In recent years, pop music has often gotten a bad reputation for being cheesy and redundant, a label that is not all that true. While some work in the genre exhibits the qualities described above. Pop music can lead to honest and emotional lyricism that connects with a wider audience and gives the public generational talents such as Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish. With that being said let’s discuss some recently released pop albums that deserve attention.
“Superache” by Conan Gray
Conan Gray had an explosive year in 2020, coming from the social media virality of his song “Heather,” and the success of his debut album “Kid Krow.” With all of this discourse, Gray had much to live up to for his sophomore release. Thankfully, “Superache” exceeded expectations. The album can be summed up in one word: vulnerable. Gray does not hold back any emotion on any of the songs which leads to relatable lyricism. The album deals with heavy topics such as trauma, abandonment and abusive family dynamics in a way that makes the listener understand the mindset of someone living these experiences. This can make the album hard to listen to at times. As listeners can connect the tragedy of the album’s themes to their own lives.
Notable Songs: “Yours,” “Astronomy,” “Jigsaw”
“The Secret Of Us” by Gracie Abrams
Gracie Abrams has a strange sort of fame as she is known for various viral hits such as “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” and “I Know It Won’t Work.” Even though she opened for Taylor Swift and received praise from many popular artists, she has never gotten much recognition for her solo work outside her dedicated fan base. While many were having a “brat” summer, others were having a “secret of us” summer. In many ways The Secret Of Us is a breakthrough for Abrams, introducing her to the mainstream with singles “Risk” and “Close to You.” As well as proving her versatility as an artist by writing upbeat fun songs the listener can dance to in their room and painful ballads that have a raw sense of emotion that feels relatable to a wide audience.
Notable Songs: “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “Let It Happen,” “Blowing Smoke”
“Silence Between Songs” by Madison Beer
Main Pop Girl is a title often given to female pop stars who break into the mainstream, becoming an iconic performer in their own right. In 2024, listeners were introduced to long-working artists Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Madison Beer never finds herself in these conversations when she more than deserves to be included in the conversation. Silence Between Songs is an emotional and introspective album with songs that address a wide range of experiences from “17” which addresses the draining nature of starting in the music industry at a young age to “Ryder” a lullaby to Beer’s younger brother to “Reckless” a fairytale-like breakup ballad. Beer’s wide perspective makes her writing feel like a diary entry that should not be seen by the public.
Notable Songs: “Envy the Leaves,” “17,” “King Of Everything”
“The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan
The colossal rise of Chappell Roan will be studied by pop culture experts 50 years from now. Her loud and out-there persona makes her a unique presence in the scene of pop music which The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess encapsulates. Roan’s sarcastic lyrics shine in songs like “After Midnight” and “Red Wine Supernova” which are ridiculously fun and perfect for screaming in the car on a long road trip. She manages to balance the fun and lighthearted with heartbreaking ballads such as “Kaleidoscope” and “Picture You” which show off her impressive vocal ability.
Notable Songs: “Kaleidoscope,” “Coffee,” “Red Wine Supernova”
