The Standards Issue #4: Sabrina Carpenter, Salute, Killer Mike, and More

It’s time for The Standards, where we tell you if some albums are worth the listen, featuring Sabrina Carpenter, Salute, Killer Mike, Capella Grey, Magdalena Bay, Omar Apollo, and more.

The Standards Issue is your go-to place to find out if the latest popular albums/singles are actually good. We’ll tell you straight up if an album/single is worth your time or if you should skip it. No confusing words or fancy talk here, just honest reviews from people who know their stuff.

In each Standards Issue, we’ll look at the most talked-about albums in the mainstream. We’ll tell you what works and what doesn’t and give you the real deal on the lyrics, beats, and overall vibe. By the end, you’ll know if an album/single lives up to the hype or if it’s just a bunch of noise. So if you want to stay up to date on the latest music without wasting your time on the duds, keep checking back for new Standards Issues.

Sabrina Carpenter: Short n’ Sweet (Pop)

Where to start with Sabrina Carpenter? “Espresso” is everywhere, so does “Please Please Please” and “Taste.” Her sixth album has its fair share of cheekiness and cleverness, with Carpenter delivering nonsensical and catchy lines, showcasing her ability to craft pop tunes that are easy on the ears. Despite its brevity, the album covers a range of styles, from nu-disco beats to moments of folk-pop, demonstrating Carpenter’s versatility as an artist. However, while the album is enjoyable, it doesn’t push the boundaries of pop music, remaining comfortably within the genre’s mainstream appeal. Short n’ Sweet might not be remembered for deep lyrical content or groundbreaking innovation, but it is a delightful addition to the summer’s pop soundtrack.

Favorite Track(s): “Good Graces,” “Bed Chem,” “Don’t Smile”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Salute: True Magic (Electronic)

True Magic paints a picture by Salute, moving from remixes to an original work that resonates with ‘80s synth vibes while maintaining a contemporary edge. The album’s sound is a fusion of nostalgia and innovation, featuring collaborations with artists such as Rina Sawayama and Disclosure, which enrich the project’s texture. Each track on this record feels like a piece of a larger, well-thought-out puzzle, showcasing Salute’s skill in blending genres from French house to pop, with tracks like “Maybe it’s U” providing an energetic pulse and “One of Those Nights” offering a romantic undertone. These songs exemplify Salute’s ability to craft dancefloor-ready and emotionally engaging music. However, the album’s conclusion might leave some listeners puzzled, with its abrupt change in pace and the introduction of a robotic voice, which disrupts the magical narrative established earlier. Despite this, True Magic excels in its ambition and execution, marking his growth from a remix artist to a creator.

Favorite Track(s): “Saving Flowers,” “Maybe It’s U,” “One of Those Nights”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Killer Mike: Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs for Sinners and Saints (Hip-Hop)

From his early days as an up-and-coming rapper featured on tracks by hip-hop heavyweights such as JAY-Z and OutKast to his more recent work as a solo artist and member of Run the Jewels, Killer Mike has consistently used his platform to share his personal journey and spread a message of hope. His music often parallels rap and religious experiences, highlighting how his pursuit of rhyme has saved him from a life of crime and elevated him to new heights. On Michael & The Mighty Midnight Revival, Songs for Sinners and Saints, Killer Mike continues to explore the central role that faith and perseverance have played in his life. The album, which is a remix of his previous work, Michael, and a reflective epilogue, showcases Mike’s versatility as he effortlessly moves between various musical styles, including trap, gospel, and Memphis rap. Uplifting choir vocals, warm instrumentation, and rhythms that inspire contemplation and celebration create an atmosphere that underscores Mike’s heartfelt testimonies.

Favorite Track(s): “Nobody Knows,” “Higher Level,” “’97 3-6 Freestyle”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Capella Grey: Vibe Responsibly, Vol. 1 (R&B/Hip-Hop)

Capella Grey captures a blend of nostalgia and modern flair, focusing on its appeal to those embracing a carefree summer vibe in the first volume of Vibe Responsibly. He celebrates the lifestyle of freedom and fun, often associated with a “Hot Boy Summer.” “How I Am” highlights Capella Grey’s charisma and portrayal of a non-committal, playful character, which might resonate with or repel based on their perspective on relationships and lifestyle. The album is characterized by its heavy bass, hard-hitting beats, and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of past hits. Grey’s versatility shines when he explores different beats, like the Jersey Club vibe in the Cash Cobain-assisted “Now This” or the slow jam in “Wat U Want,” showcasing his ability to adapt and excel across genres. It is not about revolutionizing music but about delivering a good time. Sure, there’s no thematic simplicity; it succeeds in its effectiveness in creating an atmosphere. It is a perfect soundtrack for those not seeking depth but rather an escape into feel-good moments.

Favorite Track(s): “Wat U Want,” “Now This, “How I Am”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Magdalena Bay: Imaginal Disk (Pop)

Magdalena Bay constructs an immersive in-game world loosely tethered to traditional song structures in their album Imaginal Disk. The centerpiece track, “Tunnel Vision,” feels like an extended theme song for “Watching T.V.,” enticing the listener with a five-minute slow burn that culminates in an electrifying instrumental climax, harkening back to Mag Bay’s roots as an avant-garde pop act emerging from a former prog rock ensemble. Throughout the album, Magdalena Bay’s songs operate on dual levels, functioning as quintessential “mindless” pop while simultaneously offering a tongue-in-cheek critique of the genre, establishing an “alternative” approach that sets them apart.

Favorite Track(s): “Vampire In the Corner,” “Watching T.V.,” “Tunnel Vision”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Omar Apollo: God Said No (Pop)

Omar Apollo sculpts his heartache into glimmering pop masterpieces on God Said No. The record originates from a three-month sojourn in London, where Apollo sketched out 14 songs at the renowned Abbey Road Studios before finalizing them in the U.S. Collaborating with longtime partners Teo Halm as executive producer, Carter Lang and Blake Slatkin, Apollo channels his private anguish into a genre-bending collection that stretches beyond his reputation as a heartbreak connoisseur. While nursing the wounds of a shattered relationship, he infuses his sorrow, fury, and self-doubt into soaring choruses and disco-tinged tracks.

Favorite Track(s): “Spite,” “Plane Trees,” “Against One”

Rating Recommendation: Thumb Up (👍)

Asake: Lungu Boy (Afrobeats)

Asake experiments with his signature sound blend of Afropiano, hip-hop, and neo-fújì on Lungu Boy. However, this experimentation sometimes feels at the expense of the personal touch or depth that fans might expect, leading to a sense of familiarity rather than fresh innovation. While there’s an appreciation for his attempt to try something different, the consensus leans towards the album as a step sideways or slightly backward in his discography. It’s seen as less engaging or impactful than his previous albums, with some tracks feeling filler-like, lacking the memorable hooks or depth of his past hits.

Favorite Track(s): “Suru,” “Active,” “Fuji Vibe”

Rating Recommendation: Sideways Thumb (👍🏼)

Cash Cobain: Play Cash Cobain (Hip-Hop)

In his latest full-length release, Play Cash Cobain, Queens rapper and producer Cash Cobain delivers an unabashedly raunchy erotica that might contain the highest concentration of explicit references to oral sex ever recorded. His explorations have unexpectedly spawned an entire subgenre, somewhat reluctantly dubbed “sexy drill”—an amalgamation of New York drill, Jersey club, and sensual R&B. Throughout the summer, it was nearly impossible to spend a day in New York without encountering one of his salacious anthems reverberating through the streets. Singles like the airy name-dropping fest “Dunk Contest,” the luscious and unrelentingly carnal “Fisherrr” featuring Bay Swag, and the alluring West Indian Day Parade-evoking “Rump Punch” all find their place. Rather than succumbing to the allure of mainstream acceptance, Cash opts for a more intimate and atmospheric approach to the album. 

Favorite Track(s): “Dunk Contest,” “Turks (I Apologize),” “Fisherrr”

Rating Recommendation: Sideways Thumb (👍🏼)

Larry June: Doing It for Me (Hip-Hop)

Larry June has an affinity for grand luxuries—from Supras to smoothies—which lends him a relatable quality, but it’s undermined by his banal hustle-culture platitudes. On his latest album, Doing It for Me, despite featuring some of the best instrumentals he’s acquired to date, the album only further exposes June’s indolent tendencies. His itemized accounts of daily routines are static and repetitive, detailing mundane tasks like skimming bank statements, sending texts, checking his oil gauge, and drinking orange juice. He’s got a house brimming with possessions but no one to share them with. Yet, June’s laid-back, vacation-rap ethos has found favor with a growing contingent of rappers stretching from the Gulf Coast to Texas and westward.

Favorite Track(s): “A Little While,” “Three Piece,” “Breakfast In Gold Coast”

Rating Recommendation: Sideways Thumb (👍🏼)

Griff: Vertigo (Pop)

With Griff releasing her Vertigo, the racing pulses are gentle, the effervescent synths barely ripple, and the martial drums are more ceremonial than combative sounds like it’s plucked from a Taylor Swift album, especially when you listen to “Into the Walls” and “Everlasting.” While this doesn’t imply Griff should be held responsible for drawing inspiration from a formative songwriting idol, it highlights how surprisingly derivative her long-awaited debut is. The album also echoes the formal liturgies of London Grammar, the lingering excitement over 2010s Scandi pop, and hints of other contemporaries.

Favorite Track(s): “Miss Me Too,” “Anything,” “Hiding Alone”

Rating Recommendation: Sideways Thumb (👍🏼)