'Heartbreaker': INNA Rounds Out 2020 With a Fresh Set of Bangers
It's Elena Alexandra Apostoleanu - otherwise known as INNA - to the rescue, yet again. The 34-year-old Romanian Queen of Pop™ spent the duration of 2020 keeping the pandemic off our brains with myriad pop bops and EDM bangers, including "Sober," "Not My Baby," "Discoteka" with Minelli and "Read My…
BoA's Only Getting 'Better' With Time
2020 marks BoA's 20th anniversary in the music industry, which she and her agency SM Entertainment celebrated in the form of cover tributes, retrospective Instagram accounts, magazine spreads, classic music video remakes and documentary specials. But she isn't just using this year to celebrate…
'Plastic Hearts' Is Miley’s Most Ferocious Rebel Yell Yet
"I'm everything they said I would be." Miley Cyrus was born to be a rock star. It's not as though her latest reinvention should be of much surprise to anyone: the signs were always there from the start. Ten years ago, Miley cast off the Hannah Montana wig and made her shocking (for that time,…
The Nostalgic, Necessary Escape of Kylie Minogue's ‘Disco' (Review)
"Dancе through the darkness, togethеr eternally..." An intergalactic phenomenon occurred on social media this past week - at least, in certain circles of Gay, Political and/or Stan Twitter™. In a feed almost exclusively dominated by hopes, fears and outrage from an anxious world awaiting the…
'Positions': Ariana Grande Is Horny on Main (Album Review)
"You might need a seatbelt when I ride it..." Ariʸᵘʰna Grande is in the mood. As arguably the reigning pop "It" girl of the moment, the "Break Free" singer is plenty confident in her skills, even if she doesn't always necessarily seem to feel comfortable with the idea of holding that position on…
'Dark Hearts': Annie Makes a Moody Return After a Decade (Review)
"Annie, Annie, they're playing our song / And for a moment I'm transported to where I'm from..." Nostalgia is at an all-time high in These Unprecedented Times™. While we're all stuck in lockdown, in tiers, in quarantine - whatever the case may be, on a day by day basis - the silence and general…
'The Rarities': Mariah Carey Emancipates Hidden Memories (Review)
Mariah Carey knows how to make a moment, darling - and how to properly honor a legacy. The Elusive Chanteuse is utterly unstoppable in 2020, generously blessing the Lambily in this time of need with the #MC30 celebration, including a complete suite of vinyl releases, an incredible memoir from the…
'Róisín Machine': Róisín Murphy's Dazzling Disco Desire (Album Review)
"I feel my story is still untold, but I'll make my own happy ending." Róisín Murphy, avant-pop shapeshifter, has always looked ahead, sonically and stylistically speaking: from the days of singing it back with Moloko, to the quirky, jazzy joy of 2005's Ruby Blue and 2007's disco-pop opus…
Kylie Minogue Still Believes in "Magic"
"Tomorrow don't matter, we'll make the night last forever..." Kylie Minogue believes in you - and magic, too. Do you, do you, do you? After coming back into our world (REFERENCE) in July with her gorgeous, wistful dream of being less socially distanced one day soon, "Say Something," the pop icon…
'Black Country Disco': Tom Aspaul's Gorgeous, Gay Dance Floor Triumph
Tom Aspaul, Judy Garland and generations of queers know: there's no place like home. You know and love the British singer-songwriter already for his work for a bunch of favorites over the years: Kylie Minogue ("Feels So Good"), AlunaGeorge ("Mediator"), Little Boots ("Working Girl") and Louise…
'Spell My Name': Toni Braxton Spells Out Her Legend Status
School's back in session (virtually, this year), and the legendary Ms. Toni Braxton is giving us all a crucial spelling lesson - but more on that a little later. Following 2018's stellar Sex & Cigarettes, the deep-voiced diva (or, as the New York Times referred to her in 1993, "Up-And-Coming…
'Smile': Katy Perry Faces Her 'Flop' to Feel Fine Again
"Gotta say it's really been a while, but now I got back that smile." Katy Perry is many things. Subtle is not one of them. As a result, the heavy-handed "sad clown" imagery of her fifth studio album, Smile, out on Friday (August 28), conveys much of the story without much else needed to be said or…