whynow is the time to listen to… Gretta Ray
Ahead of the release of her sophomore album Positive Spin, we speak to Australian singer Gretta Ray as part of our series on emerging artists.
Posts by: Lucy Harbron
Starcatcher review | Greta Van Fleet are Led Zeppelin incarnate on third studio album
★★★☆☆
Josh Kiszka’s vocals are Greta Van Fleet’s prized possession on the Michigan rocker’s third studio album Starcatcher.
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) review | Taylor Swift takes another powerful act of reclamation
★★★★☆
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is interested in rewriting history in the process of reclaiming it. Moving away from the formula set by Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now takes more liberties, twists and tweaks rather than being a carbon copy of the original. Changing lyrics and tracklists, the singer remains true to the spirit of the original album – staying interested in herself as the main topic, and reintroducing that 20-year-old self in a bigger and broader way.
In The End It Always Does review | The Japanese House dives into emotional waters
★★★★☆ On her second album, Amber Bain, aka The Japanese House, invites us on an introspective journey through love and self-discovery.
House Party review | Keaton Henson shakes off the sadboy image
★★★★☆
Keaton Henson starts to have a bit of fun on his most effective album yet, House Party, writes Lucy Harbron.
O Monolith review | Squid return to the top of a muddled post-punk scene
★★★★☆
Squid rejuvenate a mishmashed post-punk scene with their sophomore album, O Monolith, writes Lucy Harbron.
My Soft Machine review | Arlo Parks delivers an album of nicety – and not much more
★★★☆☆
Following the hype and Mercury Prize-winning success of her debut, the latest album from Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine – is more accessible but less compelling than its predecessor.
Matty Healy and Taylor Swift | The story so far…
Over the last few weeks, a new celebrity couple has sent two sets of fandoms into a spiral. From the moment newspapers picked up the story that Taylor Swift and Matty Healy are apparently “madly in love”, there has been no slowing or stopping the world-wind of hot takes and reactions as fans seem to fall into two camps: the shocked and the downright outraged.
Manic Dream Pixie review | Peach PRC’s backstory delivered through bubblegum pop
★★★☆☆
Peach PRC’s debut EP Manic Dream Pixie marks a commendable introduction to the TikTok-star-turned-pop-princess – a blueprint for something no doubt bigger to come.
Beyond Therapy | Joining a women's choir has given me voice for my emotions
The therapeutic power of song in my women's choir provides me with an outlet to express my emotions and find community, breaking through societal expectations of silence and restraint.
Blondshell review | A debut that combines popular singles into a compelling whole
★★★★☆ Blondshell delivers a debut, self-titled album to remember, which sees the alt-rock star being far more than a mere ‘viral sensation’.
The Record review | boygenius’ debut album is the pinnacle of Bridgers, Dacus and Baker
★★★★★
Lucy Dacus, Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers are even better than the sum of their parts on boygenius’ debut album, The Record.
Taylor Swift | Everything we know about The Eras Tour, so far…
For the first time since the huge Reputation tour of 2018, and following the devastating cancellation of the 2020 Lover Fest, Taylor Swift is back on tour, this time with her catalogue-spanning The Eras Tour.
A Fistful Of Peaches review | A relentless run of Black Honey tunes that lack the space to breathe
★★★☆☆
Black Honey had their work cut out for them on A Fistful Of Peaches. Trying to follow up their huge 2021 record Written & Directed was always going to be a feat, begging the question of whether they’d stick true to that tried- and-tested formula of building eclectic indie bangers, or opt for something different. In short A Fistful Of Peaches attempts to do both.
Endless Summer Vacation review | Miley Cyrus shows why we should never underestimate her again
★★★★☆
After the smash-hit success of the album’s lead single ‘Flowers’, Miley Cyrus’ Endless Sumer Vacation reminds us of the pop star’s multi-genre talents and why we should never underestimate her again.
Pollen review | 'Tennis will soundtrack your next party'
★★★☆☆
Tennis's new album is the ideal soundtrack to a 'cool, artsy, backroom party' taking a break from Father John Misty. Read our Pollen review.
And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow review | Weyes Blood becomes a voice for the times
★★★★☆
Weyes Blood builds on the atmospherics of her brilliant 2019 debut, with a record that brings together the traditional and the dystopian.
Has Beyoncé’s Renaissance opened the floodgates to post-release edits?
Beyoncé's Renaissance album took only a few hours to be edited and re-released after the word 'spaz' was omitted, but what else did she edit, and should this be allowed?
Why is TikTok so obsessed with sped-up songs?
We take a look at the growing phenomenon of sped-up songs on TikTok – and why they’re quite so addictive to our ears.
Inside The Heartbreak Hotel
Does it ever just get too much? Well now you can get away and recuperate with a healthy dose of heartache, at Norfolk's new Heartbreak Hotel. We speak to those involved.
