Tag Archives: album review

This is How Tomorrow Moves Album Review

Posted on by
Reply

Whether it be heartbreak, sorrow, joy, or any other feelings, the music beautifully enchants and expresses people’s emotions through the lyrics, melodies, instrumentals, rhythms, and other factors. Often, after listening to a song, a person is moved by these beautiful aspects of music. One of my favorite albums that invoke this type of feeling is the album This is How Tomorrow Moves by Beabadoobee, a Filipino-British singer. This album is truly beautiful and full of emotion as it expresses Beabadoobee’s feelings about her struggles and her journey to healing.

This is How Tomorrow Moves was originally released as an EP by Beadbadoobe, but it was soon released in August 2024 as an album consisting of 14 tracks: “Take a Bite,” “California,” “One Time,” “Real Man,” “Tie My Shoes,” “Girl Song,” “Coming Home,” “Ever Seen,” “A Cruel Affair,” “Post,” “Beaches,” “Everything I Want,” “The Man Who Left Too Soon,” and the main feature, “This is How it Went.” This album expresses the artist’s experiences post-heartbreak and her journey to self-healing, conveying her struggles with her youth and identity. Each track transmits different meanings, but they all are beautifully made to create a memorable album. 

Personally, I think this album is one of Beabadoobee’s best albums and one of my favorites. Every single song on the album is beautifully created, and despite the contrasts between some songs, I love every single song on the album. Two of my favorite songs on this album are “Beaches” and “Girlsong,” which grabbed my attention from the first listen. “Beaches” by beabadoobee is about the artist’s self-journey to heal, which is strongly expressed in the lyrics “Cause days blend to one when I’m on the right beaches.” To me, this song is extremely enchanting, not just through the melodies but also through the lyrics. My other favorite song on this album is “Girl Song” because of its touching lyrics and the meaning of the song in general. This song contrasts with “Ches” since “Beaches” is about being “at ease” when finally getting on the right path, while Girlsong’s meaning is more about the struggles of a person due to insecurities and self-doubt.

Furthermore, this album provides a variety of types of songs, such as “Coming Home,” which has an upbeat tone and calmer vocals and instrumentals, which is pretty similar to “This is How It Went,” which similarly has an upbeat tone. However, “This is How It Went” has more inflection in the song, as the song has some shifts between soft melodies and louder melodies. Also, other songs stood out to me in the album, such as “Post,” which is a loud song as the instrumental dominates the songs, and “Tie My Shoes,” which has such emotional lyrics.

In conclusion, This is How Tomorrow Moves by beabadoobee is such a great album in many aspects, and it captures her personal experiences and her own journeys with heartfelt emotion. This album is a must-listen for anyone who feels they relate to any of the meanings of the songs or the lyrics, or if you just want to listen to music that speaks to the soul.

Album Review – Currents by Tame Impala

Posted on by
2

Tame Impala is a psychedelic pop project by Australian singer Kevin Parker. He released their third album, Currents, in 2015. This is the first album that Parker mixed and recorded all music and instruments alone, therefore the album featured no other collaborators. Personally, this is my favorite album by Tame Impala and I became a fan of them after discovering the hit song, The Less I Know The Better.

Similar artists – MGMT, Mac deMarco, Foster the People

Themes and Lyrics

  • The album revolves around ideas of self-discovery, complex relationships, and conflicts in past and present. Almost every song describes relation-related transformations as well as their struggles. One of the more prominent examples of these journeys of self reflection can be seen in this quote from the song Yes I’m Changing

“Life is moving, can’t you see? There’s no future left for you and me”

I think the song describes getting over a relationship that most likely isn’t going to work out. This quote illustrates that it’s not always right to be stuck in the past, which many people can sympathize with. Another song that strongly embeds this theme is Past Life, in which a guy talks about an encounter with his old lover, which gives him a strange feeling.

Impressions and Opinions

  • Overall the songs in this album are very ethereal and nostalgia-inducing. My favorite songs in the album are Love/Paranoia and Eventually. If you are a first time listener to this album, I would definitely suggest listening to The Less I Know The Better and Let it Happen. My least favorite songs are either very repetitive (Nangs) or don’t have any lyrics (Gossip). No offense to the instrumentals, they’re great, but it’s just not for me.

Final Comments

  • I would recommend this album to people who enjoy upbeat, immersive music and would like to explore themes of personal transformation. If you’re getting over a relationship you might find a connection with this album.

Album Review: Rae

Posted on by
Reply

In her second album, Rae, alternative singer/songwriter, Ashe, introduces a collection of danceable and cry-able songs, snapshotting a lively and carefree moment in her life. Even though she has recently come out with a new album, Willson, which I also believe is an incredible album that revels in her self-discovery, Rae still stands out as a very underrated album that deserves more recognition for its creativity and masterful lyricism. I’ve highlighted a few of the most notable tracks on the album:

Shower With My Clothes On: With a parade of melodic ad-libs, singing trumpets, and a harmonic guitar strum, Ashe encompasses the feeling of spinning out of control with anxiety and a world trapping you in. She notes the last few moments of a relationship when in a state of hopelessness, knowing that you must let go. Ashe sings, “I don’t know how to feel, I’m out of my mind,” as she immerses us into her spiral and active panic attack. Through this notion, Ashe consoles her listeners, telling them to find any way to decompress when in a situation like this, even if it means getting in the shower with their clothes on.

omw: This bittersweet track, with components of an 80s beat and a breezy piano riff, is layered with hope that through whatever “rain and lightning,” there are better times ahead, as long as you try to get there. Ashe revels in her positivity saying “I’m on my way” to a brighter future. What most struck me about this track was the addicting beat and fluidity of the lyrics. I also found it satisfying to hear such a positive and hopeful outlook on the days ahead.

Angry Woman: This track screams at the stereotypical behaviors of women in society today. Ashe fights with the notions of women needing to ‘behave’ and ‘not get emotional’ in her punk rock track. Through this, she describes her, and generally women’s struggles with the abuse of power and their right to get angry to inspire some change.

Loose Ends: The gentle lull of Loose Ends in this high-energy album gives a place for soft, folksy lament that captures the emotional aftermath of a relationship. It reflects the action of masking real love while being dissatisfied in a relationship and the plea for direction while struggling to decide what’s next. She sings, “Love is a game that you let me lose, I would’ve stayed if you asked me to.” Possibly the saddest song on the album, Loose Ends laments someone in a state of desperation who becomes an outcast amongst their family and friends. Although Ashe doesn’t provide any positive note that things will get better, it suits the situation that at this moment, one doesn’t know or feel that things can get better.

Overall, Rae gives off a retro-pop style that feels unique to most albums of today. I’ve had a fixation on this album, and I hope that someday it’ll get the recognition it deserves.

EP/ Album Review: All Creatures Great and Small

Posted on by
Reply

 

During my winter break, I’ve had time to indulge in my hobbies, one of which is listening to music. I enjoy expanding the types of music I listen to and an artist who has piqued my interest as of late is Jesse Welles. Welles has started to gain popularity due to his bold statements and blunt messages he sends through his songs on all platforms including but not limited to, TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify. One of the most recent EP (standing for extended play) releases that have been released by Welles is “All Creatures Great and Small”. The EP centers around the environment’s condition, humans, and a variety of creatures. The first of these tracks is “Bugs”.

Bugs

Beginning, “Bugs” was first seen as a single and short Tik tok, Instagram, and Youtube prior to the release of “All Creatures Great and Small”. However, there is not a large difference between the single release and EP release. “Bugs” has a similar feel to a children’s song, it has a silly and “bouncy” feel. 

The thing that stood out to me the most was the “Bzz” bridges, my reasoning for this standing out is that Welles tends to have a very serious tone in a large majority of his prior releases. This “Bzz” comes off as out of character for Welles especially since it is the first song of the EPs and contrasts strongly with his other messages/songs if you were to listen to his other work before listening to “Bugs”. 

Trees

Up next on the tracklist is “Trees”. Welles’s message in this track is to show appreciation for trees which usually go dismissed. Lines such as “You tell me your favorite, I’ll tell you mine. I like the tall ones, short ones, ones with great big roots,” illustrates Welles’ appreciation for nature and its variety. This track has a slow relaxed feel while still being slightly witty similar to his previous work. This can be seen in the line “Tree’s probably smarter than me and you”. The overall message of this song is to show how useful trees are for everyone and everything whether we, the listener, realize it or not. The general feel and tone of the track are enjoyable and I find myself singing the song throughout the day.

Turtles

Third on the EP is “Turtles” which covers the variety of abilities turtles have. Although the majority of people may view turtles as just slow creatures who are in need of help, Welles paints turtles as independent and determined animals. 

One of my favorite factors of this track is the lines “Turtles, ooh-oh-oh Turtle time” leading into a harmonica solo. I find this lead-up and solo to be very charming, and special, and serves as sort of a sparkle to the song to make it stand out giving it a quirk in a sense. This track is calm and informative about the struggles and strengths of the turtles’ everyday life.

Previously I viewed turtles mostly as sensitive and in danger but listening to this track has shown me that turtles are more than just their struggles. Not only are turtles more than their struggles, but they also need the same resources as us although they may physically look different turtles are just like everyone else as said by Welles “They need clean water and clean air, About the same things as we need up here.” I see that this track can help others be more open-minded to turtles and value them further than just struggling animals.

Squirrels

Fourth on the tracklist, and my personal favorite, is “Squirrels”.The overall composition of the song is incredibly enjoyable evoking an energetic and busy feeling with the quick pace of the guitar and chime of harmonica popping up throughout the song. This rhythm paired with the lyrics paints a picture of curiosity and adventure perfectly encapsulating the jumpy and fast life of a squirrel. Similar to the previous tracks “Squirrels” describes the intricate lives of squirrels, although we may only see the for short amounts of time they are just as equally busy, enthusiastic, and passionate as humans. We can see this theme of animals serving a purpose for themselves and the world, along with themes of appreciation and equality between humans and nature all throughout “All Creatures Great and Small”. Although squirrels may seemingly be lost as described by Welles Squirrels “You ain’t ever gonna find all them nuts. All froze up in the middle of the road. Can never decide which way to go.” They still continue to live on and find joy in their lives similar to humans finding happiness while passing through hardships. I find this song to be enchanting with its usage of different techniques while Welles backs up his vocals with his guitar to mimic a squirrel’s chattering of teeth. This extremely unique variety of sound makes this song stand out the most to me along with the announcement of squirrels besides the chattering. Not only did this song stand out to me, but it also got me to look more into the vast sounds squirrels make and why they do it.

Autumn

Fifth on the track is “Autumn” which was released alongside “Bugs” as a single before its release on EP and similarly to “Bugs” does not have any major differences between its single and EP release. Generally, the feeling I got from this song was a comforting and warm home feeling matching perfectly with the title. A slow yet quick pace of the guitar also produces a feeling of progression and confidence. I can also sense a scene of close connection and familiarity with lines such as “I wish you could see what my eyes see. As the summer slips out of view. Time’s gonna take me, baby, just as I am. It’s autumn here, how about you?”. These lines remind me of wishful thinking that you could spend a moment with someone dear to you when seeing a beautiful sight. This song also serves wonderfully as a representation of “The Road Back” similar to the way the hero’s journey usually flows. The journey painted by Welles is full of appreciation and new information. 

For example, the references to past tracks such as “As the squirrels squirrel away what they can for each day. For the old man is getting along” and ”The bugs of the summer grow quiet with wonder” wrap up the lessons learned and new experiences made throughout the story told by Welles. 

Whales

Concluding with the EP is “Whales”. Overall I find the choice of animal for concluding the song of the EP as a whale to be very fitting with the themes of open-mindedness and equality towards nature. Whales tend to symbolize peace and wisdom, and with further research, I have found that turtles also serve similar symbolism. These common characteristics and tiny details shared between tracks make the wrap-together of the EP between the closing song and the previous track all the more effective. With the messages of sensitivity towards whales’ purposes and environment, we can deduce that Welles truly wants the listener to take something away from the EP and see that it is not just music but a representation of everyone and everything’s struggles and that humans and nature are not as different as we think. Not only can we acknowledge each other’s similarities, we can also acknowledge the responsibilities we as humans have. Welles questions what will happen if we let nature go to ruins as seen with these lines “If the rivers turn to mud and blood. And cease to be, and naught to run. And the ocean loses all its air. And turns to plastic everywhere. To where will all the wisdom go?” This usage of rhetorical questions serves as a way for the listeners to think of their actions on a greater scale, not centered just on themselves but also on the beauty of nature although we might not completely understand it.

Conclusion

Ending the EP I would give the story/overall theme a 10/10. These themes match perfectly with his previous work and the pre-established messages he wishes to send with his art. The new direction of tune and delivery is new and almost breathtaking. I find it incredible how Welles impresses me with each new release and I can’t wait for more. In the meantime, I plan to listen to more releases and review them at a later date. Not only do I plan to listen to his online releases, but I also plan to see him live. Jesse Welles has certainly caught my attention and I recommend him to anyone open to new perspectives on the environment, the current changes within the world, and people who are fond of folk/punk music.

Albums I love as of autumn 2024

Posted on by
2

Stick Season- Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan’s Stick Season perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to be from New England or any small town in northern America. His lyrics are poignant and relatable, and his vocals are filled with intense emotion. Listening to Stick Season takes me back to when I lived in areas like Seattle and Boston, it brings a sense of nostalgia that feels so comforting. If you love indie folk you will absolutely love this album! My top three songs are: “Northern Attitude (feat. Hozier)”, “New Perspective”, and “Orange Juice”.

The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We- Mitski

When Mitski released the first couple of singles from this album, I knew it would be a favorite of mine. Mitski has been releasing music for over a decade and there has never been a decrease in the quality of her music. This is a perfect fall album in my opinion. It’s sad, emotional, and slow. It’s honestly just beautiful-sounding and feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket. My top three songs include: “Heaven”, “Buffalo Replaced” and “I Love Me After You”.

Baby I’m The Wolf – Ha Vay

Ha Vay’s debut album Baby I’m The Wolf has quickly become one of my favorite albums of all time since its release. Ever since she released the album in July, I’ve been obsessed. Ha Vay’s voice is magnetic and the overall production of her album creates a hypnotic fantasy world that is so beautiful to listen to. This album is definitely not like anything I’ve heard before which is why it is one of my favorites. My top three songs are: “Nature’s Bride”, “Angel! Wild! Superstar!” and “Baby I’m The Wolf”.

Jubilee- Japanese Breakfast

After reading Japanese Breakfast’s (AKA Michelle Zauner’s) memoir, I decided to check out her music and instantly fell in love. When listening to her music, she sings with a powerful emotion I don’t hear often. I love her debut album Psychopomp, but Jubilee is more polished and her songwriting has really elevated. If you like indie alternative, I would definitely check this album out. My top three songs include: ‘Savage Good Boy”, “In Hell”, and “Paprika”.

EPIC the Musical: the Cyclops Saga (EP Review)

Posted on by
Reply

EPIC: The Musical is a concept musical loosely adapting the story of the Odyssey, the famous Greek epic. Currently, it has eight “sagas” released, each featuring 3-5 songs, and “the Cyclops Saga” is the second of these! Spoiler warning for the musical, of course.

  1. Polyphemus

In the intro to the saga, Odysseus and his crew sail to the cave that they were told about by the lotus eaters and promptly find and kill a bunch of sheep. However, they are confronted by a massive cyclops who lives in the cave, and whose sheep they have just killed. Odysseus attempts to bargain with it, and his wiles come into play. He is sure to give his name as “nobody” instead of Odysseus, and attempts to persuade the Cyclops to accept wine as a trade for the sheep. The Cyclops drinks the wine but refuses to let them go. Polyphemus’ (the name of the Cyclops, thus the name of the song) voice is done very well to be menacing and intimidating – you can almost visualize this hulking deadly figure. There are many small vocal melodies in this song that I find get stuck in my head from time to time.

2. Survive

Odysseus and the crew begin to make a stand against the Cyclops, but are swiftly taken aback by it bringing out a club and beginning to beat some of the crew to death. If you aren’t watching the musical with animatics (which I highly recommend) then it might not be as easily apparent to you: one of the crewmates that’s killed is Polites. This death affects Odysseus greatly for the rest of the journey: Polites was his best friend, and this is just after Polites encourages him to “greet the world with open arms”. Now, after Odysseus has tried bargaining with the Cyclops…look at where that got him? This song does a great job of raising tension through the beats of the club: each hit is another dead, and their cries for Odysseus (“captain!”) are utterly heartbreaking.

3. Remember Them

Thanks to Odysseus getting the Cyclops to drink the lotus wine in “Polyphemus”, it passes out. He and his crew manage to stab it in the eye. When the Cyclops attempts to get help, it says that “nobody” had blinded him. This is thanks to Odysseus’ introducing himself as Nobody earlier on and, of course, does not get him any assistance. Notably, Athena tells Odysseus to kill the Cyclops instead of just blinding him, but he refuses and tries to stick by Polites’ “open arms” philosophy. However, before they fully take off, Odysseus makes the mistake of turning around and telling the Cyclops his real name. Odysseus’ pride has gotten the better of him: he wants the Cyclops to know who beat him. This song causes a ripple of change that affects countless future events. If only he had just listened to Athena…

4. My Goodbye

In this song, Athena, who has been acting as Odysseus’ patron until this point, declares her separation from Odysseus. The two have a back and forth argument, each cutting deeper and deeper into each other’s insecurities. You can just feel the pent-up energy in the lyrics and the voice delivery, plus reiteration of Athena’s theme fading into the distance at the end of the song puts into perspective how alone he is. Teagan Earley, the voice of Athena, really shines here, and it is my personal favorite song of this saga.

EPIC: The Musical: The Troy Saga (EP Review)

Posted on by
Reply

EPIC: The Musical is a concept musical loosely adapting the story of the Odyssey, the famous Greek epic. Currently, it has seven “sagas” released, each featuring 3-5 songs, and “the Troy Saga” is the first of these!

Song 1: The Horse and the Infant

This song sets off the musical, starting off inside the Trojan Horse, one of Odysseus’ most famous tactical achievements. Notably, it establishes Odysseus’ main desire: to get back home to his wife and son in Ithaca. As he makes his way ransacking through Troy, a vision appears to him from Zeus, ordering him to make a heartbreaking decision. I love this song for its fast-moving lyrics and quick rhymes that sell the drama and tension of the scene. The instrumentals during the vocal break are also striking, setting up a danger motif that is repeated in many future songs.

Song 2: Just a Man

Odysseus has been faced with a decision. Kill a child or let him live, knowing that in the future the child will grow to take revenge on his family. In the musical, Odysseus’ instrument (the one he is most associated with) is the guitar, which switches types here to showcase his emotional side. It’s very striking and lamentful, and drives home the conflicted feelings Odysseus has.

Song 3: Full Speed Ahead

Odysseus and his crew begin sailing home after the grueling war. Eurylochus, his second in command, and Polites, his best friend, are both introduced. The song ends with Odysseus and Polites scouting out a strange island they encountered in hopes of finding food. I have to say, this is one of the catchiest songs in the whole musical. It also does a great job of foreshadowing with its lyrics: “But the problem’s not the distance / it’s what lies in-between”, of the dangers they will encounter ahead.

Song 4: Open Arms

Polites encourages Odysseus to let go of his coldly tactical mindset and be more welcoming, more kind, and “greet the world with open arms!.” On the island, they stumble across some creatures eating lotus fruits. After asking where they could find food, the creatures tell them about a cave to the east. This song has such a cheerful tone to it that it’s hard not to enjoy. The use of instruments like the kalimba and the marimba also add to the playful atmosphere so well.

Song 5: Warrior of the Mind

Odysseus is pulled into “Quick-Thought” by Athena, which is called her “signature move” by the creator. The two are pulled into an alternate reality space, and Athena scolds Odysseus for becoming soft, not being the “Warrior of the Mind” she expects him to be. Athena emphasizes her point by showing him the past, when he was young and she first started mentoring him. It ends with her telling him not to disappoint her. Athena’s motif is established in this song, along with her signature instrument of the piano. The vocals in this song are incredible, with Teagan Earley having such a powerful voice perfect for a strategy and war goddess.                

“The Troy Saga” is an excellent start to the Musical and does a great job of setting up the characters!

P1Harmony Music Review

Posted on by
Reply

I wanted to discuss the K-pop boy group, P1Harmony, and their newest album Killin’ It released in February 2024, as well as them as a group! P1Harmony is a boy band consisting of six members, Keeho, Theo, Jiung, Intak, Soul, and Jongseob. Their music is a mix of hip-hop and R&B which is both lively and calm depending on the songs.

In their most recent album, their title track, “Killin’ It,” is fun and upbeat. The rapping parts in this song are so prominent and truly make the song lively and fun to listen to. Their other song, “Late Night Calls,” is on the calmer side, relating more towards R&B. I would say this is my favorite song in the entire album, as its meaning is sweet and the melody is mellow and is perfect for a night drive. Lastly, I like “Countdown to Love” as it is also upbeat and uplifting. I listened to this song while studying for my AP United States History exam that I actually took today, May 10th. The beat is so much fun and really wakes me up! Overall, the album is one of their best, and I’m looking forward to seeing them on June 16th when they come to LA!

I also love watching them perform as well as viewing their content as they are very down-to-earth people who are close to me in terms of age. I find it easy to relate to them and fun to watch as most of them are fluent in English! Although I understand and speak Korean, it’s always exciting to see K-pop idols learn and speak English, especially Keeho who is from Canada and speaks fluently. I personally like Jiung the most, as he quiet and more reserved. He is also known to be smart and more logical which I relate to the most. Keeho and Theo are also fun to watch as I find them funny and they never fail to make me laugh. Ultimately, P1Harmony is such a talented and exciting group to listen to and watch, and I would recommend their music to anyone who is willing to give K-pop a listen!

Kaiya T.

The Maybe Man Album Review

Posted on by
Reply

The Maybe Man is the fifth album written by AJR. Let me just say that AJR is my favorite band and that I definitely recommend them. 

A bit of background information about AJR. AJR is an American indie pop band. The members are Adam, Ryan and Jack Met, a trio of brothers from New York. The trio actually write all of their own songs. They first gained popularity in 2015 with their single I’m Ready when an Australian singer liked the song. Sense then, they have released 5 albums:

  • Living Room
  • The Click
  • Neotheatre
  • OK Orchestra

and the reason I am writing this

  • The Maybe Man

Now, let’s review this amazing album.

Track One, The Maybe Man: This song is an overview of the entire album. The lyrics all directly relate to the following songs, which is super interesting because you have to match each lyric to the songs. The song is all about a man who wants to be something else. I like this song because it builds up the entire time until the end where the song gets really party-ish.

“I wish that my brain would triple in size- I’d nail ever joke, I’d win every fight- But I’d get too deep with that kind of mind- I don’t wanna know the point of life”

Track Two, Touchy Feely Fool: This was the song I was most excited about when I heard they were making a new album. It definitely lived up to what I wanted it to be. The lyrics are incredibly catchy and the beat will get stuck in your head all day long. This song is about a man who can’t get out of a toxic relationship. 

“I’m screwed- But, hey, what can you do?- I’m a touchy feely fool- I would give anything to not give a ****- About you (you)- Life is pretty cruel- For a touchy feely fool- I would give anything to not give a ****, but I do”

Track Three, Yes I’m A Mess: At first I loved this song, don’t get me wrong, I still like it, but I have heard it WAY too many times. These lyrics and beats get stuck in your head for days on end. It’s all about a dude who definitely needs a therapist, he’s running away and going kinda crazy. This song also has a really good music video.

 “Cheers to the front and cheers to the back- And cheers to the 2010s (literally the year I was born, guess they know their audience)- I could hate my guts when the sun comes up- But I like myself like this- I like myself like this”

Track Four, The Dumb Song: This is a pretty good song. I think that compared to the other songs on the album, this one is a bit covered up. Not a bad song, it’s message is unique. It’s all about how the singer (our Maybe Man) isn’t very smart so whatever happens isn’t his fault.

“You said with certainty- I may be the dumbest person that you’ve ever seen- You think you’re hurting me- Bet you won’t believe it, but you kinda set me free”

Track Five, Inertia: One of the most popular songs in the album, Inertia is one of my favorites. It’s a very… different song. AJR experiments with different voices and tunes. I know that this song is special, but once you like it, you LOVE it. It’s actually some of my friends’ favorite song. It’s all about different forms of inertia, but depending on your science class, It can really help you remember one of the forces exerted on planets by the Sun.

“I wanna be big like my plans-So why am I so tiny, and why am I so mad?-It’s inertia, guess this is just what I am- I’m stuck in this life, and I’m stuck in these pants”

Track Six, Turning Out Pt. iii: To be honest, this song is lower on my list of songs. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good song. It’s just more emotional and slow. So far, AJR has written 3 Turning Out songs and I think this is the last one. It centers on our Maybe Man’s love life, but was actually written by Ryan Met.

“Love isnt big, kid-  It’s little and quiet- Let’s do today- I think you’ll turn out to like it”

Track Seven, Hole in the Bottom of My Brain: I was excited for this song for two reasons. One; I thought the title was super interesting and for some reason I imagined gunshots???? And two; It was the only non-explicit song on the album, which, added to my imagined gunshot wounds, made me super intrigued in this song. The song itself was super cool because it built up every lyric until the end. It’s kinda about things building up.

“There’s a hole in the bottom of my brain- When I spend money, the hole goes away- If I could finally get clothes that are fancily sewn- I could finally be ready for fame”

Track Eight, The DJ is Crying for Help: Not one of my favorite songs on the album, this song is more mainstream than the others. I don’t have much to say about this song. It’s just, bleh. It’s about our Maybe Man and how he has to grow up and doesn’t know what to do now.

“Hey now , hold up, we were fun as hell- I’m all grown up but you couldn’t tell- Now I don’t know what to do with myself- The DJ is cryin’ for help”

Track Nine, I Won’t: My least favorite song, I Won’t is more mainstream then the previous. I don’t know, this song has a pretty funny YouTube short. It’s about not wanting to do things, about not giving in to peer pressure and doing what YOU want.

“I don’t got a body like I see in the press- So I got to the precipice of pressing my chest- And now I look impressive with a couple of pecs- Just like my friends”

Track Ten, Steve’s Going to London: AWESOME SONG!!!! It’s so good. AJR originally wrote this song so they had at least one not super meaningful heavy song in the album. Honestly, that’s what this song is. It’s super lightweight compared to the rest of the songs. This song is super fun because when you listen to it, it’s like two different songs mushed into one. There actually is no real meaning to this song, so enjoy!

“ Well, you try to find some meaning in your life before you’re gone (ooh)- There’s a song that don’t mean anything at all (ooh)- And it sounds like”

Track Eleven, God is Really Real: Saddest. Song. Ever. They wrote this song when their dad got sick. He did unfortunately die, which is really awful. I love (can you love a song this sad?) this song. There’s really not much I can say about this song, except, bring tissues.

“I’ll sing it for you, dad- When you get out of bed- I’ll sing it for you when you’re out of bed”

Track Twelve, 2085: LAST SONG!!!!!!! This is the longest song written by AJR at 5 minutes and 31 seconds. It’s the end of the album, so it wraps up the entire album with a pretty little ribbon. Love the song, it’s all about the end of the Maybe Man’s life and his regrets and achievements.

“I wish I was me- Whoever that is- I could just be- And not give a ****- Hey I’ll be whatever makes you a fan- Cause I don’t know who the he** I am”

Overall, this is a beautiful album that I took way too much time writing about. I hope you enjoy The Maybe Man by AJR.

Album Review: The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Posted on by
1

Chappell Roan’s debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” released in September 2023, has hit the music industry like a truck. She shows immense range on the album, from loud, upbeat songs such as “HOT TO GO!” and “Femininomenon” to slower, more emotional ones like “Kaleidoscope” and “California.” Coming into the industry with little to no experience as a big-time musical artist, Roan faced backlash through critics calling her music too explicit and sensual, while others claimed that she acted “too famous” even though she only had one album out. However, this was ignored by the singer, who gained immediate popularity on platforms like TikTok, which trended her songs “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Pink Pony Club” for months straight. With her background now established, let’s look at each individual song and how they come together on the album.

Femininomenon:

With a slow opening and catchy chorus, this track immediately captured my attention and became one of the ones I enjoy the most. It’s upbeat, different, and there are spoken parts of the song that serve to introduce the character of Chappell Roan to the listener. While it’s not the best song on the album due to it being more surface level and fun, it definitely hooked me and made me want to listen to more.

Red Wine Supernova:

This track is arguably one of the best on the album, with interesting chord changes, captivating lyrics, and a storyline throughout the entire song. It follows Roan’s story of her identity and feeling like she would be able to sacrifice parts of her character and personality in order to keep the unnamed second character close to her. With a catchy spoken bridge, the song comes together to be a fun, colorful track that is basically unskippable.

After Midnight:

To me, this song doesn’t stand out on the album. It has a nice melody, a musically pleasing composition, and the lyrics are fine, but there is no specific part that makes you want to loop it or listen to it a second or third time. I don’t skip this song, but I feel tempted to about halfway through.

Coffee:

“Coffee” is another one of the songs on the album that I don’t listen to as much, but I do enjoy the chorus and the lyrics, once again following a story of Roan as she tries to avoid someone from her past while still keeping a friendly relationship with them. The lyrics are interesting and the music is slower than what has already been shown on the album, which I really enjoyed my first few times listening to it, but it got a bit repetitive the more I did.

Casual:

I would argue that this is, again, one of the best tracks on the album. It rose to extreme popularity on TikTok, with bits of the chorus being used for trends. It follows the story of a casual relationship that Roan has had in the past where she feels like a secret and as though the partner in question is ashamed of her, making a statement through explicitly detailing their actions and asking the question “Is it casual now?” I would put this song higher on my ranking than some others, although it is not the best song on the album.

Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl:

This song is an upbeat, fun, “night out on the town” type of track, with a spoken introduction and lyrics that emphasize her want to be with someone similar to herself. It’s incredibly similar to some of the pop/club music of the early 2000s, and it made me nostalgic for the sound of my childhood. Again, this song isn’t very loop-able unless you were getting ready to go out or preparing for a high energy event, but it’s a good song and breaks the notion that the album is mostly serious or storytelling songs.

HOT TO GO!:

One of her most popular songs, with it even having its own dance performed at live concerts, “HOT TO GO!” is a catchy, upbeat song about not having a direction to go in your 20s and choosing to go everywhere. Roan sings about dancing, relationships, and her life choices while speaking to an unnamed person, comparing herself to a coffee order as she says she can be taken “hot to go”. I thought it was a very fun song, although I don’t particularly want to listen to it again and again.

My Kink is Karma:

Roan immediately switches the tone of her music in this transition, telling a story about her most hated ex, who she wishes nothing but karma and suffering on. While dramatic, it’s a relatable song that encompasses what it feels like to hate an ex partner and want nothing but the worst for them. I thought the song was fun, starting off slow and adding in a techno beat halfway through the chorus. I wouldn’t put it in my top five, but I do enjoy listening to it on repeat.

Picture You:

This song is slower, more about yearning and the want to be in a relationship with someone who is her friend than a storytelling track. I would put this as my favorite on the album just because of how different it is, at least at this point in the album, from everything else we’ve heard. It’s a slow, quiet song with Roan using her lower register for majority of it, something she doesn’t do very often. I love this song and would recommend this one for anyone trying to get into Chappell Roan’s music for the first time, as it offers a gateway into her patented sound without getting too wild.

Kaleidoscope:

Staying on theme with the slower songs, “Kaleidoscope” is about an ex that she parted amicably from. It’s written in second person, with “you” not being named. This one is higher, slower, and much more sad than anything on the album up until this point, showing the range in her music. I love this song, but it does tend to make me feel sad and nostalgic, which is why I don’t often loop it or listen to it more than a few times in one sitting.

Pink Pony Club:

I love this song. It starts out slow, keeping the same deep, hearty sound the entire time even as she shifts her voice to go higher and higher. I think this is my second favorite on the album, and I listen to it for hours at a time when I’m working or going about my day. I would recommend this song to anyone wanting to get into her music as well, as it shows more of her upbeat, catchy music than “Picture You” does while still having that Chappell Roan sound that a lot of people listen to her music for.

Naked In Manhattan:

I don’t listen to this song very often. It didn’t hit me very hard the first few times and I ended up not going back to it, but in listening to it for this review, I realized I was just focused on the track before it more and couldn’t appreciate this one. It’s a layered, catchy beat that again mimics the sound of early 2000s pop, which I like a lot. It’s fun, catchy, and I think I would definitely loop it while cleaning or doing a different menial task in order to make myself want to do it.

California:

This song is my third favorite and one that I loop on the regular. Being from California, it’s interesting to hear Roan’s perspective on the state as someone who is from the Midwest. She talks about the Hollywood expectation of making it big after moving here, the lack of seasons, and the thought that she would have made her family proud in California. It’s a beautiful song that shows her disappointment at not being able to make it in the music industry even after putting her all into it. I would not recommend this song, however, because it does not have the sound that a lot of listeners look for when listening to Chappell Roan.

Guilty Pleasure:

This song comes out of left field when you take the last few slow songs into account. This one, while slow, is more catchy and what some would call “campy”. It’s fun, loud, and loop-able. I like it a lot, my favorite part being the several key changes that she goes through during the course of the song. The underlying techno beat comes back from earlier songs and I’m able to relate it to songs like “Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It’s an amazing closing song to the album.

Overall, I don’t think there’s any song on this album I would skip. They all play their own parts and I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who wants to get into a new type of pop! It’s such a fun album and it makes you want to dance around while also thinking about every detail of your life as a teenager.

– Tanvi G.