Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Natasha Bedingfield is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album Unwritten with a special vinyl re-release and a London show. The album, which topped the UK charts upon its release in 2004, features hits like 'These Words,' 'Single,' 'Wild Horses,' and 'I Bruise Easily.' The title track, 'Unwritten,' recently experienced a resurgence after being featured in the rom-com film Anyone But You, entering the charts for the first time in 19 years and peaking at Number 12. Bedingfield expressed her joy at the track's resurgence, noting its use in the film and its popularity as an anthem over the years. Originally released as the third single from the album, 'Unwritten' became the theme song for MTV's "The Hills" in 2006 and reached Number Five on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Bedingfield a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song's recent viral success on TikTok further underscores its enduring appeal.

Review: Beyonce joins Drake in the house-via-Baltimore club 'renaissance', which has seen to a good deal of major hip-hop & R&B artists working in the styles over the course of entire albums and mixtapes. This being the queen of pop's first album in over six years, some naysayers say songs like 'Break My Soul' (filled with 90s organ and downtempo kicks and snares a-la Robin S) and 'Energy' (packed with batida stylings) are paint-by-numbers, but we beg to differ; for Beyonce, it's a polyglot of reinventory music.

Review: Beyonce's Cowboy Carter is a bold and poignant exploration of American roots music, marking a departure from her previous works while asserting her dominance across genres. Inspired by her 2016 experience at the Country Music Association Awards, where she faced criticism and racism despite her Texas roots, Beyonce delves into Louisiana Cajun country, the rivers of Alabama, and the streets of Memphis, reimagining Americana, folk, and country in her own image. The album serves as a powerful statement on the erasure of Black contributions to country music and American culture, with Beyonce reclaiming her rightful place in the genre's history. Through collaborations with legends like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, as well as emerging Black country and rock musicians, Beyonce highlights the enduring legacy of Black artists in shaping these musical forms. Cowboy Carter is both a sonic journey and a cultural commentary, blending elements of folk, country and rock with Beyonce's signature style and vocal range. From the haunting cover of the Beatles' 'Blackbird' to the electrifying trap beats of 'Ya Ya,' the album showcases Beyonce's versatility and musical dexterity. No doubt, 2024 will be another strong year of Beyonce led by this album.