~ Reviews 💿 ~

Reviews: The Musical Hype

Ah, welcome to the reviews on The Musical Hype! Albums, EPs, and songs [singles + tracks] of various styles are evaluated here – we don’t discriminate! All reviews are also available on the home page. Both album and song reviews are assigned a star rating on a scale of 0 – 5 (½ stars are used as well), that is visible at the beginning and ending of the review.

5 out of 5 stars = Masterpiece 🤩

4.5 out of 5 stars = Near Masterpiece 🤩

4 out of 5 stars = Excellent 😀

3.5 out of 5 stars = Very Good 😀

3 out of 5 stars = Average / Good 🙂 👌

2.5 out of 5 stars = Below Average… it’s giving sus  😏 😑 🫤

2 out of 5 stars = Mediocre 👎 😡

1.5 out of 5 stars, 1 out of 5 stars, 0.5 out of 5 stars, 0 out of 5 stars = BAD… 🤬


~ Album Reviews 💿 ~

Album reviews tend to follow a track-by-track format, commencing with an intro paragraph comprised of background information, and concluding paragraph that wraps things up. Also, GEMS 💎 – the best, highly recommended tracks – are selected at the end of each review. It should not come as a surprise to see the analysis run > 1000 words.


~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~


~ Get your fix of album reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~

Kanye West, Donda | Album Review 💿

After a messy rollout, Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West delivers a big, flawed, but often enjoyable 10th studio album with Donda.

$uicideboy$, Long Term Effects of SUFFERING | Album Review 💿

Hip-Hop duo $uicideboy$ shine on their latest album, the dark, honest, pain-laden, and unapologetic Long Term Effects of SUFFERING.

Lorde, Solar Power | Album Review 💿

Solar Power, the third studio album by Lorde, doesn’t match or eclipse her masterpiece Melodrama, but has its fair share of elite moments.

Prince, Welcome 2 America | Album Review 💿

The late, great Prince shines on his posthumously released album, Welcome 2 America, adding to his illustrious catalog of music. 

Ben Platt, Reverie | Album Review 💿

Actor/musician extraordinaire Ben Platt ‘shakes things up’ on his sophomore album, Reverie, further showcasing his talent and versatility.

The Killers, Pressure Machine | Album Review 💿

The Killers deliver a fantastic seventh studio album with Pressure Machine, which arrives less than a year after Imploding the Mirage.

Jennifer Hudson, Respect (Soundtrack) | Album Review 💿

Although a tall task, Jennifer Hudson does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of Aretha Franklin on the Respect soundtrack.

Nas, King’s Disease II | Album Review 💿

Nas exceeds expectations on his 13th studio album, King’s Disease II, the stellar follow-up to the Grammy-winning King’s Disease.

Billie Eilish, Happier Than Ever | Album Review 💿

Billie Eilish exceeds expectations on Happier Than Ever, her authentic, more intimate and personal sophomore album.

Clairo, Sling | Album Review 💿

Alternative singer/songwriter Clairo ‘ups the ante’ on her incredibly mature and artful sophomore album, SLING.

~ Song Reviews 🎵 ~

Song Reviews on the site tend to follow a format that includes an intro paragraph with background information, a body, comprised of at least one paragraph of analysis, and a concluding paragraph (older reviews) or statement (more recent reviews) that ‘put a cap’ on things. Song reviews generally run a minimum of 250 words with many running > 300 words.


~ Check out the most recent posts ⬇️ in this hyperlinked gallery 😎 🤘 ~


~ Get your fix of song reviews in all their glory, starting from most recent to oldest 😎 🤘 ~

Cody Simpson, Baby Blue | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Following a six-year hiatus, Australian pop singer-songwriter Cody Simpson makes an electrifying return with the exuberant “Baby Blue.”

Conan Gray, The Best | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pop singer-songwriter Conan Gray ate and left no crumbs on “The Best,” a song that appears on the deluxe edition of his album, Wishbone.

Durand Bernarr & James Fauntleroy, Wild Ride | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Grammy-winning R&B artist Durand Bernarr and James Fauntleroy take listeners on an exhilarating listening experience with “Wild Ride.”

Ruel, Don’t Say That | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pop singer-songwriter Ruel shines on “Don’t Say That,” a promo single from the Aussie’s 2026 album, Kicking My Feet & Screaming.

ETHAN, Everything u need | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Handsome and talented New Zealand singer-songwriter ETHAN drops another sensational pop/R&B bop with “Everything u need.”

Yeat & King Kylie, Let King Tonka Talk | Song Review

⭐️⭐️ Rappers Yeat and King Kylie (Kylie Jenner) miss the mark on the dumb, substance-less, oddly titled single, “Let King Tonka Talk.”

RAYE, Click Clack Symphony. | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ British singer-songwriter RAYE collaborates with Academy Award-winning film composer Hans Zimmer on the epic, cinematic song, “Click Clack Symphony.”

Niall Horan, Dinner Party | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Irish pop singer-songwriter Niall Horan returns with a respectable if safe, middle-of-the-road pop single in “Dinner Party.”

Noah Kahan, Porch Light | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Porch Light” is another triumph from Noah Kahan, thanks to a well-rounded vocal, top-notch songwriting & rhythmic, vibrant musical accompaniment.

philojain, Riff Raff | Song Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amit Jain, operating under the name philojain, smashes it with the guitar instrumental, "Riff Raff."

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