Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism

What the hell is Radical Optimism? According to Dua Lipa, “It’s like looking on the bright side of any situation.” That sounds pretty vague, but listening to her third studio album, her perspective becomes clear while the seawater runs off her head as she emerges from the depths of everything that has brought her toContinue reading “Dua Lipa – Radical Optimism”

Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

Finding comfort in the middle comes with age and wisdom. Deeper Well lands between the highest peak of love that Kacey Musgraves found in Golden Hour, and the depths of heartbreak that she explored in Star Crossed, landing in the grass near the trees with the old-as-time hills off in the distance. Admittedly, I wasContinue reading “Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well”

Best of 2023: Selena Gomez – Single Soon

Selena Gomez has always had my back. I had a whole epiphany moment with “Rare.” I was pretty deep in it for a bit. She always knows what to say. We’ve seen her fight the haters (“Who Says“). We’ve seen her be sexy (“Good For You“). This time, she’s emerging as the victor in anContinue reading “Best of 2023: Selena Gomez – Single Soon”

Best of 2023: Lana Del Rey – Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing

I’ll never forget the first time I heard this song. I was in a rented RV with a group of friends, barreling through the night on a journey to the Grand Canyon. Some in the group would later embark on further travel across the country for the remainder of the year. Some would move away.Continue reading “Best of 2023: Lana Del Rey – Grandfather Please Stand on the Shoulders of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing”

Shania Twain – Forever And For Always

Forever doesn’t exist. It never has. Artists of every kind throw the term around with little care for the severity of the idea. Forever. For ever. With no end and in perpetuity. Nothing that has ever existed lives up to that. Shania Twain has a charmed and beloved place in music that gives her theContinue reading “Shania Twain – Forever And For Always”

Sing it Saturday: The Verve- Bitter Sweet Symphony

I find a deep satisfaction in bringing awareness to songs that I know will make other people happy if given a chance. It is always a differently rewarding experience, however, to talk about one that I know everyone already loves. Bitter Sweet Symphony was a perfect contribution of 90s music. It feels like a loveContinue reading “Sing it Saturday: The Verve- Bitter Sweet Symphony”

Sing it Satuday: LEN – Steal My Sunshine

1999 was a blast in the face from pop culture. Film, TV and music were at their peak, and we saw content that is still referenced today, even by young creators who weren’t born yet. Steal My Sunshine is a creation of that time. Everyone remembers this song, but probably wouldn’t be able to tellContinue reading “Sing it Satuday: LEN – Steal My Sunshine”

Sing it Saturday: Cher – Believe

No matter how hard I try, I can’t get past this late 90’s banger. It reshaped the landscape of pop music and showed that electronic elements in music were the way of the future. Sonically, it slaps. Lyrically, it’s devastating. I’m so sad you’re leaving. It takes time to believe it. As much as theContinue reading “Sing it Saturday: Cher – Believe”

Sing it Saturday: Allie X – Sanctuary

I remember being told by a friend “It’s literally my idea of a perfect pop song.” about Sanctuary. I’d listened to a good handful of Allie X songs, and understood that she purveyed an odd girl image against pop bangers and earworms. I always love when an artist creates challenging imagery to surround feather-light materialContinue reading “Sing it Saturday: Allie X – Sanctuary”

Sing it Saturday: Kacey Musgraves – Oh What a World

For the 5-year anniversary of Kacey Musgraves masterpiece album Golden Hour I chose to revisit a track that arguably serves as its thesis. Golden Hour upholds the highest standard of singer-songwriter pop, and justly won the Grammy for album of the year in 2019. Kacey perfected the country-to-pop pipeline and turned everyone into a fanContinue reading “Sing it Saturday: Kacey Musgraves – Oh What a World”