Melissa Kacar

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...

Open Wide showcases a fresh and evolved sound for Dublin rock band Inhaler . Wanting to start with a clean slate, the band ended up making some of their best and most cohesive work yet. This album marks their third release as a band and it's clear how far they've come as a band during the time that followed their 2023 sophomore release Cuts & Bruises . With  Open Wide , it is so evident that they weren't necessarily focused on crafting an album around the singles but instead wanting to make an album that feels like a full, complete body of work. The confidence in their sound and the clear artistic direction they had when making this is evident when listening to this album. Every single song is so electrifying and consistent in the energy and narrative at the heart of this record.  The release of their third album ushers in a new, exciting era for the band.  Open Wide was produced in collaboration with Kid Harpoon , who is best known as Harry Styles ' core collabor...

To celebrate what was another great year of music, I compiled a list of my 23 favorite songs of 2023. This is a glimpse into some of my most-played songs that served as the soundtrack of my year through it all. Earlier this year, I started a monthly New Music Friday series where I highlighted some of the best releases of each month. This list includes the best of the best from all of those posts, as well as some new finds from throughout the year. To keep this list succinct and varied, I only chose one song from each artist. I have written in depth about many of these artists and their new releases throughout the year, which will be linked throughout if you are interested in reading more. I will be sharing even more in my post about my favorite albums of the year too! This is loosely ranked, featuring many of my all-time favorite artists, as well as some new artists I discovered this year.  Enjoy! ✨ "A&W" // Lana Del Rey "A&W" is one of the greatest songs...