Chromatica by Lady Gaga - ALBUM REVIEW

Lady Gaga is back! And... better than ever? Well, maybe not, but as far as a Lady Gaga album goes, this one still works pretty well.

Man, what a time to release an album full of dance tracks, a time when no one is going to the club or partying (or at the very least shouldn't be, lookin' at you, Chainsmokers). I feel like this album became under-appreciated as a result in favour of more lowkey releases like Charli XCX's how i'm feeling now. But it still did the numbers. Big numbers, in fact. so maybe it also works as an escapist album. The two lead singles, "Stupid Love" and "Rain on Me" with Ariana Grande, certainly evoke feelings of joy and excitement in an era where that's hard to come by. But those are just the singles. Does the rest of the album shake out?

Well, for the most part, it's perfectly great pop music. Some songs are better than others, and I'm not sure I agree with the grandiose tone this album tries to strike with three different musical interludes. But as a pop album, it works. I'd say the only song that really doesn't fit is "Sour Candy", which scans more as a BLACKPINK song featuring Lady Gaga than the other way around. But it's still a decent BLACKPINK song. I wouldn't say any of these songs fall flat, and the singles certainly soar. It's not Lady Gaga's best album by any stretch, but it's far from disappointing.

8/10

Best Tracks: "Stupid Love", "Rain on Me" (with Ariana Grande), "Free Woman", "Fun Tonight", "Plastic Doll", "Replay"

Top Tensday - Billboard Hot 100 Review: July 25, 2020

It's a Juice WRLD, and we're just living in it. Seriously, making up half of the Top 10 is damn impressive, even for an album bomb. Obviously people are prone to support a posthumous album if they were fans of the artist, but the question becomes now whether any of this will stick around. Beyond that, "ROCKSTAR" has all but cemented itself as the song of the summer, while other songs tumble thanks to the album bomb.

Predictions:

If the Juice WRLD album bomb didn't happen, "Savage Love" would be in the Top 10. I think it's all but locked for next week. We may also see a new DJ Khaled/Drake thing, and of the Juice WRLD songs that may stick around in the top 10, I could see "Come & Go" and "Wishing Well". This doesn't leave much room for anything else to rebound, but "Watermelon Sugar" will probably do it.

BLAME IT ON BABY by DaBaby - ALBUM REVIEW

The DaBaby backlash is real. If you go on RYM, there is a steep drop-off between DaBaby's albums in rating, this one clocking in at just under two stars. Now, why is that? Have DaBaby's albums gotten progressively worse? Or have we all just gotten sick of him in record time?

It wouldn't be hard to argue the latter. This is his third studio album put out in just over a year. And with complaints that DaBaby doesn't really have a lot of tricks up his sleeve, yeah, it can get boring to hear the same thing over and over. But is this album really that bad? I'd actually argue it's more good than bad, but only slightly, and make no mistake, there are stinkers on this album that probably either could have used another run through or just been scrapped altogether. Though with this album's runtime of just over 30 minutes, maybe you need every scrap you can get.

Let's get this out of the way: DaBaby can't sing. I'm sorry, it's the truth. And the fact that he's trying to use his singing in a legitimately emotional way is just laughable in the worst possible way. What the hell is a song like "SAD SHIT" doing on a DaBaby album? It's not like he can't handle serious subject matter ("INTRO" is in many ways his best single), but I cannot take this seriously for the life of me. The only song where his singing sounds good is "ROCKSTAR", and that's only because he's clearly not trying.

Also, try as he might to differentiate himself, it all just ends up sounding mostly the same anyway. Which, for me, is mostly fine: I like DaBaby! I like his scattered stop-and-start flow. But if you're looking for any huge departures in his sound, you're mostly going to get disappointing snippets. There are a few highlights, though. "JUMP" is the most energetic and fun song on this album, and "NASTY" brings an always welcome feature from Megan Thee Stallion, as well as an interesting flip of an old Ashanti song, with her coming back to add some more lyrics. So no, I don't think this is as bad as the ratings signify, but all the same I can understand why some might be disappointed. Maybe it's time for DaBaby to take a break; it's not like he can go and tour for new albums right now anyway. I don't want to see his star burn out too soon; this is the type of guy you like to have around. But still, it's possible to have too much of a good thing.

6/10

Best Tracks: "ROCKSTAR" (ft. Roddy Ricch), "JUMP" (ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again), "DROP" (ft. A Boogie wit da Hoodie & London On Da Track), "NASTY" (ft. Ashanti & Megan Thee Stallion)

Rodeo by Travis Scott - ALBUM REVIEW

At the end of 2019, I compiled a slapdash list of my favourite albums of the 2010s. This album was on that list. I am not sure that, listening to it now, I would keep it on that list, but it is still a damn great album that deserves recognition for revolutionizing trap and mainstream music.

Let's start by saying that in a lot of ways, this album sounds ugly. It's a lot of blaring synths, almost foghorn-like, coupled with either similarly blaring vocals or tonally dissonant ones. And I think the album's ugliness and dissonance are its strengths. The entire album feels like it's bleeding an afterparty; the musical choices are laid on so thick that they practically drill into your skull. It's a very moody album.

The mood of this album is mostly helped along by its guest stars, who, like I said, do their part to either add to the ugliness or the dissonance of this album. (In Young Thug's case, he does both.) While I'm not exactly a huge fan of every song on here, and definitely think some could be better/some guest stars could be cut, the whole thing plays out like an experience. A journey that Travis Scott has taken us on. And that's what every great album should do.

8/10

Best Tracks: "3500" (ft. Future, 2 Chainz), "90210" (ft. Kacy Hill), "Pray 4 Love" (ft. The Weeknd), "Nightcrawler" (ft. Swae Lee, Chief Keef), "Piss on Your Grave" (ft. Kanye West), "Antidote"

After Hours by The Weeknd - ALBUM REVIEW

The Weeknd has proven to be an elite hitmaker over the past five years or so. In 2020, he released his fourth album, After Hours. And while I think I prefer some of his previous work, this is still a slick, emotionally impactful album.

As with many projects, the hype for After Hours came from its bombastic lead singles. They certainly deserve to put The Weeknd back on the map. However, they don't really provide a good impression of what this album actually is. It's a lot darker and slower-paced than what "Heartless" and "Blinding Lights" would have you believe. Not that that makes the album bad or anything; I think quite a few songs on here are excellent. But it may provide a tonal whiplash.

Most of the songs on here toe the line between older Weeknd and more pop-friendly Weeknd. I'm not really a fan of "Too Late", where the chorus sounds like Mike Tyson recorded it through a radiator. But every other song is at least passable, and if you like The Weeknd, this is certainly another project that you won't be disappointed by.

8/10

Best Tracks: "Escape from LA", "Heartless", "Blinding Lights", "In Your Eyes", "After Hours", "Until I Bleed Out"

Top Tensday - Billboard Hot 100 Review: July 18, 2020

No real drastic change to the Top 10 this week apart from Pop Smoke breaking through, affecting pretty much only "We Paid" by Lil Baby & 42 Dugg, a song that I can assume only got on the Top 10 in the first place due to the chart's relative weakness lately. All I can say is, expect "ROCKSTAR" to be the song of the summer, and expect it not to be close. Speaking of predictions...

Predictions: 

With Juice WRLD's posthumous album bomb coming next week, expect him to shake up the Top 10 a little. Going off of streaming numbers, it looks like "Life's a Mess" with Halsey, as well as "Wishing Well" and "Come & Go" with Marshmello have decent chances to break through. I am also keeping a close eye on "Savage Love", which had a small gain this week probably cut short by the album bomb. Once those all start to wash away, this thing could make a break for the Top 10 as well. God help us all.

Top Tensday - Billboard Hot 100 Review: July 11, 2020

The charts continue to change as each song's relative weakness begins to show aside from "ROCKSTAR", which seems to have a lock on the #1 spot. Indeed, it seems to be the only strong song out there, with "WHATS POPPIN" somehow taking the #2 spot with a remix. You really don't need to go further than that to justify the weakness of the charts right now. "WHATS POPPIN" is not a #2 song. It's also not a #10 song, but we've crossed that bridge already. Speaking of the Top 10, we have two new entries in Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar" (expected) and Lil Baby & 42 Dugg's "We Paid" (...okay?) This knocks out "Circles" yet again and "The Bigger Picture" which is still holding on more than I thought it would.

Predictions:

That "Savage Love"... thing seems to be rocketing up the charts distressingly quickly, and appears to be robust on streaming. Okay, I guess 2020 is the year Jason Derulo comes back, of all things. Beyond that, hard to say what's going to happen, as the charts seem especially weak right now. Maybe a Pop Smoke album bomb will shake things up further.

Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa - ALBUM REVIEW

Future Nostalgia is a bit of an odd title for an album, particularly when you're already banking on nostalgia from the 70s and 80s. That's not really futuristic, even for nostalgia; we've been mining those fields for decades now. That said, it's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you can make it your own. And I'd argue Dua Lipa does.

You can clearly hear the inspirations from funk and synthpop. Sometimes these influences come together particularly magically, like in the pop smash "Don't Start Now", a cheeky song about being on the other side of a breakup and blowing off the man who wants you back. Every element works out in the song's favour; the buildup to the throbbing chorus is fantastic. You then have more straightforward, synthpop-laden love letters to the 80s, like in "Physical", a wonderful dance track that kind of turns my brain to mush with how attractive it is.

But the influences don't stop there; I'm a sucker for a good "My Woman" sample and "Love Again" absolutely scratches that itch for me. You also have more stripped-down tracks like "Boys Will Be Boys", which, although I'd argue it doesn't fit the album at all, is still a pretty good song in its own right.

In fact, I don't think there's a bad song to be had on this album; there are a few underwhelming ones, but I still think they have merit. For the most part, Dua Lipa delivers a flawless album that shows that taking inspiration from the past isn't always a bad thing, particularly when you have a powerhouse voice such as hers, as well as such a forceful personality. I know she's probably experiencing her heyday as an artist this year, but this album is full of instant classics and it blows my mind (mwah) that it's not getting more attention. In my view, fantastic album.

9/10

Best Tracks: "Don't Start Now", "Cool", "Physical", "Hallucinate", "Love Again", "Break My Heart"

how i'm feeling now by Charli XCX - ALBUM REVIEW

Sometimes, during these times, you have to look on the positive side of things. I'm positive that during quarantine, we got a damn good album from a damn great artist.

Charli XCX has always been in the back of my mind as I go through the recent years of pop music; the pop star that was too good for the charts. This album completely sells that theory, as it may be her best, certainly her most relevant, to date. 

The album feels like a lowkey party that you're not invited to, and can't be invited to, due to the pandemic. It's an album of mixed feelings and sentiments set to glossy synths. It's a haunting yet fun listen, and the perfect kind of music to get us through this. Sorry "Toosie Slide".

I can't even really explain it, it's just fantastic. It's like eating a candy for the first time and letting your senses overwhelm you. The whole album feels like an experience out of sitting in your room, doing nothing, and being alone with your thoughts. There may be some songs I like more than others on this album, but it all adds up to a masterpiece.

9/10

Best Tracks: "forever", "7 years", "enemy",  "party 4 u", "anthems", "visions" 

Wumbo's Top 10 Hits of 1988

As I said, the late 80s were a wonderfully gaudy time for pop music. Yes, that has a good side. Let's get to it!

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...a bit slower than we might normally get to it for 1988. But this is the list of the best hits, not the most 1988 hits, so here ya go.

10. "Fast Car" - Tracy Chapman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwrHwZyFN7M

I respect Tracy Chapman for doing her own thing in this era and still managing to land a smash hit. I guess the world in 1988 needed some sort of respite from the overproduced. materialistic era of music and this was just the scratch for that itch. A simple folk-rock ballad sung straight from the heart. And it really is a heart-rending song, not least because of Chapman's performance, sounding like she's always on the verge of tears. It's a sad, somber song, but also with tinges of optimism in it. When those drums kick in on the chorus, it just kills.

Maybe this wouldn't be everyone's pick for Remember the 80s Night, but I'd certainly be remiss to leave it off my list. Fantastic little tune.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YusuxRqg5w

Ah, U2. Already the biggest band in the world come 1987, and their collective arrogance would just be turned up to eleven with the release of the double album and documentary Rattle and Hum. There's a Todd in the Shadows video that would dissect the documentary way better than I ever could, but how about the album? It's not really the best-remembered U2 album, but I'd argue it still has its merits. After all, you don't become the biggest band of 1987 only to fade away in 1988.

9. "Desire" - U2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8rQ575DWD8

U2's music from about Unforgettable Fire to the end of the 80s can only be described by me as "soaring". Their music really makes you feel like you're flying, through these grandiose choruses and thundering guitar. Certainly a fitting feeling for the soaring mood of the best 80's music, but U2 still managed to keep their rock edge (heh-heh, edge) as well through Bono's raw vocal performances. I know U2 get clowned on a lot now because of their grandiosity, but it sure does make their music a joy to listen to. Harmonica solo? Why not. If you so desi-i-i-i-re. Boy, how do I embarrass myself more after that?

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*sigh* Well...

8. "Dirty Diana" - Michael Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUi_S6YWjZw

"Separate the art from the artist" has always been a bullshit qualifier only applied to artists you personally like. If everyone would just admit that they have a double standard when it comes to good artists and... 6ix9ine, we'd be a lot better off. That said. Michael Jackson the person probably sucked. But Michael Jackson the artist? It's not hard to see why he was the King of Pop, and could get away with songs like this. It's interesting how much of a sexual vibe this gives off and yet it's about actively trying to resist the urges of some persistent groupie. There's just such a raw, tense energy to this song, a lot of suspense here.

Not only does Michael cement his legacy as King of Pop here, but also proves his rock credibility. The wailing he does in the chorus is truly impactful, and is the perfect payoff to verse of buildup where the situation intensifies. It's a great song.

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I love INXS.

7. "New Sensation" - INXS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV-QGQVZv0k

INXS are the sexiest band of the 80s, if you don't count Captain & Tennille's brief stint in 1980. 
Each of their songs is a wonderful slice of Aussie rock, and this one might be the most upbeat of their hits. It certainly evokes the feel of the extravagant 1980s without being slathered in it. A tight groove, a catchy chorus, an irreplaceable frontman. Can't ask for much more.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYzlVDlE72w

Yeah. You could do that. Or you could do this!

6. "So Emotional" - Whitney Houston

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YjSHbA6HQQ

While Whitney Houston fits into 80s balladeering, I've always felt like her most enjoyable songs are the ones with an upbeat punch, and this is easily one of the best of them. Like with the other great songs of this year thus far, there's such a forceful energy, but the reason this ranks higher is because Whitney Houston is a powerhouse of a singer and totally carries this song. Few could rival her in pure vocal power in the 80s. I also dig the guitars on this song; it provides Whitney with a rock edge that surprisingly suits her. It's a fun song, and easily the type of music I prefer from Whitney.

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Did I mention I love INXS?

5. "Devil Inside" - INXS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv_zJrO_ptk

Whitney may be a powerful singer, but INXS just has the whole package. I can't think of a single song of theirs I don't enjoy. They're the perfect mix of rock and pop that should be an 80s staple. This song definitely leans more into their rock edge, and the intensity throughout is undeniable. It's like a boiling pot waiting to explode. The fact that the chorus remains so lowkey adds to that intensity. It's like it never really resolves until the very end when Michael Hutchence just wails. I love INXS. But you already knew that.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsmVgoXDq2w

I have a complicated relationship with the band known as The Bangles. There was a time when "Manic Monday" was one of my least favourite songs ever, mostly due to the inane chorus. Now? It's alright. Prince'll do that to you. Meanwhile, the oh-so-problematic "Walk Like an Egyptian" soured on me in recent years. So much flip-flopping with this band. Good thing their Simon & Garfunkel cover has always kicked ass.

4. "A Hazy Shade of Winter" - The Bangles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cNeXWpTVlo

I dare blaspheme and say this is miles better than the original. This song lends itself so well to the way The Bangles do it. A pumped-up rock song with flawless harmonies and a chilling intro. I also enjoy a good pounding drum beat with cowbell. It shouldn't fit, but it does. This is The Bangles at their full potential, and if they made more music like this I'd be inclined to like them more.

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I'm just gonna say if you don't like this song fuck you.

3. "Heaven is a Place on Earth" - Belinda Carlisle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGEyBeoBGM

Belinda Carlisle was of course part of the early 80s pop group The Go-Go's, a band which remains flawlessly catchy and fun to this day. I can't say I enjoy her solo career quite as much, but there is no denying that this song is fantastic. It's like, everyone looking to create an 80s pop rock song should study this one. It's perfect the whole way through. Belinda Carlisle really shines in her vocal performance, particularly in that oh-so-irresistible key change in the final chorus. Tropes in pop music stick around for a reason, and when they're executed as well as this they're like heaven... on earth.

This is by far the standout track from Belinda Carlisle's solo career, and it's remembered to this day for good reason. It's such a fun, joyous, optimistic tune. Love love love it.

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I...

2. "Need You Tonight" - INXS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F93ywiGMDnQ

Well, you had to know this was coming, right? INXS's magnum opus. The primary reason why you know this band. And yeah, it obviously kicks ass. There's really nothing like it this year, or really this decade. It has its own energy. And especially in these tumultuous times, the lyrics resonate. If someone were to ask my how I'm feeling, yelling "I'M LONELY" would probably be at the top of my response list. What do I think? CAN'T THINK AT ALL- you get it. Haha, 2020 jokes!

But it's not just the lyrics that work well, or Hutchence's once again perfect delivery. It's that guitar lick.  You know the one. Da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na! Okay, I've now confused about half of you. It's the only prominent guitar lick in the song, keep up.

Despite Michael's wailing on the chorus, the coolness radiating off of the verses is undeniable in how effortless it sounds. This song is jam-packed with hooks and little moments that keep you coming back. It's one of the 80s' greatest earworms, and one of their greatest songs. And yet... one song bests it.

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I try to keep things surprising. I try to keep you on your toes. But the truth must be revealed. And the truth is... this song undeniably ruled 1988.

1. "Sweet Child o' Mine" - Guns N' Roses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w7OgIMMRc4

I'm not sorry. This song was amazing from the first time I heard it, and still holds up today.

That loop that Slash does to hook you into the song... it's so simple. In fact, it was simple. It's a finger exercise. But Slash is such a master of his craft that he makes the simplest of guitar riffs sound absolutely magical. I can't think of a better intro this year. And again, just as with INXS, hooks for daaaays with this song. Mostly due to Slash, but Axl Rose's singing, particularly near the end where he just goes unhinged, sticks in the brain too. Where do we go now? Where do we go? A simple question asked on how to continue the song to its end... became the end. It's like this song was created entirely by accidental genius. And it still holds up today as one of the greatest, most enduring songs of the 80s hard rock scene. Where do we go now? Probably back to the start of the song, to play it again. God bless the 80s in all their indulgence. When it goes right, it goes so right.

Top Tensday - Billboard Hot 100 Review: July 4, 2020

Happy Canada Day! Today I am blessed with a gift of "TROLLZ" plummeting down the charts. Hope that continues. "ROCKSTAR" rightfully takes its place back at #1 and the Top 10 mostly stabilizes. I was pleasantly surprised to see "The Bigger Picture" hang on to the Top 10 despite its drop. Beyond that, "The Box" also drops out to make room for "Blueberry Faygo" (see? I TOLD you it would eventually make Top 10), "WHATS POPPIN" (...really?) and "Circles" (GO. AWAAAAY.)

Predictions:

I'm surprised "Watermelon Sugar" hasn't broken the Top 10 yet. I'm sure that'll be next week or the one after. Beyond that... new Kanye song? Probably? We'll see.