I’m back with another music roundup, albeit a tad late…April and May went by too fast and were chock full of great tunes and unforgettable shows! Here’s what captured my ears and attention 🙂
Concerts
- A major wrong of the universe has been righted. After 18 years as a proud Lovatic, I saw Demi in concert for the first time ever! And just off the barricade, no less?! It was surreal to be so close! This may be a slightly unpopular opinion, but I really love It’s Not That Deep and the sexy hyper-pop vibe of Demi’s current era…inspired by Charli and Adéla (who was a fabulous opening act, btw), perhaps, but this album feels fresh and uniquely her. My queen showed off her effortless vocal runs all night and my jaw was on the floor from the first song to the encore – I felt so spoiled witnessing it all! There is no soaring voice or confident stage presence like hers. Glad Demi is happy, healthy, and still making music, and I refuse to wait any longer than 2 years to see her again!
- ALSO SAW FLORENCE + THE MACHINE. I DON’T KNOW HOW FLORENCE WELCH IS REAL? HER SHOWS ARE A FORCE OF NATURE, A COVEN RITUAL, A NEAR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE, AN ECSTATIC RELEASE, AND THE STRONGEST COLLECTIVE LOVE FEST IN THE WORLD. HER SHOWS ARE MY HOME. I DO NOT HAVE WORDS – PLEASE EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE AND FEEL THE FREEDOM. UNFORGETTABLE. EVERYBODY SCREAMED!!!
- I ended May by seeing my favorite Aussie boyband, my #1 obsession, 5 Seconds of Summer! My bestie and I last saw them together in the same city in 2016, so this felt extra sentimental…a huge wave of nostalgia and gratitude hit me all night, realizing we’ve grown up side by side with these boys, blasting their music to get us through the turmoil of our teens and twenties. The Everyone’s A Star World Tour is bold and outrageous, their biggest stage and screen setup yet, the loud and snarky ethos of the album made real – they enter through a literal limousine, for goodness’ sake! Goofy, larger than life millennial pop-punk rock stars, they will always be! The songs were made to be played live for and with 5SOS fans who are in it for the long haul. From screaming and flailing around to “Evolve” to swaying with our phone lights up to “Amnesia” just like we did back when we were hormonal high schoolers who had no idea what heartbreak was, the show was a perfect blend of 5SOS past and present.
Watched
Questlove is a true music and culture scholar; his work is infused with the stuff, down to fanatic Instagram posts and stories, which is why I admire him so tremendously. I finally watched his 2025 doc Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) and loved it even more than I anticipated…what a brilliantly honest look at the groundbreaking career and complicated life of Sly Stone. And, through fascinating interviews with the likes of Chaka Khan, Nile Rodgers, Andre 3000, D’Angelo (ugh, RIP), a nuanced examination of the challenges and pressures many Black artists face to always strive for and achieve greatness, to create excellent work often at the expense of their wellbeing. I loved all truths told, the light of Sly and the Family Stone’s legacy as the first integrated American rock group and the phenomenal success of the important, funky noise they made in the 60s and 70s held in balance with the darkness of Sly’s drug addiction and the group’s dissolution. And I was reminded for the millionth time of how damn GREAT their music is!
Additionally, I checked out Man on the Run, the latest Paul McCartney documentary that covers the start of his post-Beatles career and his run with Wings. I didn’t realize going into it that the entire film is archival material paired with voiceovers (not exactly my vibe for two full hours), but overall I didn’t mind because I swoon for any and all cottagecore Paul & Linda footage, and because it so nicely illustrates the Wings story and the range of his experimentation throughout the 1970s. I am a Beatles fan first and foremost – specifically, a George girl – so I appreciated all the new things I learned about solo Paul! I may or may not have had “Let ‘Em In” and Coming Up” stuck in my head for 5 days straight after watching this and I’m not complaining.
Favorite Album Releases
Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide (The Last of the Bugs extended version, duh) has been devastating me on a daily basis since its release in April. Even when I’m not listening to it, I’m thinking of one of a million genius examples of word play in the lyrics or generally blown away by the expanse and depth and complexity of Noah’s storytelling…sometimes incisive, sometimes sprawling, always honest. I absolutely love the way he writes both inside and out, observing himself and the people around him and the relationship dynamics in between. Anyone can find a song or five on this album that they relate to so much it hurts. And damn, the folk-rock instrumentals are as catchy and the production as clean as ever!
I am also obviously addicted to Middle of Nowhere, the latest release from my QUEEN, Kacey Musgraves!!! The tone of her voice alone can bring me to tears, it is so pure and pleasant and crystal clear. I really relate to and dig the album’s theme of existing in a “middle of nowhere” phase of life, a liminal in-between, and learning to accept and move through it instead of turning away from the uncertain stillness. The deeper truths of life rise to the surface only when we give ourselves time to slow down and move with intention. I adore every feature though I wish the guest artists were a bit louder, I can’t get enough of the Western and Mexican musical stylings, and I can’t help but laugh out loud every single time I hear “Dry Spell” (Kacey is soooo darn witty with the pen)! My girl even pulled through with another perfect life anthem – “Loneliest Girl” is my new everything. This one’s gonna be on repeat all summer long!
Some other faves, in release order:
- Holly Humberstone – Cruel World
- Ella Langley – Dandelion (Love how down to earth and catchy and comforting this album is; it makes me want to slow down, sip some spiked lemonade on a porch swing, and watch the summer fireflies glow amid the quiet of nature. I can count the number of twangy, Southern, traditional-sounding country records I truly enjoy on one hand…this one just joined the bunch!)
- Jessie Ware – Superbloom
- The Lemon Twigs – Look for Your Mind! (NO SKIPS! Every tune these guys make is an earworm! If you’re a fan of uplifting 60s jangle pop/rock and that sunny Beach Boys sound, check them out!)
- Turnover – Down on Earth
Song Rediscoveries
I was stopped in my tracks when Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” came on shuffle one day — shout out Pattie Boyd, the ultimate muse for British rock and rollers and honestly the world. How could I have let such a gorgeous, subdued, incredibly ROMANTIC piece of art fade into the background of my life? When I heard this song as a little girl I’d imagine myself as a glamorous grown woman, getting all dolled up to go out on the town while my one true love watched me adoringly and sang about me in the same way. (I was raised on Disney princess movies and love songs practically from birth, okay? Fated to be a hopeless romantic! It’s not my fault!)
After all these years, I am still just as captivated by the soothing nature of Clapton’s voice, the simple guitar washing over my ears and soul, the peace and deep fulfillment of longtime love that shines through. Peak yearning.
Old Album Discoveries
Funkadelic’s 1971 record Maggot Brain is sooooo freaking cool and weird! Shoutout to the aforementioned Questlove doc for putting it on my radar through an interview with Parliament-Funkadelic bandleader George Clinton. The wailing guitar solo on the title track feels desolate and out of space and time, almost apocalyptic. The whole album is prime psychedelic funk rock paranoia and I can’t really say much more than that…check it out for yourself. Whether you listen sober or not, it will take you on one wild and groovy ride!
I am quite late on this, but since Madonna is releasing a new album this summer, I figured I should finally listen to its predecessor in name, Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). And y’all, I think I’m obsessed?!? Where have I been?! I obviously grew up with “Hung Up” but had no idea how fantastic all the other songs are – the praise from all the pop critics clicked immediately on my first listen through. Hypnotic dance-pop has a special place in my heart and the legend DID NOT MISS – in fact, I’d say she was ahead of her time, as the entire record still sounds tailor made for the carefree club scene (or whatever is left of it in 2026). You can’t stay still listening to Confessions even if you wanted to. This has officially entered my rotation of instant mood-booster albums!
Song Hyperfixations
- “Bad Thing Twice” by Carly Rae Jepsen is HITTING right now, but to be fair I have 20 Carly song hyperfixations at any given time! It is a crucial part of my mission as a music lover to spread the good news of her incredible discography and rant about how criminally underrated she is in the pop girl canon! Get on board now so you can be fully educated and excited by the time she drops the new album announcement this month!
- “Gild the Lily” by Billy Strings
- “I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince
- “My Man On Love” by Judee Sill – another one that echoes in my mind constantly and randomly. Her voice is so enchanting, entrancing, melancholic. Such a talent gone too soon.
- The way the Eagles sing the backing lyric “one of these NIIIIII – IIIiiiIIiiiiGHTS” at 2:23 of the song. I’ve adored this tiny little part my entire life. That microsecond of a break and the group falsetto?! OOOOHHH I AM ADDICTED!!!!
- The strings in “Turn to Stone” by Electric Light Orchestra. Love the whole song but damn, THOSE STRINGS just do something to me!!! Jeff Lynne is a real life wizard!
Hot Takes
There was no need for Hilary Duff to rerecord “Come Clean,” not even for the admittedly well-timed Laguna Beach reunion that aired in April, nor the tiring yet still trending Y2K nostalgia she may or may not be trying to piggyback off of. It sounds boring – the OG version is more raw and the song better suits her teenage voice anyways! And in my opinion, her new album is extremely average. I am truly disappointed since I had high hopes after her long break from music…but it seems Ms. Duff is trying to reheat Carly Rae’s nachos without the strong vocals, punchy production, or truly interesting writing or sound to back it up. Not doing it for me.
And wrapping it all up with a quick hot take #2: the Jennie remix of Tame Impala’s fantastic song “Dracula,” if you could even call it a remix, is pointless to me. I do not understand why it continues to go crazy viral instead of the fantastic original track – it is maddening! There are far too many remixes in the world as it is! Also, did you know Tame Impala is just one guy?
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