Role Model Commits to Caricature on ‘Chuck Timely’
On Chuck Timely and the Hourglass, Role Model uses an affable alter ego to navigate relationships, commitment, and what it means to be a pop star.
Matthew Dwyer
Matthew Dwyer recently graduated from American University in Washington, D.C. He currently works in education and writes about pop culture, music, TV, and film on the side.
Carly Rae Jepsen Finds Life’s Balance on ‘Day and Night’
On Day and Night, Carly Rae Jepsen blends funk, synths, and acoustics for an eclectic but cohesive collection of tunes about love, loss, and settling down.
Charli XCX Discovers the Antidote to Fame
On Music, Fashion, Film, Charli XCX turns experimentation into self-deprecation, vindicating pop music’s commercialism.
‘Disclosure Day’ Alludes to Societal Anxieties New and Old
By making a private company the antagonist, Disclosure Day subverts the fear that government oppression is the biggest threat to individual freedom.
Finn Wolfhard’s Sophomore Album Is an Off-the-Cuff Blockbuster
On Fire From the Hip, Finn Wolfhard builds on the 1970s rock-inspired palette of his debut, modernizing the record with clever cultural allusions.
Ryan Beatty Refines a Musical Language on ‘Sweet Fortune’
Country music may go in and out of style, but on Sweet Fortune, Ryan Beatty employs songwriting foundations that transcend genre.
Olivia Rodrigo Survives a Cruel Endeavor
Pivoting from the 2000s-inspired sound of her first two albums, Olivia Rodrigo’s third record uses 1980s synths to reckon with heartbreak.
Niall Horan Serves a Familiar Dish on ‘Dinner Party’
While it includes some fresh autobiographical details, Niall Horan’s Dinner Party is a rehash of boy band tropes.
Malcolm Todd Has a Vision for the Future of Pop
On Do That Again, Malcolm Todd turns personal misadventures into psychedelic jams, proving his singular vision for the future of pop.
For Bleachers, the Past Is Prologue
On his fifth album as Bleachers, everyone for ten minutes, Jack Antonoff uses a comfortable sonic space to make a new statement about fame.
RAYE’s Meaningful Maximalism
By repurposing sounds of a bygone era, Raye reminds us that the past’s freedoms are the constraints of the future. The only consistency is the desire to make art about them.
Maya Hawke’s Path to Contentment
On Maitreya Corso, Maya Hawke continues to prove her adeptness as a musician and observer of human behavior, rendering allegations of nepotism irrelevant.