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Deadbeat by Tame Impala // Album Review

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Deadbeat as a whole for Kevin Parker is really about getting back in touch with the simplicity behind the music and taking up the space to allow every song to feel fully realized. Wanting to get back to that simplicity meant allowing the songs to sprawl, draw themselves out, and sit in the unrefined nature some moments across the record create. Instead of trying to make every single moment of every single song feel perfect in a technical sense, he gave each track room to breathe. That trust in the rawness is part of what makes Deadbeat feel like some of his most human work yet. It is such a dynamic blend of all the elements that make Tame Impala so singular. It's largely rooted in mellow, hypnotic house music, but incorporates poppier elements throughout that he effortlessly blends together. The production is so lush and immersive it serves as yet another reminder that Kevin is truly a generational producer. "Another album that almost killed me. 2 years of sweat and tears an...
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It Won't Always Be Like This by Inhaler // 5 Year Anniversary Album Review

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Inhaler 's debut album,  It Won't Always Be Like This , is deeply indicative of their desire to make something that felt reflective of the moment in history it was created in and served as such a strong introduction to these fresh, young voices in rock music. Even just five years in hindsight, it already feels like such a time capsule in many ways, thematically capturing what the world was experiencing in real time in an attempt to make sense of it all and push back against the injustices surrounding them.  It remains among their best work, shaped by the direction they were beginning to carve out for themselves and the future for the band. So much of this music reflects who they were at that point and where they were headed artistically, hinting at the influences and stylistic choices they would continue to sharpen and develop with each record that followed. Each song is anchored by these big choruses and largely forward thinking, optimistic ideals that almost give off a sense...
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"Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus // Amazon Exclusive 7" red vinyl + Song Review

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Even though Miley Cyrus herself didn't write "Party in the U.S.A." , it still largely mirrors much of her own experience moving from Tennessee to California to achieve the American Dream and feeling homesick as she tries to find her place in the new city. In doing so, it also captures so much of her signature personality as well and is what she called an "all-American song" in a 2010 interview with MTV News .  Since its release in 2009, the song has garnered an impactful legacy as one of the defining songs of Miley's career . In many ways, "Party in the U.S.A." had an interesting journey long before she ever recorded it. It was originally written with the intent of being included on Jessie J 's debut album, but she decided to not record it as it didn't align with the style she was going for at the time. The song was meant to share her culture shock of being a British transplant moving to Los Angeles, which reflected in much of the scrapped...
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Relationships by HAIM // Deluxe EP Review + Record Store Day Exclusive Clear Vinyl

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"Relationships" served as the lead single off of HAIM 's 2025 album I quit and in many ways embodies the ethos of what the entire project represents. The song basks in the rush of leaving behind what - and who - no longer serves you or benefits your life - finally having the ability to fully live in the independence and freedom that comes with letting go of everything you once felt was holding you back.  As this song progresses, it feels like all of the baggage starts to fall to the wayside and the realization sets in that you're the one in control of your own life, the people that you allow to take space in it, and the energy you give to it. Throughout this song, Danielle continuously circles back to the blunt and necessary question that shapes it all - "Why am I in this relationship?" It largely feels aligned with the new version of yourself you're becoming in that process of self-discovery, with the all-encompassing and often bittersweet feelings o...
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"Renegade" by Big Red Machine featuring Taylor Swift // Song Review

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  "Renegade" was born from such a creatively fulfilling time for Taylor Swift , specifically of her work with frequent collaborators Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon . Coming off of folklore and evermore the year prior, and in the midst of the early stages of her Taylor's Version re-releasing journey, this remains a largely underrated, but very special chapter of her music catalog thus far. Those albums were made entirely on her own terms, unburdened by the expectations that had defined her career up until then. That spontaneity and refusal to overthink is what made this era so singular in her discography thus far. "Renegade" stands out as such a raw and confessional lament, opening up in a way that feels rare, even for a songwriter that has long been known for her deep, personal storytelling.  Aaron and Justin, who have collaborated countless times over the years together, formed the duo Big Red Machine in 2018 alongside the release of their debut self-title...
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