Taylor Swift Is the Solution to Her Own Problems on ‘Midnights’
Taylor Swift’s Midnights, her latest musical pivot, highlights her artistry by overshooting her commercial ambitions. It’s a capstone to Swift’s career.
dance pop
The Orielles Break Old Patterns with a Film and a Card Deck
From releasing films as a band to using Brian Eno’s card deck to help guide the sound of their epic new double-LP, the Orielles remain as indescribable as ever.
Carly Rae Jepsen Gets in Touch on ‘The Loneliest Time’
Carly Rae Jepsen’s The Loneliest Time is not without the glittery, carefree pop she’s famous for, but the singer gets personal in ways she hasn’t before.
How Britney Spears’ ‘Blackout’ Documented Her Harrowing Present While Predicting Pop’s Future
Britney Spears’ Blackout feels fresher than ever 15 years on. It captured the darkness of her personal life and cemented new dance music in the pop lexicon.
Blond Contrition: Madonna’s Musical Response to the 1990s Culture Wars
Both Erotica and Bedtime Stories represent critical periods in Madonna’s career. They were autumn releases and saw Madonna recalibrating her career in the face of rampant criticism.
Drag Queen Alaska Thunderfuck Looks Back to Move Forward
Alaska Thunderfuck’s first musical wasn’t planned to arrive in the middle of a cultural war against drag queens, but the superstar’s story takes on striking new meaning.
The 1975’s Latest Is a ‘Funny’, Confounding New Missive
The 1975 want to be funny in a foreign language, but on their fifth go-round, their ambitions are tempered in plain English.
Hercules and Love Affair Return with the Blistering ‘In Amber’
Instead of offering reassurance or solace, Hercules and Love Affair’s In Amber reflects our unsettling times with themes and lyrics that are challenging and worrying.
Hot Chip Hone Their Electronic Songcraft on Anxiety-ridden ‘Freakout/Release’
Hot Chip’s Freakout/Release is an extraordinary display of synthpop versatility and invention, born of collaboration, improvisation, and the psychological mess of lockdown.
Hayley Kiyoko Widens the Breadth of Pop on ‘Panorama’
With Disney deep in her past, pop star Hayley Kiyoko’s Panorama navigates queer relationships with self-assuredness, packaged in accessible pop hooks.
Beyoncé’s Dance Pop ‘Renaissance’ Marks a New Era of Empowerment and Accessibility
Beyoncé’s Renaissance repackages traditional marketing and 1990s-inspired dance music, creating the ultimate combination of streaming sensibilities and feel-good anthems.
‘Aaliyah’: The Legacy of the Perfect R&B/Pop Record
Aaliyah’s patented brand of Black pop, a mélange of hip-hop, electropop, and soul, set the standard by which other urban-pop singers were judged and set the stage for Beyonce and Rihanna.