Melissa Kacar

"the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo The second single off of Olivia 's you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love is such a cathartic, existential, and melodramatic masterpiece - all of which are traits that have continually made up so much of her best work to date. If the lead single "drop dead" is the embodiment of the girl so in love portion of the album title, then "the cure" in turn feels like the representation of the you seem pretty sad aspect of the time in her life that inspired her to write this. Coming in at the midpoint of the album's tracklist, it's definitely going to serve as a crucial transition piece for the album's overarching narrative. The build‑up to the bridge and the explosive final chorus is absolutely incredible and feels so powerful with every single listen. It's genuinely one of the best songs Olivia has ever written, and also one of the greatest pop songs of recent memory, which is not an overstatement in the slig...

"Carla's Song" by Harry Styles Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally  is here and it is such an incredible return to one of the defining artists of our time. One undeniable career highlight for Harry is the album's final track, "Carla's Song" . It's hard to even put into words how special this song is. It feels like a celebration of the music that shapes us and the people who enter our lives and change the way we listen, share, and connect. There's something so moving about the way he captures that exchange; how you show someone the songs you love, and they show you theirs, and suddenly your world is bigger because of it. It also feels like a beautiful reflection of the relationship between artist and listener, and the way he understands what his music represents to so many people right now in the moment, and also the ways in which this art will outlive all of us. As a closing track, it's powerful, emotional, and unlike anything I've hear...

Kacey Musgraves ' "Slow Burn" spreads such a hopeful message of renewal and reassurance. It is such a beautiful and comforting song in so many ways. It invites the listener to allow themselves to let go and trust that whatever is meant to be will be, everything you desire will come in due time.  "Born in a hurry, always late, haven't been early since '88", she sings in the opening lines of the song. So much of Golden Hour is rooted in such a personal, autobiographical approach to songwriting, but "Slow Burn" is perhaps the most significant example of it on the album. "I was born 6 weeks early. Under 5 lbs. I came on the day of my baby shower (I always loved a party)," she wrote alongside the song's release on Instagram. "It was the last time I was ever early for anything." "Slow Burn" is a stunning display of Kacey's talent for modern, yet simplistic, country storytelling, which is something she has always...

Music's biggest night was filled with unforgettable performances and served as a celebration of some of the best art released in the past year. The competition was very tight this year, every category had several nominees that were equally deserving of the night's biggest honors. This past year was so great in terms of new music releases, it has been so much fun to be a fan of all of these artists. There was a very diverse range of artists celebrated, which was so great to see.  The entire show was dedicated to fundraising for the communities in Los Angeles that have been affected by the devastating wildfires last month, which is such an important cause to bring attention to. Los Angeles is home to such a vibrant artistic community, a city that is intertwined with the history of so much of the best art and music of our time. Many small businesses were highlighted throughout the show as well as tributes to the victims of the fires, the firefighters and first responders that put...