POP/INDIE ROCK

GUTS
By Olivia Rodrigo

American singer and songwriter, Oliva Rodrigo, has come out with her second studio album, via Geffen Records. A high school musical-style creation, it touches on your typical teenage themes, from boyfriends and breakups to identity crises.

Olivia’s voice has a young quality, with opinionated and angsty undertones, which complements the vibe of the album. Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl features an unbridled drum set coupled with Olivia’s shouty tone that matches the frustration behind not fitting in.

All tracks have a catchy, addictive vibe. In fact, the singles Vampire and Bad Idea Right? debuted atop the Billboard charts and have taken YouTubers and TikTokers by storm, as popular background scores. Get Him Back!, another single, also stands out.

Lacy, a slow-paced song, offers variety, with the acoustic guitar matching its easy-going energy. However, it’s in keeping with the overall theme – you sense self-restraint in the singer’s voice, underpinned by what can only be teenage passion.

Whether you’re young and in love or seeking a flash back to the days when you were, GUTS is the rollercoaster to ride.

DANCE MUSIC/ EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC

Playing Robots Into Heaven
By James Blake

If you’re someone who enjoys exploring unique approaches to music, then you must listen to this sixth studio album by English singer and songwriter James Blake. The deliberate choices on textures, from scratchy percussion and liquid synths to background choirs and electronic elements, all point toward the experimental nature of this release via Republic and Polydor Records.

Tell Me is such a club anthem, with foottapping beats and techno tunes that will have you throwing shapes on the dance floor from the get-go.

Fall Back will liven up the mood of any lounge in seconds. The clicking like that of wooden tools being hit together, electronic sets and echoing vocals, all conjure up a trance-like mood.

He’s Been Wonderful is reminiscent of the quirky keyboard creations by Ross in the popular sitcom Friends – but, of course, in a good way – it’s futuristic.

The title track numbs the listener and is in keeping with the overall acoustics of the album.

Blake dips into his dubstep background on this album, bringing in elements of techno, house and ambient. However, he doesn’t stray away from his signature pensiveness, causing the listener to mentally levitate.