The semester is officially underway and so is WVAU Web Staff! As the summer months come to an end, our staff reviewed the releases that defined the season for them. Enjoy their take on some of the most popular drops, as well as some underrated pieces that might just introduce you to your new favorite song. We can’t wait for another year of bringing you all the local and worldwide music news!
— Caleb, Rebbeca & the Fall 2025 Web Staff
Fancy That by PinkPantheress, Review by Owen Chaber
With the release of “Fancy That” by PinkPantheress this past May, it set the record straight for many that PinkPantheress was breaking into the mainstream, and really establishing herself as a legitimate artist. Following her rise of fame with her first mixtape in 2021, “To Hell with It”, she began collaborating with other popular artists like Ice Spice in 2023 and releasing singles that would go viral on TikTok before releasing her second mixtape this summer. Some things I really enjoyed about this release was her continuation of her iconic house inspired sound, niche Y2K esque samples and all with a production that was smoother than that of “To Hell with It.” My favorite tracks off of the mixtape would be “Stateside” with its facetious lyrics about an intercontinental lover, “Tonight” with its upbeat and whimsical backing track that makes you want to get up and dance, as well as “Illegal” just for the fun nature of the song and the TikTok trend that followed. The only faults I find with it is that due to its short length a lot of the tracks seem to blend together due to similar production, backing tracks etc. This is coupled with the fact that its run time is just over twenty minutes. Overall, the album solidifies PinkPantheress as an artist with her own unique style that she trailblazes with, serving as a stepping stone in her music career, bolstering her ethos with her enhanced production and refined style. I am excited to see how this inspires her records and projects to come.
George by Jake Minch, Review by Nella Bupp
This is an Indie Folk album perfect for anyone who loves themes of yearning and being sentimental. The album starts with “Nostalgia Act,” a tender song about past moments that sets up the rest of the album. The songs have similar sounds with sharp vocals and raw guitar with the most different being “Say Uncle,” which consists of loud instrumentals. It’s an album that allows the listener to reflect on their own lives and embrace the feeling of nostalgia and longing.
Moisturizer by Wet Leg, Review by Ellery Kaye
Wet Leg is back and they’re in love. The British pop group’s highly anticipated sophomore album Moisturizer is here. In the two years since their debut self-titled album Wet Leg has developed from a duo to a five piece band. In addition to lead vocalist and guitarist Rhian Teasdale and guitarist Hester Chambers, the group has been joined by drummer Henry Holmes, multi-instrumentalist Josh Mobaraki and bassist Ellis Durand. As opposed to Wet Leg’s work as a duo, Moisturizer has much more of a classic five-piece rock band feel. The album, full of deliciously sappy love songs, focuses on Rhian Teasdale’s relationship with her non-bianary partner. Aside from the punchy lead single “Catch These Fists,” a song about rejecting male attention at bars, the album is full of lyrics like “So many creatures and now it’s just you. How did I get so lucky?” and even more sickening, “I don’t mind where we’re going if it’s your hand, baby, I’m holding. I don’t mind getting old, when it’s your hand, sugar, I get to hold.” All 38 minutes Moisturizer is full of catchy synth riffs, Teasdale’s beautifully breathy vocals and lots of fuzz. If you’re in love, spin “Moisturizer” and dance around the kitchen with your sweetheart. If you’re not, take a pepto bismol and listen anyway.
Simple Math by Emma Andersen, Review By Isabella Alvarez
Boom, I’m so rich! This song set up summer to be care-free and fun. Emma Andersen captures the beauty of the small things in life to a fun folky tune. As of now, it is a stand alone single – not a part of any EP or album. It was released on June 13th, it kicked off a season of going outside, hugging loved ones and being broke, but in everything summer brings along, realizing you are truly rich in experiences, love and nature: “Life’s too short to count the dimes/ take a walk and go outside/ muddy shoes down to the ties/ I’m broke to quantify/ but I’ll tell ya I’m rich in my life.” The timing of this song release was impeccable as it is a reminder to enjoy the summer and take some time outside instead of stressing about small things like simple math. This song is a reflection on the good in life that have the ability to overpower the small negatives that we all often get hung-up on.
Simple Math is the perfect car-ride with the windows down go-to song that always puts a smile on everyone’s face. It is simple and catchy – very easy to learn and love. Summer is a season that easily slips away, but this song not only reminds me to take the moment in, it also captured my summer and became an anthem of the time. Even a few months after its release, it feels nostalgic of the memories of the summer that passed.
Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams, Review by Maya Cruz
After redefining herself outside of Paramore, Hayley Williams delivers her boldest album yet in Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, sprawling across styles, ranging from alt-rock to airy dream pop to bright, tropical inspired pop. The album kicks off with “Ice In My OJ”, a massive sounding song layered with crunchy vocals and horns. Williams doesn’t shy away from addressing her regrets throughout her career in Paramore: “A lot of dumb motherfuckers that I made rich”. Regret, it turns out, is a common theme on this album, coming to a head on the title track, where she laments the weight of fame “Got too big for my britches / Too big for my fishes / The sea got shallower every day”.
“Love Me Different” stands out as one of the most brutally honest, yet hopeful moments. Lines like, “Endless scrolling, up ‘til 3 / Alex Reads Tarot reads the shit out of me / Now I’m the one who’s gotta love me differently”, capture the emptiness of heartache, only to be followed by a playful guitar break. The haunting “True Believer” scathingly critiques the religious hypocrisy of Williams’ native Tennessee. The piano-led track perfectly reflects this tension, with strings building as she mourns the flaws of her home, while still clinging onto hope for its future.
Williams truly saved the best for last with “Parachute”. Clanging drums and grainy guitars create an almost suffocating weight, perfectly matching the distress in her vocals. When she screams, “Tell me what was the moment, you decided to give up / You could’ve told me what you wanted, I would’ve done, I would’ve done / Anything, I would’ve done anything”, it’s absolutely gutting. Her grief feels palpable, as if you can hear the tears trapped in her throat. The record closes on this note, perfectly encapsulating the emotional intensity that pervades the entire album.
MAGICMAN 2 by Jackson Wang, Review by Sophy Zhao
MAGICMAN 2 (July 2025) by Jackson Wang is the artist’s sequel to his album, MAGICMAN (2022); however, its overall vibe and underlying meaning is quite different. As Wang himself has described through multiple interviews and posts on social media, this album is a manifestation of the complex emotions and experiences he has gone through in the past few years. These songs started out as diary entries, an aspect that highlights the vulnerability and intimacy of the release. It must have taken great courage to turn something so private into a music collection that is shared with everyone.
Listening to the album is such an immersive experience as you are thrown in various emotional directions. In “High Alone,” Wang unleashes the pain of feeling overwhelmingly alone, especially in the lyrics “Need you to save me / I’m fading / I’m losing air / Can’t be in this world alone.” The overall sound of this song is also rather atmospheric and dream-like with a breathy tone; at times, you might feel like you’re underwater with him. The following song, “Not For Me,” is Wang’s confession of struggling to belong and wanting to just feel human, something that should be natural, but isn’t for him. This is amplified by the soft piano accompaniment and the sense of yearning in his voice.
A few songs later, we get to “GBAD,” which stands for “Gotta be a Dick.” My initial response to this song when it was first released—this was before he released the full album—was “is bro okay?” I think the whole point is that he wasn’t in the best place when he wrote the song or experienced the story behind it. The most popular lyric of “GBAD” is “Life is great / Just gotta be a dick sometimes”—this is him referencing a time he was betrayed by someone he considered a close friend. In response, he created a song arguing that you can be kind without being a pushover; people who take advantage of your trust and kindness don’t deserve you.
Lastly, the final two songs, “Sophie Ricky” and “Made Me a Man,” are both dedicated to Wang’s parents. He acknowledges the sacrifices his parents have made for him and expresses his deep gratitude and love for them, singing that they have made him the person he is today. It is clear that he looks up to them immensely and wants to reciprocate the love that they have shown him. These songs are a beautiful conclusion to an album that connects the listeners to the artist in an incredibly intimate way.
Zip Up My Fly by Malcolm Todd, Review by Ayshel Vasconez
Think of the wind blowing in your hair while the heat of the sun is shining right on your face, that feeling is exactly what Malcolm Todd’s release “Zip Up My Fly” felt like this summer. An amalgamation of basses, drums and backtracks perfectly mixed into a fun and fresh song. The opening lyrics to this song are “I wanna love you and tell you that you are mine” showing happiness and romance matching the upbeat melodies. This is very different compared to the other songs that Todd has written about heartbreak like Roommates and Mr. Incorrect on his Sweetboy album. Malcolm Todd’s upbeat melodies are finally accompanied by even more positive lyrics instead of the heartbreaking ones. This song is the epitome of cutesy, corny, innocent romance. Throughout the entire song Malcolm has an ongoing beat representing a heartbeat accompanied by lyrics of admiration and love but seems to be poking fun at the goofiness of being in love. In one of his lyrics “you told me you think that I smell good then told me zip up my fly..” love can be filled with adoration like compliments, but also fun like teasing. He describes exchanging compliments with this person he is in love with. Very similar to his usual style of songs, Zip Up My Fly is upbeat and fast paced. What makes this song even better is how it was to be released. Malcolm Todd leaked this song back in the summer of 2024 and kept it quiet until the release of his album this summer. And I can say that this song has lived up to all the leaks. The song has racked up to 1,000 posts using it on Tiktok and it has been number one on my playlists this summer.
Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets! By Counting Crows, Review by Safia Malhotra
Counting Crows dropped “Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets!” this May, completing the project that began with “Suite One” in 2021. Reinvention isn’t the goal here and honestly, it doesn’t need to be. Instead, the band leans into what they do best: layered, roots-driven rock anchored by Adam Duritz’s unmistakable rasp, which might sound better now than it did in the ‘90s.
“With Love, From A-Z,” opens with the classic Crows formula: piano up front, heartbeat rhythm and Duritz’s bittersweet storytelling at the forefront. It’s instantly nostalgic and the perfect opener. “Spaceman in Tulsa” tries to be the showstopper but just doesn’t land and is jarringly out of step after the opener. “Boxcars” leans more Tom Petty than folk-rock—solid, but not a standout. “Virginia Through the Rain” is a quintessential Counting Crows ballad, reminiscent of “This Desert Life”, followed by “Under the Aurora,” another beautiful ballad. Of the nine tracks, “With Love,” “Virginia,” and “Aurora” are the standouts.
The reworked EP tracks—“The Tall Grass,” “Elevator Boots,” “Angel of 14th Street,” “Bobby and the Rat-Kings”—followed seamlessly. They’re sharper, more balanced versions of their 2021 counterparts. “The Tall Grass” is quiet and steady, letting simple guitar lines and Duritz’s vocals do the heavy lifting. “Elevator Boots” feels like a classic Crows single, with a big chorus and some of the band’s catchiest guitar work in years. “Angel of 14th Street” comes through with more clarity this time, and “Bobby and the Rat-Kings” is loud and chaotic, a perfect album closer.
If nothing else, “Butter Miracle” is proof that Counting Crows never lost their touch. These songs carry the same depth and personality as their ‘90s work; you could drop them into “August and Everything After” and they’d fit right in. The release year is irrelevant; this is classic Crows, start to finish.
Don’t Sweat It by Daisy Grenade, Review by Sydney DeHaven
Daisy Grenade, the self-acclaimed “bubblegrunge” duo featuring Dani Nigro and Keaton Whittaker, released their song “Don’t Sweat It” at the end of June, and I’ve had it on repeat since then. This was following the release of their sophomore album Cult Classic two years ago, and definitely did not disappoint. With lyrics and vocals on par with many recent pop hits, and enough pop-punk influence to make any former-emo excited, it quite literally was my song of the summer. As someone who tows the line between listening to mainstream pop or heavier rock, this song is truly the best of both worlds. It balances being upbeat and catchy with having a sick guitar and drum part (shoutout to the bridge). Both Dani and Keaton have killer singing voices (former theater kids, of course), and the choreographed dance is super fun to do with your friends! Just one month ago they released the “Don’t Sweat It” music video, which just adds a whole other layer of charm. It’s quirky and slightly creepy, which perfectly encapsulates their vibe. I’ve seen Daisy Grenade perform live twice (and even met them!), and I truly don’t think they get enough love or attention (get these girls on the radio!!). They even have the Pete Wentz stamp of approval, if that matters to anybody (I see y’all). There are truly so few women in the alt-rock scene, and they deserve all their flowers. They also are currently on tour with Stand Atlantic, so learn the dance and go do it with them!!