BRAT by Charli xcx – 9.0
Charli xcx turns over a new leaf, sick of her sadness consuming her life. As a well-known party girl, she had a vision- a cultural reset, a summer of free-falling and party-going. This loose concept album uses hyperpop-inspired sounds filled with classic LGBTQ-club sounds. Charli unbelievably turned this LP into an online phenomenon, referencing model Julia Fox and musician Gabriette, along with it being used as a vessel for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. She also remixed multiple versions of her songs, collaborating with Addison Rae, Lorde, and most notably, Billie Eilish. However, amid all the noise, there are a few fleeting moments where it all goes quiet. We get to hear about the grief and sorrow still in her life, reminding us that even the most outgoing party animals still have to work through their traumas.
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) by Eminem – 4.3
Slim Shady is officially dead, just not in the way that Eminem intended. Although this album was promised to revive the late ‘90s-early 2000s “out-of-pocket” Eminem that we all know and love – many fans could’ve seen this coming. The few highlights on this album also offer nothing special, leaving listeners extremely unsatisfied. Eminem recently went viral on Tiktok for his tired “Gen Z can’t cancel me!” rhetoric found all over the LP. Whether it’s the lazy ‘dark humor’, the weirdly executed ableist lines, or the whopping six mentions of Caitlyn Jenner – this album was indescribably disappointing.
The Great American Bar Scene by Zach Bryan – 8.1
Zach Bryan’s Independence Day record channels grief, love, melancholia, and artistic individualism packed into a vulnerable, Americana-influenced piece of art. Bryan brilliantly combines details from his personal life with familial stories told throughout his life and still offers a deep relatability and connection with the music. Although collaborating with legends like Bruce Springsteen and John Mayer helped substantiate this album as the best country album of the year – but the core of the beauty comes from his captivating voice driving the story just as much as the words do.
Charm by Clairo – 9.4
In her junior album, Clairo confronts the feelings of desire and attraction through her melodically groovy and lyrically enticing soft-rock release. Across every song, she laces memories of simple gestures such as “moments when there was just a touch”, followed by deeply intense and emotionally convoluted rhetoric, which comes across as both endearing and slightly whimsical. This theme is prevalent in Clairo’s music, such as in songs such as Wade and Bags. However, in most regards both of production and lyricism, Charm appeals itself in a similarly defining light to Sling and Immunity. While most artists who stick to the same genres and sounds come across as stale and uninteresting, Maddie Goldman ‘25 explains that, “even though her albums and songs are so similar, they’re all so perfectly done.” Despite this being only her third release, the gentle yet vibrant, passionate yet airy ambiance of every song Clairo produced is so artfully designed her excellence excuses the recurrence.
Bando Stone and The New World by Childish Gambino – 6.8
The final album under the Childish Gambino pseudonym is a good listen but slightly underwhelming. Gambino’s writing could never be discredited, yet his smooth instrumentals and melodies are no longer interesting. The hour spent listening seems to be filled with filler tracks, along with collaborations attached to songs that weren’t compelling enough on their own. It’s sad that a great artist no longer has passion and is no longer excited about the music they’re putting out. The 17 tracks read as completely uninspired and messy. While there isn’t necessarily an issue with a record being incohesive, but when it is both all over the place and boring – it makes for a poorly crafted set of songs, and none truly connect. After a first listen, it’s hard to return after initially feeling confused, let down, and completely disoriented.
Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter – 8.0
This album rounds out the last of album releases before school was back in session – and she did not disappoint. Although it is her sixth studio album, this record feels like a new beginning. Carpenter seems to have finally found the right sound, the right producers, and the right writers. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, taking you to many different worlds. However, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics and her flawless comical delivery still allow it to be a well-made, cohesive end-of-summer album. Singles like Espresso and Please Please Please made people eager to hear where this album would go sonically. Still, the diversity perfectly bridges the gap between the two – mixing the ‘pop diva’ energy in songs like Taste, Good Graces, and Juno with the soft and acoustic sound found in Slim Pickins, Dumb & Poetic, and Lie to Girls.
