Melissa Kacar

"Mr. Mountebank" by Djo The Crux (Deluxe) gives so much more insight into the journey Djo took while writing this album and all of the different directions he could've taken with it narratively. It's more than just a regular deluxe album, it's more so a companion project of twelve songs that were written during the same creative period as The Crux , but didn't make the initial cut. That said, they don't feel like leftovers. Each track truly feels like a natural expansion of the time in his life that inspired this music, and collectively, they feel like a culmination of some of the more unhinged parts of himself that he had to work through to arrive at the final version of The Crux . "Mr. Mountebank" is one of my many favorites, he goes fully Djo XCX on it, diving into a wild and abrasive hyperpop sound that's completely different from anything he's made before. It offers a sharp commentary on fame and virality, especially in the wake of ...

"David" by Lorde A day as special as this only comes around once every four years! Lorde finally released her long-awaited fourth album,  Virgin ,   and it's everything I hoped it would be and more. It offers a glimpse into her mind in the most unfiltered, raw way. There are so many songs that I love and feel so connected to, but I was truly speechless after hearing the closing track "David" for the first time. There is something so haunting and cathartic about this song, it is such a powerful way to close this incredible record.  Check out my full review of Virgin by Lorde! "Times Like These" by Addison Rae "Times Like These" is one of the many standout tracks off of Addison's self-titled album , which is overall such a confident and clear debut from one of pop's most exciting new artists. This is one of the most vulnerable and heartbreakingly honest moments of the album, which feels so representative of the greater storyline of Addi...

"Rose Colored Lenses" // Miley Cyrus  One of my most anticipated releases of the year was Miley Cyrus ' Endless Summer Vacation and it definitely didn't disappoint! "Rose Colored Lenses", feels so representative of the thesis of the album with the lyric "Endless summer vacation, make it last till we die". This song feels so LA, it's as if I'm transported to California every time I listen to it. So much of her music throughout her career is rooted in her love for Los Angeles, which is an aspect of her songwriting that I love so much. This song is one of the highlights of the album for me, I just can't get enough of it. So many lyrics and phrases she uses are my favorite from the entire album - "daydream, deja vu", "we could stay like this forever, lost in wonderland", and the repetition of "let's stay like this forever", to name a few. Check out my full review of Endless Summer Vacation here! "Par...

2019 was such a great year for music! So many of my favorite musicians released new music this year, as well as a few newer artists that I also really loved! In today's post, I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on my favorite albums of the year - Enjoy!  WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? // Billie Eilish I've loved Billie's music ever since her first EP came out two years ago and I'm so happy she has been getting the recognition she deserves this year. In my opinion, Billie is the perfect representation of where I see the future of music going in the next decade. Her music is so different than what so many others have been doing in the alternative pop genre, the style and production of every song she has is so complex and revolutionary in so many ways. Her brother Finneas, who produces and co-writes every song with her, truly elevates her music to a new level,   they really make a great duo! - I also love his solo music too, which I'll be ment...