Melissa Kacar

This special "Party Favor / Hotline Bling" 7" vinyl single by Billie Eilish was originally released in April 2018 for Record Store Day , only being sold at independent record stores in the US. It was only limited to 2000 copies and has always been among the rarest records Billie has ever released. I missed out on the record the first time around all those years ago and have been waiting for the day they would repress this single so I could finally have it in my collection! In 2023, Interscope finally repressed a new variant of it for the first time and sold it exclusively on their website and Billie's webstore.  The new Interscope variant I have is slightly different than the first edition. Instead of the hot pink of the original, the second pressing is more of a pastel baby pink, which perfectly matches the cover art! The cover art with the illustration of Billie compliments the vibe of these two songs so well too.  Side A features the song "party favor"...

"is it that sweet? i guess so! " is a playlist curated around some of my favorite summertime anthems. The title and theme is based on a lyric from one of the best songs released this summer, "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter ! I haven't been able to get enough of that song and thought it would be fun to curate a special playlist around it. This playlist is made up of some of my favorite sugary sweet pop songs that I love to listen to on repeat all summer long. Sabrina Carpenter 's music is obviously a staple throughout this playlist - as her music has been truly dominating this year! Taylor Swift recently declared this to be the Summer of Sabrina, "...and may it continue forever!" she said. Sabrina's new album is set to be released this August, which I am really looking forward to and I will absolutely be writing a full review of as soon as I can! If it's anything like "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" then I know ...

Simmer down, simmer down! It's hard to believe that it has already been ten years since 5 Seconds of Summer released their self-titled debut album! They have been one of my favorite bands for so many years and I have the most amazing memories attached to this music. I have loved hearing all of the ways their sound evolved and matured with each new release to follow. 5 Seconds of Summer made history as the first debut album by an Australian band to reach number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 - what a cool accomplishment for four teenagers to achieve! Their debut album also spawned a few of the biggest hits of their career. The lead single, "She Looks So Perfect" is still among their most recognizable hits, which is also how I first discovered them too. They released a few EPs and singles prior to that song, but "She Looks So Perfect" was their first massive international hit. I was immediately hooked! It is still such a great song and will never get old for me. ...

"So I" // Charli xcx Brat summer is officially here! 💚 I've had Charli xcx's new album on a constant repeat all month, it's absolutely one of the best records released this year so far. I have so many thoughts that I will be sharing in my upcoming full review , but until then I thought I'd share a few of my favorites! I usually only share one new song from each new album release on these lists, but between the standard album, the deluxe, and an extra special remix that were released this month - I couldn't resist to highlight them all! The first song I wanted to share from this album is the stunning "So I", which is paying tribute to Charli's friend and collaborator, SOPHIE, who passed away recently. This song is a beautiful memorial to her life and legacy, and the lasting impact she made on all who knew her and love her. It is an incredibly emotional moment from this record and among the best she has ever made to date. "Spring Breake...

Listening to  HIT ME HARD AND SOFT   for the first time truly felt like witnessing the birth of a modern classic. No matter how many times I listen to this record, I am still so blown away by it. This album as a whole is so unique, it's impossible to put it into one category or genre, which is recurring throughout all of Billie and Finneas ' work. To put them in one box musically would be doing a disservice to the incredible range of influences and masterfully crafted sound they have worked to create all these years. I shared a similar sentiment in my review of Billie's debut album , but it rings even more true now.  As always, this album written, recorded and produced solely by Billie and her older brother Finneas. They are just unstoppable together; I feel so lucky to be able to experience the genius of their music in real-time. This album pulls inspiration from parts of her previous work in some aspects, especially her first album, but at the same time it is so singula...