Music Articles
Music uniquely unites people across cultures. It soundtracks our lives. This page will explore secular and religious music thoughtfully and honestly.
- Petal by Petal, Ariana Grande Blooms in Black and White
petal review part two: track-by-track Ariana Grande’s eighth album came as a surprise. A little over a year prior to its release, she made statements hinting at a long hiatus from music after Wicked and Wicked: For Good’s success rekindled her love for acting and theater. eternal sunshine and its deluxe, brighter days ahead, would have sent her off on a career high. Then came the announcement for petal. Immediately, something felt different about her artistic persona. Lead single “hate that i made you love me” and the accompanying music… Read more: Petal by Petal, Ariana Grande Blooms in Black and White - Ariana Grande’s Rage Blooms on “Petal”
By Brosnan Butt and Jack Kaempfer Picture yourself. You’re Ariana Grande. In the past two years, you have been in the public eye at a level that most people would envy. You’ve released the critically acclaimed eternal sunshine and deluxe brighter days ahead. You’ve starred in Wicked and Wicked: For Good, movies praised for their musical performance and touching story. You’ve received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. The EGOT rumors intensify. Your fans have begged for an eternal sunshine tour, an activity you haven’t considered since 2019 (a small eternity… Read more: Ariana Grande’s Rage Blooms on “Petal” - Daughter from Hell Indulges Gracie Abrams’ Best and Worst Tendencies
Gracie Abrams is no stranger to criticism. Her debut album Good Riddance was simultaneously praised for its raw, evocative writing style and criticized for a whispery and subdued vocal delivery. Critics praised Abrams’ second record, The Secret of Us, for chatty, relatable songs and a shift towards anthemic pop sensibilities, while also panning for disjointed production across the record and failing to establish a clear and unique perspective. In spite of the mixed reception, Gracie exploded due to the (in retrospect, unsurprising) success of the The Secret of Us Deluxe… Read more: Daughter from Hell Indulges Gracie Abrams’ Best and Worst Tendencies - Gracie Abrams Confesses It All on The Secret of Us
What happens to a girl’s mind when she’s full of secrets? Gracie Abrams answered that question when she released her second album, The Secret of Us, two years ago in June, 2024. The record emerged from a combination of negative relationships and her first touring experiences, culminating in a 13-track standard edition and 17-track deluxe that pushed Abrams beyond her indie-pop roots into bigger choruses, Taylor Swift-style rant bridges, and sharper observations of her own life. The Secret of Us reveals much about the interiority of a woman navigating early… Read more: Gracie Abrams Confesses It All on The Secret of Us - Showgirl Found Dead in a Ditch!
The Life of a Showgirl Review: Track by Track Taylor Swift’s latest record, The Life of a Showgirl, only features twelve tracks, a shocking about-face from opulent runtimes on her previous few albums. Swift promised that this would be an album of precision rather than excess. The songs were written during the Eras Tour’s European leg—no vault tracks, no double album, no surprises—and each would be Max Martin-crafted pop perfection with a folkloric Taylor Swift twist. Her estimation of the record’s quality fell far short of reality. The production and… Read more: Showgirl Found Dead in a Ditch! - Seeking the Sun in the Storm
An Analysis of THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.’s Album Cover RAYE’s second studio album, THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., delivers an injection of hope with each symphonic swell. THIS MUSIC acts like a piece of musical theater, guiding the listener through a show of heartbreak and hope starring RAYE herself. However, the journey begins even before her magnificent voice takes center stage with the album cover. The image that most listeners briefly glance at as they open the album on their streaming service of choice sets up THIS MUSIC’s story… Read more: Seeking the Sun in the Storm - Cruel World is An Ambient, Touching Exploration of Modern Love
My first introduction to Holly Humberstone was with the release of the “Beauty Pageant” music video, the final single for the British singer’s third album, Cruel World. Shot on film cameras, the video opens to an old Hollywood aesthetic. Glittery performers rush around preparing for a show while Holly stands bejeweled in a diamond headdress. It feels like a fairytale. Holly stares wistfully into the camera with downcast eyes and sings: So it starts with a girl In a bar, and she’s singing from the heart Glitter curtain, sticky floors… Read more: Cruel World is An Ambient, Touching Exploration of Modern Love - Hallyu High: South Korea’s Soft Power
An Analysis of K-Pop’s Influence in America in 2025 Soft power might be an unfamiliar term for anyone who hasn’t taken international relations courses. We know power in the traditional sense—strength from physical ability, whether that be an athlete’s muscle mass, an electrical grid’s energy output, or a military force’s headcount. Soft power is more akin to influence. Cultural exports, reputation, and brand recognition fall under this incredibly valuable umbrella. For small nations lacking the might to dominate their neighbors, soft power is a way to carve a space for… Read more: Hallyu High: South Korea’s Soft Power - On Marketing and Expectations
An Analysis of Taylor Swift’s Messy Album Rollouts For those who spent 2025 under a rock, Taylor Swift released her highly anticipated twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, to… intense reactions. Many fans were disappointed, shocked, or even angered, while others insisted that Showgirl was her best work. Critics widely panned the album, and even the hardcore Swifties, those who were first to defend previous albums, remain divided on Showgirl. Is it Miss Americana at the height of her melodic prowess? Is it the worst thing she’s ever… Read more: On Marketing and Expectations