~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Hayley Kiyoko, Expectations | Album Review

Actress and rising pop artist Hayley Kiyoko delivers an honest, well-rounded debut album with ‘Expectations.’ Sexuality serves a pivotal role on the project. 

Rich the Kid, The World is Yours | Album Review 💿

Atlanta rapper Rich the Kid drops his highly-anticipated debut album, ‘The World is Yours.’ The album has its fair share of highlights, but a lack of distinct artistry holds the rapper ...

The Weeknd, My Dear Melancholy, (EP) | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning, Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd returns with a surprise EP, ‘My Dear Melancholy,.’ Here, he authentically and superbly captures the pain of the being heartbroken.

Lindsey Webster, Love Inside | Album Review

Gifted contemporary jazz singer/songwriter Lindsey Webster returns with a stellar sophomore album for Shanachie Records, ‘Love Inside.’

George Ezra, Staying at Tamara’s | Album Review

British singer-songwriter George Ezra makes an impressive return on his highly-anticipated sophomore album, ‘Staying at Tamara’s.’

Jack White, Boarding House Reach | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning, alternative darling Jack White is wilder and more adventurous than ever on his highly-anticipated third solo album, ‘Boarding House Reach.’

Love Simon (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Album Review

The original motion picture soundtrack accompanying the highly-anticipated film, ‘Love, Simon’ has its fair share of highlights, old and new.

XXXTENTACION, ? | Album Review

XXXTENTACION returns with another brief, eclectic effort, ‘?’.  The album is ‘all over the place,’ but has its fair share of moments.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Tearing at the Seams | Album Review

Retro rock collective Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats ‘show out’ on their latest album, ‘Tearing at the Seams.’

The Neighbourhood, The Neighbourhood | Album Review

Although it’s imperfect, The Neighbourhood deliver their best and most compelling album to date with their self-titled, third full-length.

~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Dua Lipa, Illusion | Song Review 🎵

No ‘illusion’ here: Grammy-winning pop singer Dua Lipa ‘brings the heat’ on “Illusion,” the third single from her third LP, Radical Optimism.

Beyoncé, Jolene | Song Review 🎵

Guest contributor, Bonita Alford: If Dolly Parton asks you to cover her signature song, “Jolene,” you better do it and do it right… which is exactly what Beyoncé did.

Tanya Walker, Good Days, Bad Days | Track Review 🎵

Tanya Walker's latest single, "Good Days, Bad Days", is as a melodic earworm with threads of introspection and resilience, set against a backdrop of...

Joaicon, 2NITE | Song Review 🎵

Ascending Dominican pop artist Joaicon delivers an entertaining, bite-sized vibe with his sexy single, “2NITE.”

Orville Peck & Willie Nelson, Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other | Song Review 🎵

Orville Peck and Willie Nelson collaborate on a fabulous cover of the Ned Sublette, queer country song, “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.”

Quavo, Potato Loaded | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated rapper Quavo enlists fellow rapper Destroy Lonely for the assist on the ‘delicious’ single, “Potato Loaded.”

Omar Apollo, Spite | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated pop standout Omar Apollo delivers another bop with his authentic, honest, and enjoyable single, “Spite.”

Glass Animals, Creatures in Heaven | Song Review 🎵

Alternative pop collective Glass Animals make a compelling return with “Creatures in Heaven,” the lead single from their fourth LP, I Love You So F***ing Much.

Imagine Dragons, Eyes Closed | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-winning alternative rock band Imagine Dragons sounds refreshing in their ear-catching, energetic single, “Eyes Closed.”

Kehlani, After Hours | Song Review 🎵

Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani delivers a pleasant, sexy pop-oriented R&B single with “After Hours.”

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