Back catalogue: Pop

Review: Addison Rae's debut album has been long-awaited by fans and is finally here via Columbia Records and marking the bold step into full-fledged pop stardom many have expected for a while. Featuring previous fan-favourite singles like 'Diet Pepsi,' 'Aquamarine' and 'High Fashion,' the album showcases Rae's evolution from viral sensation to polished pop artist. It was co-written and produced with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjard, and pairs bright, glossy production with playful, high-glam energy that is sure to cut through all summer long from festal stages to car radios. The latest single 'Headphones On' embodies the album's confident tone - it's fun, flirty and unmistakably self-assured. A surprisingly self-aware debut full of chart-ready appeal.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


Light In The Attic teams up with Laurie Anderson and the Lou Reed Archive for a thrilling retrospective, Why Don't You Smile Now: Lou Reed At Pickwick Records 1964-65. An expansive selection of songs all written by Lou Reed, during his mid-60s stint as the staff songwriter for the long-defunct label Pickwick Records, this is a rare glimpse of a master rock musician stepping out of the limelight over the course of 25 songs, yet still letting the form and contour of his voice and sensibility be heard. All this was achieved before Reed had at all launched his career with the Velvets; it may indeed be said that this pubescent 60s period was the firelighter to Reed's flame, as the label specialised in soundalike records that emulated the major pop hits of the day - it's no wonder Reed would absorb such emulations and take them in as his own, albeit with a Century-defining twist. Channelling everything from teenybopper pop to soul-inflected garage rock, whether byJeannie Larimore, The Hi-Lifes or The Hollywoods, we get a thorough look-in here as to what made Reed and his contemporaries tick, and what Reed made tick in turn, before the fame.

Review: The Band Cover edition of South Korean k-pop star Rose's debut album Rosie offers a unique sonic experience, where fans are provided an alternative take on the album's presentation. Artisianally bundled in with two out of three collectors' edition Polaroid picture, and with exclusive cover art emphasising Rose's rootedness among friends, this edition incurs a state of youthful rebellion, blending punk aesthetics with South Korean heritabilities. Along with the original tracks from Rosie, listeners are treated to stripped-back versions that heighten and home in on Rose's vocal chops.

Review: Rosie is the debut solo album by Rose (Roseanne Park). Reflecing on her New Zealander and South Korean roots, the record hears a hardcore starlet retell her personal journey through heartbreak, fame, and the struggles of her early twenties. Co-written and co-produced by Rose herself alongside collaborators Bruno Mars and Carter Lang, we hear a sweltering 12 tracks spanning pop-punk, r&b, synthpop, and balladry, carefully teasing a rawer vulnerability compared to her previous work. Songs like 'Apt.' and 'Toxic Till The En' explore Rosie's experiences with toxic relationships, while 'Number One Girl' and 'Drinks or Coffee' reveals a complex take on love.