~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Blake Shelton, Texoma Shore | Album Review

Blake Shelton returns with a consistent, enjoyable studio album with ‘Texoma Shore.’ His voice and personality shines through.

Grace VanderWaal, Just the Beginning | Album Review

13-year old singer-songwriter Grace VanderWaal delivers a fine debut LP with ‘Just the Beginning.’ The America’s Got Talent winner showcases her artistry.

Syleena Johnson, Rebirth of Soul | Album Review

R&B veteran Syleena Johnson returns more soulful than ever on her latest studio album, ‘Rebirth of Soul.’

21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin, Without Warning | Album Review

Rappers 21 Savage and Offset, with Metro Boomin behind the boards, collaborate on a hot, surprise mixtape, ‘Without Warning.’

Maroon 5, Red Pill Blues | Album Review 💿

Maroon 5 fully embrace the modern pop script on ‘Red Pill Blues.’ Despite a so-so promo campaign, the album ends is ‘better than expected.’

Joji, In Tongues (EP) | Album Review

Up-and-coming R&B artist Joji (aka ‘Filthy Frank,’ real name ‘George Miller’) drops his six-song, moody debut EP, ‘In Tongues.’

Sam Smith, The Thrill of it All | Album Review 💿

Breakout British pop-soul artist Sam Smith makes a solid comeback with his highly-anticipated sophomore album, ‘The Thrill of it All.’

Ty Dolla $ign, Beach House 3 | Album Review

Ty Dolla $ign returns with his sophomore album, ‘Beach House 3,’ which ends up being better than expected.

Chris Brown, Heartbreak on a Full Moon | Album Review

Chris Brown has some moments on ‘Heartbreak on a Full Moon.’ The problem is, you have to sort through an exhaustive, overstuffed album to find them.

Weezer, Pacific Daydream | Album Review 💿

Weezer, led by the ever-hip Rivers Cuomo, returns with their 11th studio album, ‘Pacific Daydream.’ ‘Pacific Daydream’ marks their fourth album since 2010.

~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Chance Peña, The Mountain Is You | Song Review 🎵

Indie-pop singer/songwriter Chance Peña delivers an expressive, gorgeous, and sincere single with “The Mountain is You.”

WILLOW, b i g f e e l i n g s | Song Review 🎵

WILLOW showcases top-notch musicianship on “b i g f e e l i n g s,” the second single from her 2024 album, empathogen.

NLE Choppa, SLUT ME OUT 2 | Song Review 🎵

Rapper NLE Choppa gets down, dirty, and absolutely, utterly filthy on the horny, lustful banger, “SLUT ME OUT 2.”

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.”

Also, you can check out reviews by category by clicking the buttons below ⬇️.