“The Dream” by The Favors
The debut album from The Favors, the American super-group composed of singer-songwriters FINNEAS and Ashe, The Dream is an indie-pop album perfect for the start of fall. The production style resembles that of Fleetwood Mac, but with a modern twist. The energy of the album switches frequently between songs, going from upbeat vocals and drum beats in songs like “The Dream” and “The Little Mess You Made” to melancholy piano ballads in songs like “The Hudson” and “Lake George.” Despite this, the tracks mold together well to paint a dynamic picture of love and the human experience. Many fans are theorizing this will be the first and only album the pairing will release, but no matter the future of the duo, the record will leave a legacy to remember for its listeners.
Favorite Tracks: “The Little Mess You Made,” “Times Square Jesus”
Rating: 8/10
“SWAG II” by Justin Bieber
Coming in at a whopping two hours and 11 minutes, Justin Bieber’s eighth studio album is a double reissue of his July release SWAG. The first half of the album introduces new tracks, while the second half contains the music from SWAG. The style of this album takes a shift from Bieber’s usual pop beats into a more mellow style of music, yet is still catchy and enjoyable for listeners. Some highlights include “LOVE SONG” and “DAISIES,” the latter of which went viral on TikTok earlier this year for its lyrics and soft pop-rock vibe. While the production on individual songs works well, the length of the album makes the music feel repetitive and unoriginal when listening straight through. For an every once and a while listen, this album works well, but it doesn’t meld together as well as one would hope.
Favorite Tracks: “LOVE SONG,” “DAISIES”
Rating: 5/10
“Vie” by Doja Cat
Marking her return to pop music, Doja Cat’s fifth studio album is an exciting and cohesive series of songs that wrap up the summer. With its upbeat energy and pop tunes, Vie bears resemblance to Doja Cat’s earlier albums Hot Pink and Planet Her, especially in songs like “Silly! Fun!” and “Jealous Type.” Darker rap songs like “AAAHH MEN!” and “Lipstain” also bear resemblance to past albums like 2023’s Scarlet. The songs feel easy to understand but personal, and the variations in instrumentals and production from song to song hold your attention throughout the entire album. After an era of somewhat lackluster releases from Doja Cat, Vie is a refreshing release that shows why she was a TikTok staple in the early 2020s.
Favorite Tracks: “Jealous Type,” “Take Me Dancing”
Rating: 9/10
“Double Infinity” By Big Thief
Big Thief released their dreamy new hit, “Double Infinity” after three years since their last album was released. The song “Incomprehensible” sets the dreamy and mysterious tone of the album. “Words” evokes feelings of summertime and happiness while Adrianne Lenker, the lead singer of the band, makes this song sound very strange and unique with her voice. Lenker’s vocals complete the soft and dreamy mood of the album, making you feel like you are floating on air. “Double Infinity” has more of an electronic mix to its songs unlike Big Thief’s past music, which is very different, but beautiful. The album has been a big hit, with the song “Double Infinity” reaching number 122 on the Billboard Top 200.
Favorite tracks: “Incomprehensible,” “Words,” “Double infinity,” “Los Angeles”
Rating: 9/10
“Breach” By Twenty One Pilots
Indie pop band Twenty One Pilots, known for many of the iconic hits of the 2010s, just released their eighth studio album “Breach”, and it lives up to the legacy. “City Walls” is a fantastic introduction to the album, bringing out the punkness of Twenty One Pilots with their rocking vocals. Similarly, “Drum Show” has a great mix of pop punk and metal, a combination Twenty One Pilots loves to feature. “Downstairs” has a unique and strange electronic beat behind it but at the same time stays consistent with the pop rock feel. The song “Intentions” is a perfect outro to the album, with its peaceful vibe leaving a soothing feeling for listeners. Twenty One Pilots are also incredible at mixing and blending genres, and this album puts their skill on display. “Center Mass” is by far the best song on the entire album. The vocals and the electronic beat merged with the drums creates an overall amazing piece of music. The album rotates through many different genres and beats and it never gets boring. Twenty One Pilots managed to go from punk to pop rock to metal to pop and even to electronic. Every song has a different sound but similar mood. With “Breach,” Twenty One Pilots have proven once again that they are one of the best artists of this generation.
Favorite tracks: “City Walls,” “Drum Show,” “Downstairs,” “Robot Voices,” “Cottonwood,” “Intentions”
Rating: 9.5/10
