Monday Roundup Mix
featuring SASAMI, Indigo De Souza, Mt. Joy, and more!
I’m usually willing to do my homework in the pursuit of pop music, but I simply cannot bring myself to listen to Katy Perry’s new album, 143. Since its release the other week, this album has received bad review after bad review, from “short of a total catastrophe” to “worse than awful … at least awful is something you can direct your rage at, deriving catharsis in the process.” Yikes. I did listen to the lead single, “Woman’s World,” when that came out in July and that was enough! Heard what I needed to hear then!
Between this album, her VMAs performance, and the rise of the New Guard of Major Pop Girls in 2024, Katy Perry has been on mind a lot in the last few months. It’s strange to watch someone whose music was once such a big part of pop culture fail so hard at retaining relevance. Teenage Dream is one of The Great Pop Albums. Part of Me, Perry’s 2012 documentary, is one of the more illuminating music documentaries of recent years; the scene where she breaks down about her divorce minutes before going on stage is forever seared into my mind. For a few years in the early 2010s, Katy Perry WAS pop music. I definitely considered myself a fan! Since then, she has struggled to keep up, and it seems this latest album isn’t doing anything to help.1
So while I haven’t been listening to ~all of that~, I have been listening to plenty! Far and away my favorite recent release is the new single from SASAMI, “Slugger.” This track is a very poppy departure from her last album, and I’m excited for the new album which is out in March. Also enjoying new music from MJ Lenderman, Indigo De Souza, Soccer Mommy, Yola, The Aces, and more! Would love to know what you’re listening to!
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for listening! If you like this week’s newsletter, please click the “heart” button at the top or bottom of this post - likes help this newsletter be seen by more people!
I will take this moment to (once again!) note that Katy’s 2019 song, “Never Really Over,” is far and away the best thing she’s put out since Teenage Dream and if that was not enough to revive her, than I don’t think anything will be!