ALBUM REVIEWS
Wishy – Paradise
Paradise is the dream-pop debut of newlyformed American band Wishy, which combines the talents of former Hoops member Kevin Krauter and singer-songwriter Nina Pitchkites. The title track sets the tone with a wash of guitar chords and a delicate malefemale vocal balance. Pitchkites finds her bite on Donuts, which was written after she found herself driving on a spare tyre. She laments the reliance on a car to get around in a capitalist society on this youthful punk-rock track. Spinning takes on a steadier and more mature sound as she tackles the topic of self-discovery with heavy reverb. Wishy’s sound could draw endless comparisons to earlier indierockers which makes the EP a little predictable in places, but this will undoubtedly gain them plenty of new fans too.
Joshua Roberts – Good For You Review by Naomi Clarke
Best known for fronting the Florida-based band Magnolia Park, lead singer Joshua Roberts is taking a bold step out to release his first solo EP. On Good For You, he has moved away from some of the heavier pop punk stylings of the group to dabble in genres ranging from alternative R&B to pop. The eight-track record opens strong with the song Father, which demonstrates his raspy vocals accompanied by a backing choir. It explores how Roberts grew up without a paternal figure in his life, but the references to gospel leads you to consider if he is also searching for a higher power. Angel shows off his vocal range as it features an impressive falsetto, while Psylocybin leans further into the R&B energy. Roberts will surely leave his mark, but still has some room to refine his sound.
Billy Cobb - Acedia Review by Naomi Clarke
It may be December but Billy Cobb has still not run out of steam, releasing another EP after dropping his previous Halloween edition in October and an album, I Stole Every Song, in June. The US musician and YouTuber has gone classically pop punk for his new five-track offering, Acedia. Opener Guys Like Girls Like Guys throws you straight into the action with thrashing guitar and tight lyricism, while Indolent Lover and Jill feel very reminiscent of his pop punk/ rock predecessors such as Fall Out Boy and All Time Low with their spoken word interludes and layered guitar riffs. They’ve Killed Fritz! amplifies the energy further as his pleas elevate to laments. The EP lacks some variation between tracks but it is a welcome addition to his ever-growing catalogue.
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday 2 Review by Kristina Wemyss
More than a decade after the release of Nicki Minaj’s debut album Pink Friday, fans of the rapper are well-prepped to expect the unexpected. However, no-one could have predicted the opening to her most recent release, Pink Friday 2. It begins with Billie Eilish’s melancholy song When The Party’s Over, interspersed with rap from Minaj about the grief she experienced after losing her father days before he was due to meet her son for the first time. The sprawling 22 tracks are kept fresh by bringing in an impressive list of features, including Drake and Lil Wayne, as well as samples such as Blondie’s Heart Of Glass and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. Pink Friday 2 is missing some of the princess-pop fun that she is so well-known for but confirms that the star is here to stay.