~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Ed Sheeran, No. 6 Collaborations Project | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning pop singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran releases an enjoyable, if flawed, star-studded fourth studio album with ‘No. 6 Collaborations Project.’

The Black Keys, Let’s Rock | Album Review 💿

Following a five-year hiatus, Grammy-winning rock band The Black Keys don’t miss a beat on their ninth studio album, “Let’s Rock.”

Daniel Caesar, Case Study 01 | Album Review 💿

Fresh off of his first Grammy win, Canadian R&B standout Daniel Caesar delivers a strong follow-up to his debut album (‘Freudian’) with ‘Case Study 01.’

Chris Brown, Indigo | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning R&B artist Chris Brown once more overindulges on his 10th album,  ‘Indigo,’ but does have his fair share of respectable moments.

Mark Ronson, Late Night Feelings | Album Review 💿

Musician and producer Mark Ronson comes back strong on ‘Late Night Feelings,’ his long-awaited follow-up to ‘Uptown Special,’ released in 2015.

Bruce Springsteen, Western Stars | Album Review

After a five-year hiatus, American rock icon Bruce Springsteen returns with ‘Western Stars,’ easily his best album of the 2010s.

Prince, Originals | Album Review 💿

The excellence and awesome musicianship of the iconic, late, great Prince Rogers Nelson continues to shine on the compilation, ‘Originals.’ 

Lil Nas X, 7 (EP) | Album Review 💿

The ‘hard-to-categorize’ Lil Nas X releases his debut EP, ‘7’ which has its fair share of enjoyable moments, if ultimately, under-developed.

Kevin McHale, Boy (EP) | Album Review 💿

Former Glee actor and pop musician Kevin McHale drops an enjoyable, well-rounded effort with his five-song, debut EP, ‘Boy.’

Madonna, Madame X | Album Review 💿

Despite a confusing, off-putting promo campaign, Madonna takes risks, delivering a much better-than-expected 14th studio album with ‘Madame X.’

~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

serpentwithfeet, WRITHING IN THE WIND | Song Review 🎵

Although brief, serpentwithfeet delivers a surefire vibe with “WRITHING IN THE WIND,” the promo single for GRIP SEQUEL.

The Lumineers, Same Old Song | Song Review 🎵

The Lumineers bring it on “Same Old Song,” the promo single from their fifth studio album, Automatic.

Rod Wave, Westside Connection | Song Review 🎵

Once more, melodic rapper Rod Wave wears his heart on his sleeve in his first single of 2025, “Westside Connection.” It’s solid, not groundbreaking.

Jordan Adetunji, Too Many Women (Ft. kwn) | Song Review 🎵

Belfast singer Jordan Adetunji, assisted by kwn, drops “Too Many Women,” a short but sweet single from his 2025 album, A Jaguar’s Dream.

Japanese Breakfast, Orlando in Love | Song Review 🎵

Michelle Zauner & Japanese Breakfast warm up 2025 with the classy & enigmatic “Orlando in Love,” the promo single from For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women).

Mac Miller, 5 Dollar Pony Rides | Song Review 🎵

Mac Miller sounds phenomenal on his posthumous single, “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” from his second posthumous album, Balloonerism.

Teddy Swims, Are You Even Real (Ft. Givēon) | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated pop artist Teddy Swims taps Grammy-nominated R&B artist Givēon for the assist on the soulful duet, “Are You Even Real.”

Brett Eldredge, Gorgeous | Song Review 🎵

Country singer/songwriter Brett Eldredge brings a heaping dose of authenticity and empowerment on his debut single as an independent artist, “Gorgeous.”

Rose Gray, Party People | Song Review 🎵

Rose Gray brings the ‘party’ in her electrifying dance-pop song, “Party People,” the fifth single from her debut album, Louder, Please.

Armin van Buuren, Norma Jean Martine & LAWRENT, Euphoria | Song Review 🎵

Armin van Buuren, Norma Jean Martine, and LAWRENT, with Alok, deliver a brief but potent dance gem with “Euphoria.”

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