm not quite feeling the robotic vocals just yet. It's an interesting contrast. It could grow on me though. You know what, that production and the background vocals carry it. I liked it. 7/10

many lives: I'm starting to feel the robot vocals now. This is boppy as well. I liked this. The production almost gave me video game soundtrack in parts, in a good way. Good stuff! 7/10

part ii: Wait, was that a cool transition? Yes it was. Oh, a kinda transition song. Well, it's short anyway. It was a nice listen. I like the robotic vocals, and the production was angelic, twinkly and good. 7/10

place of my own: Again, kinda similar to the last song. The vocals are less robotic now. Good, enjoyable song. 7/10

red the sunrise: This was a nice, pleasant song. I like the beat but it's also just a nice listen. Vocals fit well too. Cool vocal stuff towards the end. 7/10

memory ruins: This was pretty similar to the last song, pleasant and a nice listen. 7/10

mistral: That was a pleasant interlude. Cool flute or whatever it was. Anyway, moving on. [No rating].

the long night: This was a nice song again. I like the production in the choruses especially. It's just a nice listen. 7/10

imanocean: This is slightly different, but still very much in the same ballpark. Nice vocals, nice production. 7/10

between you and shadows: Cool transition again. More boppy, good song again. That was quite a cool ending. 7/10

mj odyssey: Oh, it's a piano. Where is this going? That was a really beautiful, purely piano based track. I liked it. Sometimes pianos can work for me! 7/10

broken well: Pretty similar, it's a chill bop, nice vocals and so on. 7/10

glacier ::in memory of rs::: A nice final track that is pretty similar to the rest of the album. 7/10

Overall Verdict: This was pretty consistently good throughout. It was quite atmospheric, moody yet boppy. Not super boppy but boppy still - it was both chill, pleasant, beautiful and boppy. I did enjoy it. It was a good album and a good listen! There was some interesting production here - lots of beats but also twinkles and beautiful stuff. Vocals took a bit to grow on me but they did. Mix between robotic and other effects. It also gives video game soundtrack in places, in a good way. All in all, a good album! 

Rochelle Jordan - Through The Wall:

Grace: Intro track time. Nice piano. Nice vocals. It's fine as an intro. [No rating].

Ladida: Nice transition. Oh, we're going to a bop. Nice. Good song! It's sexy--oh, a switchup? That's interesting. 7/10

Sum: Oh, interesting. Another switchup. With the chanting. That's fun. I'm not sure I felt this one quite as much, but it still had energy to it. 6/10

The Boy: I appreciate the bop energy. Oh, it fully kicked in. Nice. With me about to say "not quite there" again. Good song. 7/10

Doing It Too: Not a good start. Sounds rough. Unfortunately this annoyed me in parts, especially at the start. Sad. Parts of it worked well though. It redeemed itself somewhat. It got a lot better towards the end. 6/10

Never Enough: This was back to being a pure, great bop. Good vocals, good production. Nice stuff. Do they always have these switchups towards the end? It's raining time. And thunder. Transition? 7/10

Words 2 Say: Hell yeah! Nice transition. It worked well. Would have liked the storm sounds to have been part of the song more though. Ohhhh, this is a strong start. Could be the best song so far. Okay, not fully there, but it's good! Love the R&B vibes. Okay, switchup towards the end. Randomly going kinda D&B? Boo no transition. 7/10

Bite The Bait: This is another good song in that vein. Hell yeah. The...snares (are they?) or whatever they are - great stuff. Getting into the songs and the later choruses...wow. Fun sounds towards the end. Yeah we are doing that switchup stuff constantly. 7/10

On 2 Something: Bop from the start. Claps are clapping. Good song! 7/10

TTW: Ohhh, that is a beat. Don't screw it up. Pretty good throughout again. 7/10

Crave: Again, pretty similar. Good, enjoyable, sexy bop. 7/10

Get It Off: Yet again, similar. It's enjoyable, it's good. 7/10

Sweet Sensation: Good, really boppy song. I think this is my favourite song on the album so far. Bop. Bop. Bop. 8/10

Eyes Shut: Good song again. Me when I repeat myself. There's nothing really new to say. It's pretty consistent. Bop. Good production. Dance energy. Kinda sexy. Good vocals. 7/10

Close 2 Me: Yes. Same. 7/10

I'm Your Muse: Didn't quite feel this one as much. It lacked something for me. Oh well. 6/10

Around: Boom. This was a good final song. I liked it. It was almost next level but it annoyed me SLIGHTLY too much. The "all around" being repeated was catchy. 7/10

Overall Verdict: Firstly, I think the album was a bit too long. Deep House is a genre I'm very much ignorant of, so that may be the point, but...it still was too long for me. And some of the switchups that routinely happened towards the second half of the songs were sometimes...just there. That being said, overall, this was a good album! It was very slow boppy and sexy the whole way through. I liked the production, and the vocals were good too. It was a good album! 

Sofia and the Antoinettes - WOMEN WHO LOVE TOO MUCH:

SPIRALLING: Dramatic. Do I like it? Sorta kinda. I do like that production, I think? I do like this. It was dramatic, both the vocals and the production, and it was good. 7/10

OVERWHELMING FEAR: Not as dramatic, but pretty nice alt pop. There's a good mixture of good vocals and interesting production here, they both work well together. 7/10

REVOLVER: I was a bit unsure how I felt about this, especially as it was a bit slower, but in the end, I think it was good. 7/10

SANTA MONICA PIER: Oh, this is sorta annoying. Only sort of though. It's alright, I think. 6/10

INTROSPECTION: Sorta annoying again. It's definitely a mix. 6/10

WOMEN WHO LOVE TOO MUCH: It started in a bit of a mediocre way, then it got kinda better, but it's still kinda annoying too. Oh dear! 6/10

Overall Verdict: This was a mix of both annoying and good. There was some good alt pop in here, but unfortunately it was more mixed than I would have liked. Wasn't bad, but it could have been better.

Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun:

Midnight Sun: It's lacking a bit of...anything really. Like, where is the soul? It just sounds like a song, and it exists. Like it wants to be a bop but it fails to do that. Vocals are kinda a miss as well. There are parts that are more interesting but...eh. Just...meh. 5/10

Blue Moon: Oh my god it's a ballad (I don't believe that). Boring start though. I mean I do just find it bland. Like it's supposed to be a bop but it just isn't landing for me for some reason. I just find it mediocre. Oh, and ending with cringe...studio chatter? Awful! 5/10

Pretty Ugly: Oh, that shouting at the start is BAD. BADDDDD. HELP I HATE IT??? Wow, this sucks ass. Like really. The chant like vocals are awful and that's the main hook of the song???? Oh please save me. The rest of the song is serviceable thankfully but yikes. 5/10

Girl's Girl: Okay, this was the first song that actually did anything for me. Like, it is kinda boppy here. It's still kinda missing an energy I want and is a bit too muted, but it's something. I enjoyed listening to it at least! 6/10

Crush: This really reminds me of another song. It has some kinda interesting electronic vibes going for it in the chorus, but it feels a bit...dated and not that gaggy overall. 6/10

Eurosummer: Released a bit late for that season Zara! It does strongly give Eurosummer vibes from the start though. Maybe this could be the first win? Sadly, it doesn't really develop like I wanted it to. Sad! It just kinda...stays with the same energy. 6/10

Hot & Sexy: The transition was cool. Could be actually the first win based on the production! Will this be the bop? It still feels a bit...soulless or something like that, but it is kinda boppy. Sadly, just not enough. It feels a bit by the numbers. 6/10

The Ambition: It's not the mega bop I wanted but it's decent enough. The chorus has something to it, even though it is also quite generic. Ugh, so many songs only get quite good towards the end and by then it's too late. Oh well. 6/10

Saturn's Return: Will this end Ariana Grande's interlude? Nope, it definitely does not. Again, highly mediocre. Voice is alright enough I suppose. Okay, it did get a bit better towards the end. I have to give it that. Just not as much as I would have liked. 6/10

Puss Puss: This better be a mega bop to end the album with. Well, it does seem boppy. It's alright enough. Not quite what I wanted but also I'll take it. It's not the worst. Didn't like the bridge, yikes. Sounds bad. Cringe talking outro. Meh. 6/10

Overall Verdict: This album was truly just generic pop. I do not get why everyone likes it so much, and unfortunately one of my biggest haters loves this album and songs on it, so... Oh dear. It truly lacks a soul to me, it almost feels derivative or a parody of pop music. Not that it was bad, because it isn't, but there's absolutely no way that I will return to this. It's certainly no reinvention of pop music, but I'm very much in the minority on this one. 

Singles:

BANKS - Teardrop: Cool moody atmospheric song. Not my favourite but it's enjoyable. 6/10

Chrissy Chlapecka - Passionfruit: This was a good, cunty song. Exactly the sort of energy I want and expect. Good stuff! 7/10

Girls Aloud - Naked In the Shower: Oh those synths are nasty. I really like them. Hell yeah. Good song. 7/10

Girls Aloud - Watch Me Go (We’re Disco): Me when We're Disco. Well, that wasn't my favourite Girls Aloud song ever. Meh. Just wasn't feeling it. 5/10

Girls Aloud - You Go Too Fast (Demo): This is a good demo. Good song. Catchy but it does kinda give demo at the same time. 7/10

Jade LeMac - Sleeping with the Lights On: It's perfectly fine. Pleasant listen but yeah, that's about it. 6/10

Magdalena Bay - Second Sleep: Ehhh. Not really. I mean it's alright I guess. I still don't quite get the hype. 6/10

Magdalena Bay - Star Eyes: Okay miss piano. It's kinda a pleasant listen. Almost gives jazz like or something. But it's alright only. 6/10

Maren Morris - Beat the Devil: Easy to do. Country but that's pretty expected. Surprisingly short but it was a good moody song. Really fit the title. 7/10

Mikayla Geier - diva: Will this be a certified diva song? It's not the most diva song to exist, but it's good and catchy! 7/10

Rita Ora - All Natural: Meh start. Sounds like a flop demo. Okay, it gets a bit better, but it still kinda has mediocre demo quality. Hmm, seems to get better around halfway through. It kinda has something to it then. Fine, it won me over a bit. But not too much. 6/10

Sophie and the Giants - Pink Champagne: Okay, kinda cunty song. Synths are working here. The vocals are a tiny bit off in the chorus but this is pretty good. BOP! 8/10

Tom Aspaul - Wish It Was You: Not sure I'm totally feeling this production. Feels a bit grating and annoying. Yeah, not really feeling this. Meh. At least a lot of the album was good! 5/10

Yaeji, underscores & Aliyah's Interlude - booboo2: Is it banger time? Don't tease me like that. It was fine but it wasn't really what I expected from these artists. I wanted better! Sad. 6/10