“The Mountain” by Gorillaz

As a Gorillaz fan of many years, “The Mountain” was a very anticipated album for me. After their last album, “Cracker Island,” fell flat for me, I was hoping this one would fulfill what their last album lacked. Unfortunately, this album once again seemed to be missing some of the old Gorillaz’s alternative hip-hop that fans have grown to associate them with. “The Happy Dictator” is the only song that I think is catchy and truly sounds like the Gorillaz I’ve known for so long. While “Delerium” doesn’t have hip-hop like their old albums, I still thought it is a good song that I enjoy listening to. This album has a clear effort with a few standout songs, earning a 3/5 stars.

“Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” by Mitski

I have always been more of a “casual” listener when it comes to Mitski’s songs, and “Nothing’s About to Happen to Me” keeps that status the same for me. This album is a bland mixture of songs that hold no remembrance for me. “I’ll Change for You” is one of the only songs on the album I could envision myself listening to again. With a smooth coffee shop feel, its a song that could be used for studying or reading. Fans of Mitski’s usual slow, candid pieces will likely flock to this album, but I prefer the art-pop of her most popular album, “Be the Cowboy.” I see how Mitski fans may enjoy this album, but I don’t see myself coming back to it, giving it 2/5 stars.

“Cloud 9” by Megan Moroney

On-the-rise country/pop singer Megan Moroney has impressed me once again. I have followed Megan’s career since 2023 and enjoy her music, with the latest addition being her album “Cloud 9.” On first listen, I loved how she struck a good balance between upbeat, singable songs and emotionally resonant ones. As a sad music lover, my favorite song on the album was “I Only Miss You ft. Ed Sheeran.” This song was impressive and represents the album beautifully, thanks to its skillful blend of emotion and catchiness. My opinion is shared among many, with Cloud 9 rising to number one on the Billboard top 200 chart, making Moroney the 10th woman this century to be at the top of the chart with a country album. Even being in a male-dominated field, Moroney is paving her way with success thanks to her talent. I give this album 5/5 stars.

“The Romantic” by Bruno Mars

Being a decade since his last album release, Bruno Mars had eyes on him when releasing his latest creation, “The Romantic.” This album successfully combined funk, hip-hop, and a hint of classic jazz. It is energetic, yet yearning, and brought me back to the scream-singing vibes of old Bruno, while now being more mature. I believe it was produced very well and was a very interesting listen.  My favorite listen on this album is “I Just Might.” It had me wanting to dance in my seat and just overall brought a smile to my face. I loved the funk and vocals, something that impressed me throughout the whole album. My only tweak is that there wasn’t much variety throughout the album, and the songs were pretty similar, which is why I’m giving this album 4/5 stars.