Mellope

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY 25.06.25 #40 Which One—Drake/Central Cee (7.5/10) If you heard and liked "Blue Green Red," then you'll like this; it's just like that but with a Central Cee feature, which he sounds surprisingly decent on. I like when Drake puts on that accent; it gives his music a unique edge that turns regular beats into something special. This is also quite an upgrade from "What Did I Miss." Dealer - Lola Young (8.2/10) Not only the best single from the upcoming album so far but also one of her best songs, and I wouldn't even blame you for calling this better than everything on her last album! It has a sound and lyricism that feels like Lola but strays away from a cringe line, and the sound feels altered to sound different, but that actually gives it more of a live and real sound that complements the song. Great listen. DYNAMITE - Tyla/Wizkid (7.1/10) A fusion of two Afrobeat sounds that brings a lively and danceable tune, these two sound like they could connect well on a track, and I'm happy to report that they both brought flavour to the song. With You—Jorja Smith (5/10) A loud drum loop that sounds fit for rap/trap, but instead Jorja adds her brand of singing that often fits a soulful tone. I don't like the merge, and despite the unique take, it still ends up sounding basic. Miami (Remix)—Morgan Wallen/Lil Wayne/Rick Ross (1/10) "Miami" was the only song I hated on Morgan Wallen's "I'm The Problem," and you had to remix it with rap artists?? Once again, the "Miami" cut-in sounds so low quality, like it's playing from a decades-old device, and the rappers here could never change my mind; they just add two annoying vocal inputs. I guess the rappers do have a slightly better beat change and stop the "Miami" input from coming in as much, but overall, it's not a positive, and honestly, it's Morgan Wallen's worst song. My opinion has upgraded on the original song, though. 12 to 12 - Sombr (7.9/10) I was not expecting to hear Sombr on a beat that sounds more like something Lizzo would be on. "12 to 12" has a funky, danceable sound that stays true to Sombr's vocal tone whilst balancing out new fields of music; he definitely didn't play it safe with this one, but he did that in an amazing way. Check it out! Save Me—Olly Murs (8.2/10) Olly Murs finally returns, and as expected, we've got a dancefloor hit on our hands. The song has a style that feels slightly jazzy but with a chaotic twist of getting into a bad situation in an argument where Murs plays it playfully and with energy. This truly is a new Murs era, and I'm honestly so proud of this guy for fighting through the horrible headlines about him and continuing with his weight routine for his fans. Olly is one artist who truly cares about the fans, and I love that! STREET X STREET - Sia/Cypress Hill/DJ FLICT (7.5/10) I'm not joking when I say that this sounds like something Playboi Carti would release! The beat has rap artists on and goes into trap elements with an intense sound that Sia uses autotune to blend into. And surprisingly… it's good. HOT GIRL PROBLEMS - The Kid LAROI (6.9/10) I guess I'll take it. I mean, it's an average score I'd give Laroi, and it's also for a usual Laroi song about girls, which uses the same production elements that made the sound for his previous albums. He needs to step into a new zone. Back in the Saddle—Luke Combs (8.4/10) Ok… but why is this BADASS?? The heavy rock and vocals lean into a style that feels like something the old real rockers did! Luke did exactly that and insanely well. WOW!! If you like rock, then give this a listen. Gossip—Confidence Man/Jade (6/10) Confidence Man is an artist I respect, but I was never a fan of Jade, and as much as I don't like Jade, I do have to respect how this is actually OK. Jade is a little boring and annoying in her tone of voice, but it's not too off-putting, and the beat has a nice synth and funky-like switch to give it some level of interest, although I think more of a pumping bass would do the song better. Beautiful Colours—OneRepublic (7/10) OneRepublic releases another song from Kaju no. 8; this one is more of a slower-paced song. As much as it's decent, I'm not getting too much feeling for this. Not amazing. Uuu - J Balvin/Stormzy (6.4/10) J Balvin's culture mixes with Stormzy to create a pop-ish and rough-ish rap blend; it doesn't work, but it's also not a terrible result. I don't care for it. It Depends—Chris Brown/Bryson Tiller (5.5/10) Chris Brown returns to the boring, kind of leisurely pace of R&B that satisfies nobody and leaves us thinking, "Was Holy Blindfold all he had in the tank??" Sugar Sweet—Mariah Carey/Shenseea/Kehlani (5.6/10) The opening era isn't looking too good; if this'll be the lead single (not saying it will be), it doesn't have any exciting energy and instead falls flat. Sapphire—Ed Sheeran/Arijit Singh (7/10) A surprisingly highly improved remix where Arijit brings a slice of culture that feels like the track needs to be complete! Freak It—Kim Petras (3.5/10) A hyperpop/electronic club song that keeps her style intact while blending into a more "How I'm Feeling Now" kind of vibe, I don't like this, and if you know me, I heavily dislike Charli XCX, so you know that anything similar probably won't be for me. To Be Free - Sam Smith (5.6/10) Sam continues to repaint the elegant and more natural side of his music. I'm not sure if this is due to the "Unholy" backlash or personal choice, but it's definitely not his best decision; his previous singles have done this but better. Turn This Truck Around—Jordan Davis (7.3/10) Jordan just keeps getting better; this is an even realer brand of American country that still feels partly like a copy, but at least he gives more energy to the song. Beautiful Strangers - TOMORROW X TOGETHER (6.8/10) Whisper—Rag'n'Bone Man/Max Chapman/Mischief (7.9/10) Rag'n'Bone Man has his signature sound flow through, with the instrumentals providing arguably as much worth as the vocals; it sounds like old music but with a modern twist. Reckless—Hanumankind/Daniel Curry (8.4/10) Hanumankind brings an intense and rapid-quality energy that Denzel helps fuel; together they make something truly spectacular. Midsummer pipe dream—Guitarricadelafuente/Troye Sivan (6.4/10) End Of Summer—Tame Impala (5/10) I just don't know; it's a long song, and nothing stood out to me. Miss Sunshine - MGK (6.4/10) It partly reminds me of if Alex Warren made a summer pop song, with the vocals leaning more towardshis tone. Surprisingly alright, though. Holy—Mac DeMarco (6.3/10) Same Thing - Ely Oaks/LAVINIA (8.1/10) As long as it charts, I'm sure these two will keep collaborating, and as they do, I may as well say that I quite like the synths and bass; this is their best collaboration yet. Professional - Offset (7/10) I'll take it; from what I hear, it's the tough-appeal rap, and I think Offset plays the lead role well. Chula Vente - Luis R. Conriquez/Fuerza Regida/Neton Vega (5/10) Average Spanish song. Learn To Love—Zoe Wees/Dean Lewis (6/10) Occasionally Dean delivers a heart-pulling sound that makes you feel very strong emotions, and other times he doesn't; this is a time where he doesn't. Dolce Vita - Sophie Ellis-Bextor (7.1/10) Sophie's upcoming album is looking even more fun with a dance-club song that partly sounds (and only a little) like ABBA. I'm not sure if I'm the only one seeing it, but I kind of hear the oldish dance influences but with a more modernised sound… and Bextor's vocals help remind me of ABBA on this too. Big Bag—French Montana/Lil Durk (6/10) The Weight Of You (I'm Glad You Died) - Caity Baser (7/10) Despite the song title being kind of wild and easily toned down… it's still kind of understandable, the feeling of not carrying the weight of someone because they're gone, and there being a good side of that. I feel the use of "I'm glad you died" was only put in to keep up Caity's ways of her over-exaggerating TikTok-pop phase. Hot Body—Ayra Starr (6.8/10) A sexual Afrobeat song that doesn't push past the replayable line or even reach it. Too basic. Drama—Jordan Adetunji (7.5/10) Partly reminds me of 4Batz when he made his quality grow more with the slow and dreamy rap melodies. Have A Baby (With Me) - Daniel Caesar (5.5/10) I'm sorry, but this is just too straightforward, and it comes across as weird. The song itself doesn't have any huge highlights either. I guess I could give a few points for the slightly dreamy instrumentals, though. 1942 - Clavish (5.5/10) Standard UK Rap. This Circle—Paramore (4/10) I don't think I've heard something at this level of standard from them. This is so half-baked that it's painful. A New Day—Sebastian Ingrosso/Celine Dion (8/10) A DJ loop with occasional twists that has a very surreal feeling to it if you listen in the right place, preferably while looking at a great view. Don't Care No More - Bay Swag/Cash Cobain (3.8/10) What did I just listen to?? This was soulless mumbling, as if it was going to lead up to something, and then it led up to NOTHING. Disappointing. N.O.V.A - Nova Twins (2/10) Ear-splitting shouting that isn't even covered by anything good; it's like teenage girls in a drama show letting out a scream. This is horrid. Dream Night—Jamie xx (7/10) A chilled-out wave of synths. Needs more but still good, especially the last part. By Myself—Kodak Black/DJ E Money/G6reddot (5/10) The vocals are FRIED (as usual for Kodak), but there's still a level of decency to the track, and it's surprisingly not entirely expected. Still forgot it quickly, though. I Know—IShowSpeed (6.7/10) IShowSpeed is improving as he continues his rap career. I can't say this is better than his last single, but it is better than nearly all the others I've heard. Happier—Remember Monday (6.5/10) The UK's Eurovision entry comes back with guitar and drums in a basic yet kind of groovy pop girl background… It's definitely an improvement from their Eurovision entry, and it kind of reminds me of Sabrina's "Manchild" slightly. Next Life—24kGoldn (7.1/10) Radio pop where whistling seems to make a catchy part of the whole song. Turn Me Up - Mabel (6.5/10) Mabel's career turning this route was unexpected and not for the better; the slower, Tyla-ish sound is losing her fans, and I'm one of them who's leaving her fanbase. EURO-COUNTRY - CMAT (7/10) It follows in the same field as "Take A Sexy Picture Of Me," but instead the background doesn't move with such difference, and that isn't good. Nyash (Shake) - Pozer (6.4/10) Dis Badman—Sammy Virji/Champion/IRAH (4/10) Drum and bass is hitting lows with this; it's your average "badman." Big bass song that's repetitive in style... you get the idea. I'm Not Hungry Anymore - MARINA (7.2/10) After dropping her album "Princess Of Power," Marina is back after not even taking a real break (supposedly for FROOT's 10th anniversary). I've got to say that she hasn't cut quality despite having a large quantity; the vocals partly remind me of Gaga at points, with the beat adding a princess level of pop whilst being fun, with electronics and synths making up a sound that has the right amount of changes. I'm so happy that they didn't overproduce this. Surrounded—Koe Wetzel (6.5/10) Country-rock that's not exactly special, but it still holds a factor of quality. Quite expected for the current music around the genre. One Condition—DJ Tunez/Wizkid/FOLA (7/10) Jazz mixed with Afrobeats to create a blend that sounds partly artistic... strange, but I like it! You Stole The Show—SIENNA SPIRO (6.5/10) Case—CUBE/Thelonius (7.5/10) Thelonious brings this raw feel to rap that follows in the likes of many other Black rappers; I love that. Golden (David Guetta remix) - K-pop demon hunters cast/David Guetta (7/10) It's good, but I don't think there was a huge need for this remix. Easy - JVKE/LAY (6.6/10) JVKE's music but without the piano or magical feeling. Born To Fly - Anabel Englund/Mary Droppinz (5/10) Well, at least it's not the horror that was the "PLB" remix. Darlin' - Hudson Westbrook (6.4/10) Your average country music. Way To Go—Mercer Henderson (7/10) Dumb Girl - Alessi Rose (6/10) It's like "Way To Go" by Mercer Henderson, but it's too simple to satisfy. My Girl—Isabel Larosa (8/10) Did I miss an update? This is insane! This is full-on the girl pop that media craves; it's like Nessa Barrett with the quieter pitch that lets the beat smoothly run through the song. Wow, just wow. Blame On You - Alexander Stewart (8.5/10) Now THIS is music! A true display of true simplicity is when radio music has quality. Say Something - Royel Otis (8.5/10) "Say Something" is the best song by Royel Otis that I've heard so far; it has a sound that feels similar to "Suburbs" by Good Neighbours but without the upbeat tone. This feels real; it feels like it captures you in the moment. This could be an era. BAD NIGHT—KARMA—Graham Barham (6.6/10) Morgan Wallen if he had more of a teenage appeal. Lonely in the Jungle—Khamari (7.2/10) Gentle acoustic that has a hook that is worth the buildup; going gently into higher but softer was such an amazing transition. What Do We Ever Really Know? - Balu Brigada (8/10) A big step down from the release of "Backseat," but it still has growth that showcases that Balu can master different sounds. Move It Along—Sasha Keable/Leon Thomas (7/10) Slow and soulful, they could've made the song swing in a better direction, though. Hecho Para Ti - LATIN MAFIA/Omar Apollo (6.7/10) Higher Power—Gryffin/Lavern/AR/CO (6/10) I don't like the beats "glitches." Wet Hair—Audrey Hobart (3/10) Basically Gracie Abrams but only different in the slightest. BIRTHDAY—Jennifer Lopez (4.5/10) It's a little like "Gnarly" by KATSEYE, but if it wasn't a K-pop song. Crush - Indigo De Souza (5/10) This week has really had its fair share of bland female pop music. I don't know what the point of these songs is; they do nothing but exist. Inside Our Hearts—Martin Garrix/Alesso/Shaun Farrugia (2/10) One of the most boring things I've ever heard. It's like the Jonas Brothers but somehow even more uninspired. Baby Chop—Boylife/No Rome/Keshi (6.7/10) Jammers Anonymous—MAVI/Niontay (2.2/10) Both rappers sound intoxicated as they speak in a slow and hard-to-understand tone that doesn't fit their current era and stands as MAVI's worst drop I've heard, and I've heard quite a bit by him. Worry About—Alfie Indra (6.6/10) I got introduced to Alfie Indra when I heard his song "Comfort Zone" on Fresh Finds in 2024, but since then he hasn't lived up to that level. Thinkin About You—Vedo (7/10) If FLO was one male and instead went for more chill R&B, this would be the output. Dopamine - Fireboy DML (7.2/10) An Afro-dance tune that legit has potential. It's fun. Playa Paradise—DJ Tennis/Eliza Rose (7.5/10) It's like if Eliza's "Body Still Moving" collab wasn't funky but was still a dance song. What's the Deal? - Hit-Boy (7.6/10) A fun-filled rap song that isn't overcomplicated yet goes out in full style. Church—Tasha Cobbs Leonard/John Legend (6.6/10) A Christian worship song that feels so traditionally Christian that it's bad. If you know what I mean. Primer Lugar—Eladio Carrion/Omar Courtz (4.4/10) What If—Tors (5/10) Sounds like something Alex Warren would make. Rapture In Blue—Daniel Avery/Cecile Believe (5.8/10) Desire—Noizu/Hannah Boleyn (7/10)

This is gonna be so goated!

There's also a huge amount of supporters I've seen for Tom Macdonald! But just like Alex Warren, they have a lot more haters with genuine opinions and you can't discard that fact.

What do you mean by "You have to have a good eye for these things"?

Just heard the snippet... wish I didn't.

Tom Macdonald gets a load of streams and positive comments... doesn't mean his career aged well.

Is This What You've Been Waiting For? - Amy Macdonald - Short album review Amy Macdonald delivers a no-skip beautiful pop-rock record that highlights an upbeat and modern spin on the genre; whilst its modern spin brings fun radio music, it also feels like it has appeal to all generations with its mix of variety and quality that stops it from feeling like something out of a factory. RATING: 8.3/10 Album songs ranked: 1. It's All So Long Ago (8.4/10) 2. Is This What You've Been Waiting For? (8.3/10) 3. Physical (8.2/10) 4. Can You Hear Me? (8/10) 5. One More Shot (8/10) 6. The Hope (7.9/10) 7. I'm Done (7.7/10) 8. We Survive (7.6/10) 9. Trapped (7.6/10) 10. Forward (7.1/10)

Sex Hysteria - Jessie Murph - Short album review On the second listen to some of these tracks, I noticed quite a fair amount of growth in my score, which was unexpected. Overall, "Sex Hysteria" isn't awful and totally took her off my least favourite artists list. As much as this is a big improvement, I still think all the aspects that make Jessie hard to listen to, such as her vocals, lyricism, and more, are still here. It's just in this album she's managed to even it out more with a nice Amy Winehouse-like "Touch Me Like a Gangster," which brings out the country-pop in a sexy radio tune, along with other songs blending into this carefree, fun-filled song that makes you dance. The Amy Winehouse element of her music wasn't completely nailed, but if it means getting "Touch Me Like a Gangster," then I'm fine with it. Oh, and surprisingly we got a kinda decent Lil Baby verse on this too! RATING - 6.3/10 Albums songs ranked: 1. Touch Me Like A Gangster (8.1/10) 2. Gucci Mane (7.5/10) 3. Blue Strips (7/10) 4. I Like How I Look (7/10) 5. Ain't But A Thing (7/10) 6. Heroin (6.9/10) 7. The Man That Came Back (6.8/10) 8. Donuts (Ft. Gucci Mane) (6.7/10) 9. A Little Too Drunk (6.7/10) 10. Couldn't Be Worse (6.5/10) 11. Best Behaviour (Ft. Lil Baby) (6.1/10) 12. Sex Hysteria (5/10) 13. Ur Bill Is Big As F*ck (4.7/10) 14. Bad As The Rest (3.9/10) 15. 1965 (1/10)

SWAG - Justin Bieber - Mellope Album Review 1. All I Can Take (4/10) A summery-ish, slow-moving song where Justin's tuning doesn't really add to the song, and as a whole the song feels flat-out dull. 2. DAISIES (5.2/10) Bland R&B with some guitar that doesn't give much but only matches the R&B energy. The small save for me was Justin's vocals providing the signature smoothness that Bieber is known for. 3. YUKON (7.2/10) Ok, we're working with something. The way the mix started was making me think that this was going to be another lazy "DAISIES"-type "ballad, but instead I think the mixing went well. Of course, this still is kind of basic, but it has a sweetness to it with the feminine slow vocals on top of the acoustic love song. It all felt ever so simple, but it still had a bit of Justin's charm. 4. GO BABY (6.9/10) This felt heartfelt, and whilst it has an appeal of meaning, I think critically speaking this isn't his finest work. I'll take it, though. 5. Things You Do—Justin Bieber (7.8/10) "Things You Do" talks about the weight small things can have in a relationship; it does this in a similar formation to the rest of the album, but in a simplicity that can be sweet. A good song for sleeping. 6. BUTTERFLIES (7/10) The song starts with Justin's viral "Money" clip where he tells paparazzi that they just care about money; the song then goes into a light and easy listen that includes a more pop-friendly side of Justin. 7. WAY IT IS (Ft. Gunna) (7.9/10) I like this type of Gunna better; he feels more composed at a relaxed level where you can really process the song and soak it in, and I genuinely think this was a good rap feature. He helped bring out a weightlessness feel, not as much as Bieber, but he still did. 8. FIRST PLACE (7.6/10) Another song about relationships where Justin feels like he has somewhat of a passion in the music, I feel like some of these tracks (like this one) are trying for the lyrical appeal. 9. SOULFUL (Ft. Druski) (4/10) A less than 40-second yapping session where Druski repeatedly mentions how Justin got soul and that he's got a black soul... whatever that's supposed to mean. 10. WALKING AWAY (6.5/10) A guitar-drum pattern that uses simple instrumental forms along with vocals that don't feel amongst the most natural from him, but despite that there's still some form of comfort here that makes me partially enjoy this. 11. GLORY VOICE MEMO (4/10) This kind of does sound as if it was recorded on a worse device, with the shakiness and sound quality sounding a lot less than the others. This felt like a segment that could be taken off "SWAG." 12. DEVOTION (Ft. Dijon) (7.7/10) It's like something from "Shawn" by Shawn Mendes but with a slow rhythm twist. A very dreamy acoustic song that sounds good for sleep, pretty walks, or a comfortable moment. Instead of trying to add a rap feature or make it something it's not, the track and feature both feel like they have devotion to making something that truly highlights their vocal composure in a very real way; this song feels like a warm hug. 13. DADZ LOVE (Ft. Lil B) (7/10) Just over two minutes of more relaxing soul where Lil B keeps up the pace in a good way; I also believe this is my first listen to Lil B. 14. THERAPY SESSIONS (Ft. Druski) (7/10) Hot take, but I thought this was a good interlude. It's short but just the right length and conveys a message of constantly being asked if you're OK, which starts to make you not feel OK. This is all done in a friendly and light-hearted conversation that adds a breath of humour and connection to the album. 15. SWEET SPOT (Ft. Sexyy Red) (3.8/10) DAWG WHAT IS THIS??? 😭😭😭 The album was going down a lovely route, and then suddenly it comes to a halt with yet another artist featuring Sexyy Red, where she raps about putting male genitals up her butt, BUT WHY? Yeah… I can admit that Justin's lines had a little groove and the right amount of summer sexiness, but Sexyy came in so open with her lyricism that it doesn't fit the cuteness of the album but instead feels like a sex worker is going overtime on the clock and wants to get their job done ASAP. 16. STANDING ON BUSINESS (Ft. Druski) (6/10) Druski is a really funny guy; I mean, it's a sped-up clip of Justin's "Standing on business" video followed by Druski making a joke about how he pronounces it "Bihness." I'm sorry, but the joke actually slapped 😂. It doesn't fit the album, but I'll rate it since it's actually funny. 17. 405 (6.1/10) It's what we've heard already but with a few more pop elements. 18. SWAG (Ft. Cash Cobain) (2.5/10) What even is Justin doing at this point? "Swag" sounds like a bowl of nothingness, with mumbling on top of a generic mix that sounds like the overlapping complimented nothing. And Cash Cobain as a feature? I'd rather not. 19. ZUMA HOUSE (7.1/10) Lyrically, with the simple-to-understand way and tone, it reminds me of Billie Eilish, and even production-wise a little bit too, but without the dark hints. The little mumble feels like it adds to the song's feel, and the slow production gives a sense of realness to it. 20. TOO LONG (5.9/10) It's like "Yukon," but with more of a Chris Brown-ish kind of vibe and less sweetness; unexpectedly, it also felt repetitive of the current album's style. 21. Forgiveness—Mark Winans (8/10) A shorter and more impactful ending that ends as a gospel outro, which doesn't feature Justin. The singing is soothing to the ears and has the heavenly factor too. OVERVIEW: The more I listened to this, the more apparent it became… the simplicity of the album is what fuels the emotions. When I finally wound down and took a walk, or just sat and chilled, I could finally appreciate the album a lot more, and those sweet moments where Justin was connected to the music. Sure, that doesn't make up the whole album, which is my problem, but from time to time you pick up on a sound and you just get it... you can feel the meaning and reasoning, and you feel a part of something special. Critically? Not his finest work. But I'll lay down the big critic perspective and back this a little. Not bad. RATING: 6.5/10

US HOT 100 22.06.25 #41 THE TOP TEN: 10. Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga/Bruno Mars (No change/48 weeks in chart) 9. Lose Control - Teddy Swims (No change/100 weeks in chart/first song to reach 100 weeks in chart/70 weeks in top ten) 8. What Did I Miss? - Drake (Down 6/2 weeks in the chart) 7. Love Me Not—Ravyn Lenae (Up 5/NEW PEAK/16 weeks in chart) 6. A Bar Song (Tipsy)—Shaboozey (Down 1/66 weeks in chart) 5. Just In Case - Morgan Wallen (Down 1/17 weeks in chart) 4. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami (Up 2/NEW PEAK/4 weeks in chart) 3. What I Want—Morgan Wallen/Tate McRae (No change/9 weeks in chart) 2. Daisies—Justin Bieber (NEW) 1. Ordinary - Alex Warren (No change/7 weeks No. 1/23 weeks in chart) NEW ENTRIES: 95. M.T.B.T.T.F - Clipse (7/10) 93. Shyne—Travis Scott/Glorilla (5.9/10) 92. The Birds Don't Sing—Clipse/John Legend & Voices Of Fire (7.5/10) 86. 405 - Justin Bieber (6.1/10) It's what we've heard already but with a few more pop elements. 84. Dadz Love—Justin Bieber/Lil B (7/10) Just over two minutes of more relaxing soul where Lil B keeps up the pace in a good way; I also believe this is my first listen to Lil B. 83. Glory Voice Memo - Justin Bieber (4/10) This kind of does sound as if it was recorded on a worse device, with the shakiness and sound quality sounding a lot less than the others. This felt like a segment that could be taken off "SWAG." 79. Too Long—Justin Bieber (5.9/10) It's like "Yukon," but with more of a Chris Brown-ish kind of vibe and less sweetness; unexpectedly, it also felt repetitive of the current album's style. 78. Ace Trumpets - Clipse (7.9/10) 74. Where Was You - Travis Scott/Playboi Carti/Future (8/10) 72. 2000 Excursion - Travis Scott/Check Wes/Don Toliver (4/10) 70. Swag—Justin Bieber/Cash Cobain/Eddie Benjamin (2.5/10) What even is Justin doing at this point? "Swag" sounds like a bowl of nothingness, with mumbling on top of a generic mix that sounds like the overlapping complimented nothing. And Cash Cobain as a feature? I'd rather not. 68. In Your Fantasy - ATEEZ (5/10) After the disappointing "Lemon Drop," the band returns with a loud synth Korean dance song that doesn't make the best use of its sexual energy and instead falls below the mark. The song itself does have its edge to usual K-pop with the synth, tuning, and intenseness branding into a sound that K-pop doesn't usually go for, especially with the intenseness. 65. P.O.V.—Clipse/Tyler, The Creator (8.3/10) 62. So Be It - Clipse (8.2/10) 59. First Place - Justin Bieber (7.6/10) Another song about relationships where Justin feels like he has somewhat of a passion in the music, I feel like some of these tracks (like this one) are trying for the lyrical appeal. 57. Sweet Spot - Justin Bieber/Sexyy Red (3.8/10) DAWG WHAT IS THIS??? 😭😭😭 The album was going down a lovely route, and then suddenly it comes to a halt with yet another artist featuring Sexyy Red, where she raps about putting male genitals up her butt, BUT WHY? Yeah… I can admit that Justin's lines had a little groove and the right amount of summer sexiness, but Sexyy came in so open with her lyricism that it doesn't fit the cuteness of the album but instead feels like a sex worker is going overtime on the clock and wants to get their job done ASAP. 56. Devotion—Justin Bieber/Dijon (7.7/10) It's like something from "Shawn" by Shawn Mendes but with a slow rhythm twist. A very dreamy acoustic song that sounds good for sleep, pretty walks, or a comfortable moment. Instead of trying to add a rap feature or make it something it's not, the track and feature both feel like they have devotion to making something that truly highlights their vocal composure in a very real way; this song feels like a warm hug. 54. Dumbo - Travis Scott (3.9/10) 53. Champagne & Vacay—Travis Scott/Don Toliver (3.4/10) Weird screaming inputs that are churned out repeatedly onto verses that feel like they're at an artificial intelligence level of creative—this song is why Travis Scott doesn't excel at what he does, because quite frankly a lot of his discography is something that's made out of mumbled trapped lines, often in a darker tone, with the album's singles not even impressing me. Skip. 50. Kick Out - Travis Scott (3.9/10) I didn't want to have to relisten for a review, but since it's the highest-charting song by Travis, I guess I have to. Oh, boy. So a short summary on the new "JACKBOYS 2" album: every song felt like it made minimum effort to push Scott's career forward, and in total the album only had ONE good song. I know, very disappointing. From the album we have another soulless throwaway, "Kick Out," which is quite honestly embarrassing. I could be nicer, but Travis doesn't seem like a nice guy… so let's be real here: the uncredited vocals from 21 Savage are unnecessary and interruptthe song. Not like I'm missing much anyway; Travis has his usual trap hook that gains speed as the song goes on. Everything about the pitch to the tuned sound is so expected, as Travis never switches it up. Bad. 49. Butterflies - Justin Bieber (7/10) The song starts with Justin's viral "Money" clip where he tells paparazzi that they just care about money; the song then goes into a light and easy listen that includes a more pop-friendly side of Justin. 42. Chains & Whips—Clipse/Kendrick Lamar (8.2/10) I'm yet to hear the Clipse album "Let God Sort Em Out," but this was for sure the song I was most excited to hear, and I will say that it set a high bar for the album. "Chains & Whips" partly sounds like Lamar's older rap music but with a more modern and less experimental side, where the song uses loud and clearly noticeable horns along with guitar and drums, which doesn't make a radio sound but instead uses the sounds often by themselves to showcase the song's parts rather than making a big production. It's a good song; I may hear the album in full. 37. Walking Away—Justin Bieber (6.5/10) A guitar-drum pattern that uses simple instrumental forms along with vocals that don't feel amongst the most natural from him, but despite that there's still some form of comfort here that makes me partially enjoy this. 35. Things You Do—Justin Bieber (7.8/10) "Things You Do" talks about the weight small things can have in a relationship; it does this in a similar formation to the rest of the album, but in a simplicity that can be sweet. A good song for sleeping. 33. Way It Is - Justin Bieber/Gunna (7.9/10) I like this type of Gunna better; he feels more composed at a relaxed level where you can really process the song and soak it in, and I genuinely think this was a good rap feature. He helped bring out a weightlessness feel, not as much as Bieber, but he still did. 28. Jump—BLACKPINK (3.6/10) I think too much focus was put into the bass and loop and an action-packed production rather than trying to maintain quality. This is your typical bad bitch K-pop song that happens to make you anything but care. 21. All I Can Take—Justin Bieber (4/10) A summery-ish, slow-moving song where Justin's tuning doesn't really add to the song, and as a whole the song feels flat-out dull. 18. Go Baby—Justin Bieber (6.9/10) This felt heartfelt, and whilst it has an appeal of meaning, I think critically speaking this isn't his finest work. I'll take it, though. 17. Yukon - Justin Bieber (7.2/10) Ok, we're working with something. The way the mix started was making me think that this was going to be another lazy "DAISIES"-type "ballad, but instead I think the mixing went well. Of course, this still is kind of basic, but it has a sweetness to it with the feminine slow vocals on top of the acoustic love song. It all felt ever so simple, but it still had a bit of Justin's charm. 2. Daisies - Justin Bieber (5.2/10) Bland R&B with some guitar that doesn't give much but only matches the R&B energy. The small save for me was Justin's vocals providing the signature smoothness that Bieber is known for. NOTEABLE CHANGES: Songs that climbed 10 spots or more: 25. Soda Pop - Saja Boys (Up 10) [HIGHEST CLIMBER] Songs that fell 10 spots or more: 100. Malboro Rojo - Fuerza Regida (Down 23) 99. Rather Lie - Playboi Carti/The Weeknd (Down 26) 98. Twilight Zone - Ariana Grande (Down 20) 97. Eoo—Bad Bunny (Down 13) 96. Neuvayol—Bad Bunny (Down 30) 94. Party 4 U—Charli XCX (Down 27) 91. TN - Morgan Wallen (Down 27) 89. Whim Whammie - PLUTO/YKNIECE (Down 29) [HIGHEST FALLER] 88. Hard Fought Hallelujah - Brandon Lake/Jelly Roll (Down 20) 87. Your Way's Better - Forrest Frank (Down 18) 82. House Again—Hudson Westbrook (Down 17) 80. Fix What You Didn't Break - Nate Smith (Down 17) 77. Bottle Rockets—Scotty McCreery & Hootie & The Blowfish (Down 15) 75. River Washed Hair - Zach Bryan (Down 22) 73. Indigo - Sam Barber/Avery Anna (Down 12) 71. Superman - Morgan Wallen (Down 14) 69. Amen - Shaboozey/Jelly Roll (Down 11) 67. I Ain't Comin' Back—Morgan Wallen/Post Malone (Down 13) 66. Wildflower - Billie Eilish (Down 10) 63. Just Keep Watching - Tate McRae (Down 11) 61. Outside—Cardi B (Down 22) 60. 20 Cigarettes - Morgan Wallen (Down 11) 58. 6 Months Later - Megan Moroney (Down 10) 48. Love Somebody - Morgan Wallen (Down 10) 46. 30 For 30—SZA/Kendrick Lamar (Down 10) 45. Weren't For The Wind - Ella Langley (Down 20) 40. APT. - ROSÉ/Bruno Mars (Down 10) 39. Anxiety—Doechii (Down 11) 31. Nokia - Drake (Down 10) Songs that reached a new peak or repeaked (excluding new entries or songs that stuck at their peak): 25. Soda Pop—Saja Boys 24. Good News—Shaboozey 23. How It's Done—Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami 14. Your Idol—Saja Boys 7. Love Me Not - Ravyn Lenae 4. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami BEST AND WORST: New Entries: BEST—P.O.V.—Clipse/Tyler, The Creator WORST—Swag—Justin Bieber/Cash Cobain/Eddie Benjamin Whole top 100: BEST - Lose Control - Teddy Swims WORST—WHIM WHAMMIE—PLUTO/YKNIECE NEXT WEEK'S PREDICTIONS: Possible new entries for Tommy Richman, Alex Warren, Zach Bryan, Skye Newman, Jessie Murph & more!

The re-listen definitely was rewarding! It also helped the score.

Animals—Pink Floyd—Mellope Album Review 1. Pigs On The Wing 1 (8/10) This certainly grew on me after a listen to the other songs! As a standalone song it's partially boring, but listening after "Sheep," for example, puts you in the mood for Pink Floyd, where I could more truly appreciate the magic around the music. I think for a folk track like this, placing it outside of parts would be better though. 2. Dogs (7.9/10) Rock guitar that gets interesting at the three-and-a-half-minute mark, where the guitar comes in with drums and other backing to make something that feels more complete and more like a highlight. The move between different sections feels slow and occasionally worthwhile, but in the end I don't feel like I got enough action out of this compared to the other songs. It's still great but could easily be shortened. 3. Pigs (three different ones) (9.2/10) This song is a part of a continued theme about the people in power, called the "pigs," manipulating others to keep that form of power and gain riches. This is all written about in an 11-and-a-half-minute guitar solo with the chords constantly changing to give an interesting piece that blows the mind and sounds clean and complete. 4. Sheep (9.2/10) The song starts with a kind of airy piano and croaking like bugs in grass before pulling a 360 in a random transformation into a progressive hard rock sound. Now what I really want to talk about is the meaning, where they touch upon the topic of the "lower class" society brainlessly following orders without hesitation, and it's so fitting that I come across this song at the time of the Trump and Epstein files drama, along with the Diddy news, because let's be honest, they want to brainwash us all. And I think the song going into a darker tone was the point in this song that the meaning flowed through more than ever, with it providing a good atmosphere before kicking back up into a groovy, more hardcore rock style. This song is truly a rollercoaster and an amazing one too! 10+ minutes of time certainly not wasted. 5. Pigs On The Wing Pt. 2 (8/10) A lighter brand of rock that's mixed with light folk that has overall a dull range of acoustic use but is salvaged by the fact that it follows up from another song and adds a feel. I think we could've gotten more. I still respect that it's decent, but I can't really separate this out from other songs. OVERVIEW: This album shows that it's not about the number of songs or the number of effects; it's about how properly you master your own one little thing. And Pink Floyd have mastered the rock guitar nearly as much as Michelin-star chefs have mastered food. This album feels complete in the way that there is substance here that has been built upon into something bigger. Sure, some tracks could be shortened, and a little more spice could be put into some parts, but I honestly think simplicity was supposedly the sweetness of the album, and I can say that it nearly excelled with flying colours. RATING - 8.5/10

"Sqaubble Up" is one of my most streamed songs ever so it's always welcomed!

UK TOP 100 19.06.25 #42 THE TOP TEN: 10. Nice To Each Other - Olivia Dean (Up 4/NEW PEAK/7 weeks in chart) 9. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami (Up 11/NEW PEAK/4 weeks in chart) 8. Survive - Lewis Capaldi (Down 4/Sales fall/3 weeks in chart) 7. Ordinary - Alex Warren (Up 1/Sales climb/23 weeks in chart) 6. Victory Lap—Fred Again/Skepta/PlaqueBoyMax (Up 1/Sales climb/4 weeks in chart) 5. Sapphire—Ed Sheeran (Up 4/NEW PEAK/Sales climb/6 weeks in chart) 4. DAISIES - Justin Bieber (NEW) 3. Blessings—Calvin Harris/Clementine Douglas (Up 3/NEW PEAK/Sales climb/10 weeks in chart) 2. Manchild—Sabrina Carpenter (No Change/Sales Fall/6 Weeks in Chart) 1. Dior - MK/Chrystal (No change/Sales climb/2nd consecutive week at no. 1/6 weeks in chart) NEW ENTRIES: 99. Is It—Tyla (8/10) The loud drums pound onto a beat that feels glitchy but in a good way; this song isn't short of a bop, and it's honestly one of Tyla's best songs. It has a progression that gets stuck with you from the moment you hear it, with the essence of Tyla's Afro music fusing into a club song that has "all killer, no filler" written all over it. 93. Vodka Cranberry - Conan Grey (8.1/10) It's like "This Song," but with more sweetness and less of that high beat kicking in for the hook. Conan has these really soft vocals that fit a love or heartbreak song in a way that nobody else can, and I think that's something special. 89. My Mind Is A Mountain - Deftones (8/10) Previous listen: A strong, heavy rock song that really symbolises what Deftones do. And they do it well. Added: As much as this is standard in what to expect in a formula of a metal song, Deftones still do that formula well, and I can't deny it. Little typical but still my thing. 85. Lose My Mind—Don Toliver/Doja Cat (6.6/10) You know, radio could pick this up. It has a fast-paced sound that fits F1, which is fitting, seeing it's going in an F1 movie. The verses aren't the clearest, and it feels like the notes are dragged on a little too much throughout the intense energy, but it's not bad. Both rappers gave a good effort. 82. Chains & Whips—Clipse/Kendrick Lamar/Pusha T/Malice (8.2/10) I'm yet to hear the Clipse album "Let God Sort Em Out," but this was for sure the song I was most excited to hear, and I will say that it set a high bar for the album. "Chains & Whips" partly sounds like Lamar's older rap music but with a more modern and less experimental side, where the song uses loud and clearly noticeable horns along with guitar and drums, which doesn't make a radio sound but instead uses the sounds often by themselves to showcase the song's parts rather than making a big production. It's a good song; I may hear the album in full. 77. Take My Mind—WizTheMC/Bees & Honey (8.3/10) It's not as good as the duo's first collaboration, "Show Me Love," but it sure is a firm step too, getting a second hit song. The song uses the same tone and effects on the vocals along with an extremely similar feeling to "Show Me Love," but of course, it gives it a little bit of noticeable difference. I honestly hope these two drop more because this music is luxury to the ears. 74. Dumbo - Travis Scott (3.9/10) 66. Kick Out—Travis Scott (3.9/10) 60. Champagne & Vacay—Travis Scott/Don Toliver (3.4/10) Weird screaming inputs that are churned out repeatedly onto verses that feel like they're at an artificial intelligence level of creative—this song is why Travis Scott doesn't excel at what he does, because quite frankly a lot of his discography is something that's made out of mumbled trapped lines, often in a darker tone, with the album's singles not even impressing me. Skip. 55. Lady Lady - Olivia Dean (5/10) I confess, I don't really like this new Olivia Dean… She can sure play jazz and sing, but I think she does it in the most uninspired way possible, which begs the question, "How long can she keep this up?" 52. Back To Me—Rudimental/Jess Glynne (7.3/10) A feel-good dance summer jam that shows that Rudimental is upgrading and won't be putting the fries in the bag anytime soon. Jess had clean vocals that fit dance music really well, and Rudimental made a nice sound to go alongside her. 33. All I Can Take—Justin Bieber (4/10) A summery-ish, slow-moving song where Justin's tuning doesn't really add to the song, and as a whole the song feels flat-out dull. 32. Yukon - Justin Bieber (7.2/10) Ok, we're working with something. The way the mix started was making me think that this was going to be another lazy "DAISIES"-type "ballad, but instead I think the mixing went well. Of course, this still is kind of basic, but it has a sweetness to it with the feminine slow vocals on top of the acoustic love song. It all felt ever so simple, but it still had a bit of Justin's charm. 18. Jump—BLACKPINK (3.6/10) I think too much focus was put into the bass and loop and an action-packed production rather than trying to maintain quality. This is your typical bad bitch K-pop song that happens to make you anything but care. 4. Daisies - Justin Bieber (5.2/10) Bland R&B with some guitar that doesn't give much but only matches the R&B energy. The small save for me was Justin's vocals providing the signature smoothness that Bieber is known for. RE-ENTRIES: 91. Dakota - Stereophonics [Unexpected return!] 78. Taste—Sabrina Carpenter [I'll be hating on the Short N Sweet re-entries for as long as I live.] 71. Carry You Home - Alex Warren [One of his better songs.] NOTEABLE CHANGES: Songs that climbed 10 spots or more: 65. Somedays—Sonny Fedora/Jazzy/DOD (Up 10) 9. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami (Up 11) [HIGHEST CLIMBER] Songs that fell 10 spots or more: 100. All I Know—Rudimental/Khalid (Down 14) 98. Gnarly - KATSEYE (Down 18) 96. Hairdresser—Skye Newman (Down 15) 92. Now It's Gone—In Parallel (Down 10) 90. We Never Dated—Sombr (Down 13) 88. Sailor Song - Gigi Perez (Down 18) 87. Don't Wake Me Up—James Hype (Down 15) 86. The Chain—Fleetwood Mac (Down 10) 81. Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi (Down 19) 75. Stick Season - Noah Kahan (Down 20) 72. What Was That—Lorde (Down 12) 69. Take A Sexy Picture Of Me - CMAT (Down 16) 59. Espresso - Sabrina Carpenter (Down 13) 45. Shake It To The Max (Fly) - Moliy/Silent Addy (Down 24) 41. Azizam - Ed Sheeran (Down 26) [HIGHEST FALLER] 30. Pink Pony Club—Chappell Roan (Down 25) 22. Love Me Not - Ravyn Lenae (Down 19) Songs that repeaked or reached new peaks (excluding new entries or songs that stuck at their peaks): 29. How It's Done - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami 23. Your Idol - Saja Boys/Andrew Choi/Neckwav 19. High On Me - Rossi/Jazzy 16. No Broke Boys—Disco Lines/Tinashe 10. Nice To Each Other - Olivia Dean 9. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei Ami 5. Sapphire—Ed Sheeran 3. Blessings—Calvin Harris/Clementine Douglas BEST AND WORST: New Entries: BEST - Take My Mind - WizTheMC/Bees & Honey WORST—Champagne & Vacay—Travis Scott/Don Toliver NEXT WEEK'S PREDICTIONS: Possible new entries for Maroon 5, Alex Warren, Sonny Fedora & Jazzy, Skye Newman, Leigh-Anne & more!

MELLOPE'S MOST STREAMED 19.06.25 #42 SONGS: 1. Outside - Cardi B ⬆️5 [1 WEEK NO.1] 2. CRASHOUT - Lizzo ⬆️5 3. Oh My God - Adele NEW 4. NEW MISTAKES - Lizzo ⬆️5 5. Suburbs - Good Neighbours NEW 6. Stereo - Jax Jones/Emei NEW 7. That's So True - Spotify Singles - Sofia Camara NEW 8. When Doves Cry - Prince NEW 9. Denver - Jack Harlow RE-ENTRY 10. Reminds Me Of You - Benson Boone ⬇️8 ARTISTS: 1. Lizzo 2. Cardi B 3. Tyler, The Creator 4. Prince 5. Adele ALBUMS: 1. MY FACE HURTS FROM SMILING - Lizzo 2. IGOR - Tyler, The Creator 3. Purple Rain - Prince 4. 30 - Adele 5. Early Twenties - Cat Burns GENRES: 1. Pop 2. Hip-Hop/Rap 3. R&B/Soul 4. Alternative 5. Country

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY 18.06.25 #39 ALAMBRE PúA - Bad Bunny (6.6/10) A Puerto Rican groovy track about past relationships, which doesn't go full-on funky but adds a layer of slower movement (slower then fast) to help bring across emotions more. I'll take it, but I don't think it was a good release choice as a single. California—Maroon 5 (6.1/10) This new era of Maroon 5 is now straying away from a radio-hit kind of sound and now going into love songs, and as much as this isn't something I hate, I think it's rather boring. This song needs something other than vocals and acoustics to power it, and like that, it just doesn't scream Maroon 5. Perfectly - FKA Twigs (8.2/10) Yeah, I can see myself getting more into this compared to Eusexia. I like that she still keeps her experimenting shine whilst making her music fun and passable for larger audiences! This song does exactly that with a danceable yet still partly "Eusexia"-like "feel. She described this song as the moment before orgasm; she also said that's how she wants to live her life: pure focus that feels like eusexia. Eternity - Alex Warren (6.7/10) Alex previewed a snippet of this, and now that I've heard the full thing, it already feels like I've heard it; that's how predictable the song was. I'm not saying it's a terrible song, but it's nothing apart from Alex's usual loud hook and vocals that sound exaggerated for the song's feel. This is still probably the best first impression I've gotten from the album's newer singles, though. Madeline - Zach Bryan/Gabriella Rose (6/10) Does Zach Bryan just make the exact same song every time? I'll be shocked to hear if he ever puts out anything new. And yeah, he has good songs, but they are all in some way, shape, or form the same acoustic country songs. This follows that way and lacks some more material. 1965 - Jessie Murph (2/10) A pathetic quadruple attempt and trying this new side of her music where her screeches and intros now merge into becoming autotuned, sounding as if Charli XCX were a cat getting run over. Out Out - Skye Newman (6.2/10) Seeing her mysterious rise in popularity with songs that felt unfinished, I wouldn't be surprised if this followed that route. This isn't a bad song, but it's nothing more than vocals and piano doing what they always do. I Can't Lose—Jonas Brothers (6/10) I haven't enjoyed the Jonas Brothers to a decent degree in a while; as much as this isn't that great, it's still kind of a groove. It's got a big beat and a loud vocal hook that works well with the instrumental chorus and overall just at least an alright level of sound. I won't hate on it. Tear Me Down—Joyner Lucas/Ava Max (7.2/10) Joyner has a strong rapping presence that doesn't feel weak in any shape or force on this. I wish Ava got more time on the song; it feels like her name was just put on the song for the feature purpose, but regardless, it's still a decent feature. I like her tone on the hook. MIAMI - Tommy Richman (8.2/10) I'd say that this is the best song by Tommy Richman I've heard. It uses the same older-sounding vocal effects but instead has more disco and funk that add something that partly reminds me of MJ! Great song! Been A Minute—Leigh-Anne (7/10) This barely scrapes onto a 7/10 rating; it's got pop-girl, but it's giving more Tyla-Afro energy than something Leigh-Anne would put out, and it also feels quite dull for her, with the sound feeling like a dry texter. Rabbit hole. - Goddard/Venbee (7/10) Venbee's recent attempts at recreating fame, especially with the same duo from the "Messy In Heaven" collaboration, have felt half-baked. Her "Zero Experience" era had many songs that had depth and character… but nowadays it's a simple drum loop with the same regurgitated message that's even worse put out. That being said, this is the best thing she's put out in over a year. All This Time - Sonny Fodera/Jazzy (7.3/10) A fun summer EDM that I think has high chart potential, it has a summery piano along with a house vibe and an upbeat hook. Nothing unusual for the duo, but I still wouldn't mind something similar by them. Head Shot/Gas In The Truck—Ishowspeed (7.8/10) Surprisingly, two good songs that represent fast and clean hooks. Woke Up—Trippie Redd (8/10) I'm as shocked as you are that Trippie actually mastered the beat well instead of just slamming autotune onto anything. Wow! This is the first song I've ever liked (and really liked) by him. If you want a fun listen, then hear this! ICED TEA—Young Nudy/21 Savage/Project Pat/Coupe (4.9/10) TENGO CELOS—Myke Towers (7.2/10) 3am - Loe Shimmy/Don Toliver (4.4/10) Loe's tuned voice never fails to piss me off, and the pace often sounds like talking instead of rapping. What good is that? Why Is She Still Here? - Renee Rapp (6.7/10) Drums and synths put together in an emotional sound that all feels like it's missing more of a spark. Tiny Voice - Mae Stephens (7.5/10) Mae Stephen has the ability to make fun-filled, danceable, and trendy songs, but she can't seem to stop her bad lyricism. I mean, c'mon, this is a grown woman singing about drawing "d*cks" in the bathroom. Despite that, I'll still rate it for being danceable. Gifts—Snoop Dogg (4/10) The flow is partially off, along with the sound effects feeling fit for a cartoon; it's a little too corny for me. Oranges - Alex G (5.4/10) Can I be the one to say that Alex G's music is just fine? It's just normal acoustic music, yet people obsess over him in the way AOTY does with Zach Bryan; it's not that deep. IM YEAT - Yeat/BNYX (5.9/10) So mid that you forget it after no time. Zun Zun - J Balvin/Lenny Tavárez/Justin Quiles (6.7/10) Started off with low expectations, as it had a very overused reggaeton pattern, but in the second half things got interesting. Humbling—Michael Marcagi (6/10) Michael hasn't appeared to change or become more diverse in sound since 2024's "Scared To Start" breakthrough; this is still basic folk. Home Tonight—Sam Barber (5.6/10) Similar to Michael Marcagi. Boffum - Saweetie/J White Did It (5.5/10) Feels very similar to something Latto would make. Hi, everyone, leave please. - FLETCHERS (5.5/10) Everything about this has an extreme resemblance to basic acoustic and partly produced pop; it's so half-baked. Brutus - Em Beihold (6.8/10) A fun little pop jam that sounds like if a Debbii Dawson song was more fit for a playful musical, this would definitely be a step up from other songs by her that sound more childish. Your Eyes—Cian Ducrot (5.5/10) It fits this era well with the high production and simple hooks. Cian's always going to put something as simple as "Shalalala" as the hook, so him making similar choices onto a song that reminds me of church music isn't unexpected. Probably the most boring thing from the album rollout yet. You Can't Run From Yourself—AURORA (5.5/10) Aurora's angelic and transcending feeling has disappeared from this, and I fear it may be because it's for an on-screen series. Whilst it's still an alright track, it sounds like one of the throwaways that was on C23's Bose X Nme collaboration. Forever Ain't Long Enough - Max Mcnown (6.5/10) Wow, this week's new music Friday is really shaping up to be one of the most generic release weeks ever, and moving onto generic American country like this didn't help either. At least there's a hint of passion in his voice. I Can Die Now - Ruel (8/10) Ruel talks about how he found love in an upbeat and fresh, fast mix of clicks and swift vocal manoeuvres. Hangin' On - Dylan Gossett (5.5/10) LOVE INSANE—MAX/JAY (ENHYPHEN) (3/10) Overly poppy K-pop that sounds cringe and incredibly exaggerated to a fake level. Carat Cake - Paul Russell (6.5/10) Very predictable party radio-pop from Paul, especially with the voice speaking "Run it back!" At the end, very, very predictable. Original - Malcom Todd (7/10) Cry Cry Cry—King Princess (6.5/10) Combust—Lauv (7.5/10) I really enjoyed the softer mixing, where everything felt lighter and gave a more relaxed listen. Swim Up Bar—Scotty McCreery (7/10) Alright, nice Spanish & horn-like accompaniment to the country song, I'll take it since it's not generic. This Is The Killer Speaking—The Last Dinner Party (5.8/10) Toastyyy - Genia/Timbaland (8.1/10) YOU KNOW... I'M MESSING WITH IT!! It's really giving FLO's energy with the smooth vocals on top of a stylish and very girl pop background, and most importantly, this is very danceable too! This could grow on me! Ain't A Bad Life - Thomas Rhett/Jordan Davis (8.2/10) A cheerful and bright country collab that is EASILY the two's best song that I've heard! I'm actually surprised at how much love and flavour this song sounds like it has! Very groovy, very true to country, and very replayable! Watch Me Go - Lord Huron (7.5/10) Blackberries - FISHER/Bbyclose (7.3/10) You know, it's not bad, but it does feel like something I can find something similar to if I click on a Radio One RAGE - PRESIDENT (8.2/10) Yep, I'm not understanding the hate over this guy. Sure, he's had misses here and there, but occasionally he delivers something with a gripping and emotional hook that has a balanced level of catchiness, like this. The balance between producer settings and rock music is pleasant and really highlights talent! KHE CALOR - Danna Paola (6.7/10) Needle and Thread - Sam Short (6.3/10) Elegantly Wasted—Hermanos Gutiérrez/Leon Bridges (8.1/10) I don't think I've heard something quite like this before! A western blend of Latin soul into something that sounds fit for a western movie? And yet it has style and class instead of feeling like a cheap radio throwaway! Tenner - Lojay (5.7/10) EAST LA - will.i.am/Taboo (6.4/10) It's a fun rap with a side of producer cuts that helped when stitched on. I don't like how it partly feels like a Will Smith song, though; it's off-putting. Pucci - 41/Kyle Ricch/TaTa/ZEDDY WILL (2.8/10) Both the two male rappers on this lyrically and vocally sound exactly like Ice Spice; I honestly think this song is the closest resemblance I've ever heard to "Ms. Poopie" herself. And yeah, this is awful and really odd. Loveless—Gorgon City (5/10) I don't think it could be any more apparent how uninspired this is. Última Noche—Bad Gyal/Ozuna (6.9/10) TUMBAO—Dei V (7/10) Letting Go—Above & Beyond/Malou (2/10) I wouldn't be surprised if this was AI-generated; it's soulless garbage with a cover that brings out the AI even more. After all, since it's in a Spotify playlist, I'm now even less surprised. 1995 - Freddie Gibbs/The Alchemist (7.3/10) No Blickout—Chuckyy (2/10) This feels like if Eminem tried to rap fast whilst on heavy drugs. I don't even know how people release something that's so lacking in originality apart from a poor pace. Rap crap. Enigami—Luna Li/Mei Semones (6.9/10) Very relaxing and brain nourishing, despite the guitar plucks not always fitting the set route of a clear and beautiful aesthetic. I LOVE UR GF—Joel Corry (5/10) The AI slop cover says it all... Whiteboy Sh*t - Tom MacDonald (0.7/10) Tom Macdonald continues to compare himself to Marshall Mathers and support the guy who's probably trying to cover his name on a certain client list.

IGOR - Tyler, The Creator - Mellope Album Review 1. IGOR'S THEME (9.2/10) There are so many distinct and well-placed parts of this song that it feels unreal! The bass, the backing vocals from Lil Uzi Vert, and the millions of random sounds put in just feel like they shouldn't slot well, but somehow Tyler made it into one of the best openers ever. I'm in shock. 2. EARTHQUAKE (7.3/10) Playboi Carti's uncredited verses felt like a blur to the neo-soul and dreamy R&B chords. As much as I would prefer the song without him, I can't say that he completely ruined it. 3. I THINK (9/10) A creative blend of soul into a disco-alternative song that highlights how Tyler can manage control without giving up his production values. Also love the backing singers! 4. EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING (6/10) A short interlude where Tyler talks about the song's title and obstacles, along with a clapping and chanting background sound. 5. RUNNING OUT OF TIME (8.1/10) A song where the title is exactly what the song is about: running out of time, specifically in a relationship. This song has a psychedelic sound that takes the stage along with experimental rap. The production on this feels a lot less beefed up and has less to it; that's not always a bad thing, but in this case I would've liked him to go a little more all out. 6. Magic Wand (7.1/10) Featuring the viral psychedelic pattern, Tyler states this as his favourite song. I personally wouldn't rank it near his best, but I can still understand why many would have it in their playlists. It feels like one of the most real songs, where the focus shines through on Tyler's West Coast rap rather than going straight for the beat to impress, despite the beat still having many quality factors. Overall though, not in my favourites by him, not even near. 7. A BOY IS A GUN* (9.2/10) The female vocal sample along with the lively and ear-catching piano was honestly some of the best piano playing I've heard in a while, and those vocals? They place it in a way that doesn't overpower the song but lets the beauty of the composition flow through, which I would prefer. 8. PUPPET (8/10) Still experimental and still in style as Tyler effortlessly wins the crowd with another uncredited vocal feature; this time it's Kanye West. 9. WHAT'S GOOD (8.5/10) A song that has a mysteriously distorted sound with the synths constantly going up and down in weird ways that sound aggressive and work with the pattern of intense drums. 10. GONE, GONE/THANK YOU (8.5/10) Two beautifully crafted songs with concepts and meaning that showcase not only how well Tyler can showcase a sample but also how much quality he can maintain it at. 11. I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE (8.1/10) Tyler tries to forcefully accept that he doesn't love someone despite it being false; he says this in a traditional Tyler fashion with experimental synth production. 12. ARE WE STILL FRIENDS? (8/10) A glossy synth sound continues throughout the whole song, and near the end it builds up to a little more instrumental layout where rock guitars, drums, and a high-pitched yell can be heard. I love when music with a simple-to-understand meaning (like this one) has such artistic value. It resonates with you a lot more. OVERVIEW: Tyler showcases strong production across the board, with the whole album oozing with fine picks from funk, synths, and even samples! Lyricism-wise, this doesn't back down either, with the lyrics often providing a nice accompaniment to the experimental rap tracks. It's something that's highly replayable, especially for a surreal feeling. RATING - 8.5/10

This album is currently my 10th favourite album of all time!

RANKING THE BILLBOARDS TOP 20 HOT ARTISTS - (Dated: 16th of july 2025) The artists inside each tier are NOT ranked best to worst in that tier. Second note: Fleetwood Mac has been excluded from the list as I don't believe that I know enough of there music to give a ranking. 5/5 (Excellent): Kendrick Lamar Tate Mcrae 4/5 (Quite good): Morgan Wallen Benson Boone SZA Luke Combs The Weeknd Huntr Billie Eilish Shaboozey Chappell Roan 3/5 (Alright): Zach Bryan Kesha KATSEYE 2/5 (I don't like): Taylor Swift Alex Warren Jelly Roll 1/5 (I really don't like): Sabrina Carpenter Drake

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Purple Rain—Prince—Mellope Album Review 1. Let's Go Crazy (8.9/10) OOOOOOH Yeah, this is real good. The guitar riff mixed with a synth sound to make a strong lead opening song hits just the right amount of energy to ease you into an opening of what is hopefully going to be a promising album. Going heavy and straight in at track one was a bold choice, but Prince isn't an artist to shy away from big moves, so I get it. 2. Take Me With U (8.9/10) Prince continues adding rock to his psychedelic pop, but this time in less of a heavy way and more of an eased way, with a female uncredited singer (Apollonia Kotero) adding a soulful serve to the classic violin and cello harmony that adds more life to the song that's already full of life. 3. The Beautiful Ones (7.4/10) A well-polished new age soulful song that has a glossy sound that adds a vibrant sound as if it's live; it's full of life. I don't like how some of the screams are literally screeching and sound like a teenage girl is having a tantrum (which'll definitely bring down my score), but still good overall. 4. Computer Blue (9.1/10) This is one of the best uses of the guitars I've heard in a song; it's roaring but not too roaring to overpower the use of the synths or the bass that provide nearly as much use as the guitars. This is truly a delight for the ears and yet another moment where Prince shows the world how he's capable of balancing so many things to make a good song. 5. Darling Nikki (7.5/10) Fun fact: According to the song's Wiki page, this song's masturbation reference partly caused the invention of the parental advisory sticker. This song has a upfront feel like you're seeing it there compared to the glossy synth sound on some other songs, I like It but not nearly as much as some of the other things here. 6. When Doves Cry—Prince (9.5/10) Within seconds my head was bopping to the funky clap-like loop, and when those vocals hit and the soul and keyboard came in, I immediately knew this was going to be an instant song I'd fall in love with. The song has a full production that's full of life, but through the groove it has a heartbreaking message of love breaking. Where Prince says, "What if I've become like my mother?" my heart broke. I cried, and I got goosebumps; this song is a rollercoaster and one of the closest songs to perfection. Just WOW. MUST LISTEN. 7. I Would Die 4 U (7.8/10) Nice rhythm, very catchy hook, and another dose of the brand of synth-pop that makes viewers want to hear more Prince. 8. Baby I'm a Star (8.6/10) It's like something from "Thriller," but with more of a kick that adds to the rock-funk fusion. The use of synths here was also once again extraordinary and completely benefited the song. 9. Purple Rain (9.5/10) With the meaning of God's guidance in the 8-minute heavy rock, there are many noticeable parts to pick up on. Every piano note feels like it was tested thoroughly for the best order; the violin feels unreal. I can't even believe a backing band can create a harmony that transcends into something that is beyond reality. This is INSANE. One of, or possibly the greatest, album outros I've ever heard. OVERVIEW: This album isn't just incredible for its time; it'll always be incredible. "Purple Rain" has a mix of pop-rock with meaning and disco fusion that captures sadness and dancing even in the same song at times! The album feels slightly futuristic, with the sound giving us a taste of some funky and lively synths that feel like something that only few were known for and that soon became more common. I love this album with passion; I must return. RATING: 8.6/10

My bad, I often only look at top tens and then skim through the rest of the chart, that's why I missed "Vertigo"

Doris - Earl Sweatshirt - Mellope Album Review 1. Pre (Ft. SK La' Flare) (8.1/10) A bold and fearless rap part trap opening that felt like it was made to assert their dominance in the opening. Great intro. 2. Burgundy (Ft. Vince Staples) (8.2/10) Raw bars are about life in an alternative rapping style that was mastered well by Vince; I respect it. 3. 20 Wave Caps (Ft. Domo Genesis) (7.8/10) Earl raps about the positives and negatives of his actions and how others around him are connected to them. The song follows into a simple loop where the vocals take centre stage as the main part before having a small key effect near the end that switches between keys before fading. Good song, I can see the art in it. 4. Sunday (Ft. Frank Ocean) (7.5/10) I didn't like Earl's flow, but as the song progressed, it kind of got better. I just don't like that style of rap as much. 5. Hive (Ft. Vince Staples & Casey Veggies) (7.4/10) Slow tempo but big impact is a way to describe this. The drums and the instrumental partly felt like a BandLab beginner, sadly, but I honestly think the effects of the deeper sound that sounds a little mysterious and hard to pinpoint really brought up my score of the song. And in terms of rapping-wise, this is definitely a step up from "Sunday." 6. Chum (7.9/10) It's like a mix of Kendrick and Tyler that blends from a story of struggles into a drum loop that sounds like a synth may be in the background lightly... the ending was extremely dragged out and not needed, and sadly sounds like a beginner move. The first half still carries the song, but I think Earl should know better. 7. Sasquatch (Ft. Tyler, The Creator) (8.1/10) Tyler brings even fresher feels to the album with experimental music that blends his own style into the song to create the right amount of fusion between the two styles. 8. Centurion (Ft. Vince Staples) (7.7/10) Everything about this feels important to the song, and that's a sign of a good song. It passes with ease. 9. 523 (7.3/10) A short rapping segment that was on point and usual for the other things I've heard. Not much more to say. 10. Uncle AI (6.9/10) A decent under-a-minute rapping segment; it's not the easiest to digest in terms of the quick lyricism, but for what it is and what it serves, I'll take it. 11. Guild (Ft. Mac Miller) (6.3/10) Wow… a song about drugs with Mac Miller on it makes me feel sad knowing what happened to him (R.I.P.). Onto the music, I'm not a Mac fan, so I wasn't expecting a high bar from this. As much as Miller always brings this edge to a song where his style is a little more wacky and out there, I don't really like that approach, and on this I'm not too keen on it either. 12. Molasses (Ft. RZA) (7.2/10) The input line of "I'll f*** the freckles off your face, bitch" reminds me of the Wu-Tang Clan, and it honestly is a good part of the song. For the rest of the song, it feels like it could use a little more perfecting on a bit of everything, but it's still fine. 13. Whoa (Ft. Tyler, The Creator) (8.4/10) Abstract and boom bap with some really weird yet wonderful synths that bring a feeling that fits spooky. If you know me, then you'll know I love Tyler, the Creator, so I was expecting to like this. Tyler obviously delivers with his experimental style being brought to the song in an effective and powerful way. Love it! 14. Hoarse (5.4/10) Not too much into this; the slowness kind of added a dullness to the song, especially since you've got to add a feeling to it, which Earl didn't really give me that well. 15. Knight (Ft. Domo Genesis) (6.5/10) A song that speaks about how they both grew up without a dad and where it led them. The song wasn't anything special; it had a nice outro and a few alright bars, but I can't say I'm blown away. OVERVIEW: I wouldn't go as far as to say that this is a must-return, but I must respect the level of effort and amount of time that sounds like this record has in it. It's definitely telling a story, and it's definitely got its own brand that has appeal… but the problem is that this is a little too uplifted into a good range by features (with quite a few songs that feel special... mainly features make it more interesting), but as a whole, I think I'll return to this; I just can't say it'll be at the top of the to-listen list. If you're into something conscious and maybe like Kendrick Lamar or Mavi (especially Mavi), then this could be more up your street. Although as someone who likes Kendrick, this is a little like him but not too much for me to like or feel something. RATING - 7.6/10

UK TOP 100 11.06.25 #41 THE TOP TEN: 10. Rein Me In—Sam Fender/Olivia Dean (Up 2/4 weeks in chart) 9. Sapphire—Ed Sheeran (No change/Sales drop/5 weeks in chart) 8. Ordinary - Alex Warren (No change/Sales fall/22 weeks in chart) 7. Victory Lap—Fred Again.../Skepta/PlaqueBoyMax (Down 1/Sales fall/3 weeks in chart) 6. Blessings—Calvin Harris/Clementine Douglas (Up 1/NEW PEAK/Sales climb/9 weeks in chart) 5. Pink Pony Club—Chappell Roan (No change/Sales fall/34 weeks in chart) 4. Survive - Lewis Capaldi (Down 3/Sales fall/2 weeks in chart) 3. Love Me Not - Ravyn Lenae (Up 1/Sales fall/22 weeks in chart) 2. Manchild—Sabrina Carpenter (Up 1/Sales fall/5 weeks in chart) 1. Dior - MK/Chrystal (Up 1/NEW PEAK/Sales fall/5 weeks in chart) NEW ENTRIES: 83. Tyrant - Beyonce/Dolly Parton (7.4/10) From Beyoncé's 2024 country album "Cowboy Carter," "Tyrant" is the 25th song on it and recently hit virality. I previously gave this a 6.1/10, but with the second listen, I feel the fun feeling a little more. Beyoncé did a good attempt at making a song that fits the lines of country music whilst also balancing a side that involves sexual lines (not too much for Dolly!). But another to add a spark of hope to the song. 27. What Did I Miss? - Drake (4/10) I've already covered how much I dislike Drake for making the worst album of all time and of this year (so far) and how much I dislike this song, but this time I'll do it in more detail. This sounds like a more watered-down, boring version of his big hits, where the background champion theme is the only thing that partly stands out for the better. It's safe to say Drake is making music for the sake of making music. I'm flabbergasted that this is set to debut at Billboard no. 2; it really proves that commercially, even if you make a lazy rap/trap beat with a simple hook, then you can truly do anything. BOO! 17. Acquiesce - Oasis (5/10) A song about believing and friendship that's covered in a Britpop guitar fashion with introspection. I don't really like Oasis, so I didn't expect for this to be down my alley. RE-ENTRIES: 100. Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield [Stop streaming this. It's been FOREVER.] 99. Yellow - Coldplay [Same thing I said for the song above.] 95. Viva La Vida - Coldplay [Same thing I said for the two songs above.] 93. Nope, you're too late. I already died. - Wifiskeleton/Olantern [What's with the random returns?] 91. Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else - Benson Boone [Shocked it's still here.] 88. Let Down - Radiohead [Love it!] 84. Zombie - YUNGBLUD [Love it! [2]] 76. The Chain—Fleetwood Mac [These random returns are getting super random.] 59. Juno - Sabrina Carpenter [I can't wait until we stop getting Short N Sweet re entries] 19. Live Forever - Oasis [STOP RETURNING BECAUSE OF A DAMN TOUR.] 18. Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis [Same thing for the song above.] NOTEABLE CHANGES: Songs that climbed 10 spots or more: 78. Everywhere—Fleetwood Mac (Up 18) 72. All I Ever Asked - Rachel Chinouriri (Up 11) 63. Dive—Olivia Dean (Up 11) 58. Dreams—Fleetwood Mac (Up 23) [HIGHEST CLIMBER] 20. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei (Up 11) Songs that fell 10 spots or more: 92. The Way I Love You - Jorja Smith (Down 10) 89. I Need To Know—Denon Reed/Cru2 (Down 13) 87. Gabriela - KATSEYE (Down 22) 77. We Never Dated - Sombr (Down 23) [HIGHEST FALLER] 74. Gold - Myles Smith (Down 13) 68. Drive—Ed Sheeran (Down 10) 62. Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi (Down 11) 57. Suzanne - Mark Ronson/RAYE (Down 10) 53. Take A Sexy Picture Of Me - CMAT (Down 11) 50. What Was That—Lorde (Down 15) 37. Say My Name - Morgan Seatree (Down 10) 36. The Glen - Levi Heron (Down 11) 31. Back To Friends—Sombr (Down 20) Songs that achieved a new peak or repeaked (excluding songs that are new entries or songs that stuck at their peak): 63. Dive - Olivia Dean 32. How It's Done - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei 26. Your Idol - Saja Boys/Andrew Choi/NeckWav 20. Golden - Huntr/X/Ejae/Audrey Nuna/Rei 14. Nice To Each Other - Olivia Dean 6. Blessings—Calvin Harris/Clementine Douglas 1. Dior - MK/Chrystal BEST AND WORST: New entries: BEST - Tyrant - Beyonce/Dolly Parton WORST—What Did I Miss? - Drake The whole top 100: BEST - Lose Control - Teddy Swims WORST - The Days - Chrystal NEXT WEEK'S PREDICTIONS: Possible new entries for Tyla, BLACKPINK, Olivia Dean, MGK, Juice WRLD & XXXTENTACION & more!

"Rein Me In" is growing on me EVEN MORE!! Crazy!! Have a nice week ;)