Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey

I've known that Mariah Carey is one of the bestselling artists of all time (not to mention the queen of Christmas music), but after listening to her 1990 debut album Mariah Carey, now I truly understand why she's made the lasting impact on pop music that she has. This woman came out of the gate with a skipless album.

Mariah Carey is, quite simply, the absolute best of 90s R&B/pop.

"I Don't Wanna Cry" is mystical and Whitney Houston-esque which makes the boppy, unrelenting "someday you're gonna pay" of "Someday" all the more powerful (and ending the song with whistletones? Amazing). I'm a sucker for 90s production quality and this album is just oozing out the seams with electronic pianos and 90s synths. "You Need Me" is like a fabulous punch in the face of girl power and it transitions beautifully into dreamy "Sent From Above"-- the combination of the two show the duality of power in independence and the power in an inexplicable connection. And the album closer, "Love Takes Time," is like the gorgeous, rolling credits song after the movie that you sit through in the theater after a great movie that unexpectedly swept you off your feet.

Stand out track: "You Need Me"

My favorites: "There's Got to Be a Way", "Someday," "Alone in Love"

As someone who grew up in the peak age of popularity for both the Cheetah Girls and Ariana Grande, I have a new respect for the incredible influence Mariah Carey very clearly had on the pop I've known and loved.

I'm so excited that I have a full Mariah Carey discography to discover, because Mariah Carey is definitely an album I'll be coming back to time and time again.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

FULLY OBSESSED

Battle Studies, John Mayer

I'll be the first to admit that I'm far from a fan of John Mayer as a person (have you heard "Would've, Could've, Should've" from Midnights?), but I remember loving the Battle Studies album back when I found out that Taylor Swift's background vocals were on "Half of My Heart."

Despite my feelings about John-Mayer-the-person, I'm so glad I came back to Battle Studies because John-Mayer-the-artist does so many things right on this album.

Stand out tracks: "Assassin," "Friends, Lovers, or Nothing"

My favorites: "Heartbreak Warfare," "Half of My Heart," "War of My Life"

I wish every album had as good of an opening track as "Heartbreak Warfare" is on this album-- it packs a punch in the gentlest way, illustrating the hopeless inevitability of a relationship falling apart. "Assassin" feels almost like a rock confession of all the wrongs John Mayer has committed in relationships past-- but in his eyes, "she's an assassin, too" so maybe all the intensity of the relationship wasn't all his fault. "Crossroads" is truly a track of just showing off the guitar skills that have landed John Mayer as one of the modern-day greats. For me, "Half of My Heart" paints a beautiful picture of navigating a relationship that should be a fairytale, but is just hit too hard with reality.

Overall, John Mayer has created one heck of a concept album: one that illustrates the story our relationships with ourselves, with life, with romantic interests, and the battles and joys that come with fighting for what we value most.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

KINDA OBSESSED

Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers

Following the announcement today of Phoebe Bridgers as one of the many amazing opening acts on Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, I felt it was only fitting to start my 500-album journey with her most recent studio album, Punisher. I’ve listened to this album in chunks in the background before, but I’ve honestly never taken the time to immerse myself in the melancholy, indie rock goodness that is this Phoebe Bridgers album. This felt long overdue, especially as a longtime lover of Taylor Swift’s Red album and generally emotionally charged lyrics.

Stand out track: “ICU”

My favorites: “Kyoto”, “Punisher”, “Chinese Satellite”

Listening to this album gave me the weird, introspective, vibey feeling of some kind of Olivia Rodrigo/Sting crossover-- in the absolute best way. Songs with pulled back production and heavy lyrics, like “Savior Complex” and “Garden Song,” really create the dark heart and soul of this album. Songs like “ICU” and “Kyoto” are the songs that will catch your attention among the indie mist of the rest of the album, but title track “Punisher” was my personal favorite, with deep-cutting lyrics depicting feeling of the deception of being on the outside looking in, while knowing every detail of what’s going on inside.

AM I OBSESSED?

RATING:

KINDA OBSESSED