Shania Twain Journeys to the Past on ‘Little Miss Twain’
More than anything, Little Miss Twain is a love letter to Shania Twain’s late mother, who acted as something of a manager when she first began performing.
Jeffrey Davies
Jeffrey Davies is a professional introvert and writer with imposter syndrome whose work spans the worlds of pop culture, books, music, feminism, and mental health. In addition to PopMatters, his writing has appeared on HuffPost, CBC Arts, Book Riot, Collider, Slant Magazine, and other places.
Madonna’s ‘Confessions II’ Lacks Innovation
In creating a sequel to a revival album, Madonna’s Confessions II reinforces the notion that the best we can hope for from our pop matriarchs is nostalgia.
Bebe Rexha Plays It Too Safe on ‘Dirty Blonde’
Bebe Rexha has returned to the dance-oriented lane that has historically granted her the most commercial success, and the result lacks cohesion.
Olivia Rodrigo Is Mature and Disciplined on Third LP
Olivia Rodrigo has always crafted her songs to leave her figuratively smiling and winking at her audience. She takes this skill to new heights on her latest LP.
Maisie Peters Is at Home in the World on ‘Florescence’
What Maisie Peters expertly accomplishes on Florescence is a cohesive body of work that expresses the dual experience of falling low and flying high once again.
Kacey Musgraves Renews Her Faith in Country Music
Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere is the most classically country album she has released in over a decade. Lyrically, she’s still one of the genre’s biggest rebels.
Jessie Ware’s ‘Superbloom’ Is Her Gayest Album Yet
Jessie Ware is hornier on Superbloom than its predecessors, and that alone makes it more assertive. It’s quite possibly her gayest record yet.
Holly Humberstone Is Raw and Mature on ‘Cruel World’
Although Holly Humberstone ends her new album on a signature sad note, Cruel World has a promising tone that shines through the clouds.
Shawn Colvin’s ‘Whole New You’ Is a Revelation at 25
Shawn Colvin knows who she is, and she wasn’t about to start chasing someone else’s pop dreams. That’s what makes Whole New You so captivating still.
Harry Styles Is Surprisingly Subdued on ‘All the Time’
Harry Styles sounds tired of trying to check boxes on someone else’s list, and he’s trying to figure out his own sound as an adult man in his third decade.
Hilary Duff Grows Up on ‘Luck… or Something’
Hilary Duff toes the line between acoustic and dance-pop, but she ties it all together with songwriting about, for lack of a better term, millennial ennui.
Nick Jonas Finds Himself on ‘Sunday Best’
On Nick Jonas’ fifth solo album, Sunday Best, he looked inward for inspiration and created what is arguably his strongest music to date.