~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!” | Album Review

Donald Glover – aka Childish Gambino – trades rhymes for singing on his ambitious third studio album, “Awaken, My Love!”

John Legend Shines on ‘Darkness and Light’

John Legend delivers another captivating solo album with Darkness and Light. While his sound is tweaked, fundamentally he remains the same artist.

Retrospective Review: John Legend, Love in the Future (2013)

R&B singer-songwriter John Legend makes genuine love sound both respectable and desirable on his fourth solo album, ‘Love in the Future.’

Examining Lyrics: The Weeknd, ‘Starboy’

Canadian R&B standout The Weeknd Returns with ‘Starboy,’ an album filled with intriguing lyrics worth analyzing.

The Weeknd, Starboy | Album Review 💿

Canadian R&B standout The Weeknd returns with a massive, urban-pop effort ('Starboy') that offers something for a variety of listeners.

Ranking: Highly Suspect, The Boy Who Died Wolf

Highly Suspect remain edgy and unapologetic on their highly anticipated sophomore album, The Boy Who Died Wolf.

Highly Suspect, The Boy Who Died Wolf | Album Review

Grammy-nominated rock band Highly Suspect remains edgy and unapologetic on their highly-anticipated sophomore album, 'The Boy Who Died Wolf.'

A Tribe Called Quest Nails It On ‘We Got It from Here…’

A Tribe Called Quest returns for one last hurrah with ‘We Got It from Here…Thank You 4 Your Service.’ Q-Tip and company are on autopilot.

DNCE, DNCE | Album Review

DNCE marks the resurrection of Joe Jonas’ recording career. That resurrection is worthwhile on the band’s self-titled debut.

Bruno Mars, 24K Magic | Album Review 💿

Pop singer-songwriter Bruno Mars returns in electrifying fashion on his highly anticipated, third album, '24K Magic.'

~ 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 😎 🤘 ~

XILLAN, MY BROTHER’S TONGUE IS A GUN | Track Review 🎵

Surinamese, Netherlands-based musician XILLAN delivers a tour de force as he chooses war in the arduous fight to live and love as he chooses.

Coi Leray, Run It Up | Track Review 🎵

Rapper/singer Coi Leray drops a cute, entertaining, and fierce 🔥 rap bop with her latest single, “Run It Up.”

Victoria Monét, On My Mama | Track Review 🎵

R&B singer/songwriter Victoria Monét brings ample confidence on her fierce single, “On My Mama.”

Doja Cat, Attention | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-winner Doja Cat successfully tweaks her sound on “Attention,” prioritizing her gift of bars in this enjoyable rap cut.

Michaël Brun, Sak Pase | Track Review 🎵

Haitian DJ Michaël Brun enlists Saint Levant and Lolo Zouaï for the short but sweet and potent single, “Sak Pase.”

Maluma, Coco Loco | Track Review 🎵

As always, the irresistibly hot Maluma brings the musical heat on “Coco Loco,” the latest single released in advance of his highly anticipated Don Juan album.

City Girls, I Need A Thug | Track Review 🎵

City Girls – Yung Miami and JT – need a thug, who they characterize explicitly and vividly on their brief single, “I Need A Thug.”

Shawn Mendes, What The Hell Are We Dying For? | Track Review 🎵

Canadian heartthrob Shawn Mendes returns with “What The Hell Are We Dying For?” lamenting air pollution, climate change, and mostly, his breakup.

Sam Smith & Madonna, VULGAR | Track Review 🎵

Decorated pop musicians Sam Smith & Madonna collaborate on the shocking duet “VULGAR” which has its moments, but also feels ‘a bit too much.’

Kelly Clarkson, favorite kind of high | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-winning pop superstar Kelly Clarkson tells us about her “favorite kind of high” on the third single from her tenth LP, chemistry.

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