Written by: Hadley Balser Photo By Sam Emerson in 1986 From the ages of 7 to 12, Michael Jackson was my favorite artist of all time. I dressed as him for Halloween, learned the “Beat It” dance, and owned posters, pillows, and other memorabilia. To this day, he remains one of my top ten artists. I went into middle school with stars in my eyes, no idea of the conversation that awaited me about my favorite pop star. I remember it vividly, even now: In the lunch line, I was talki

Written by: Sophie Maloney “Pure Heroine" is the pregame. Lorde’s debut album is for a chilly fall night, putting on eyeshadow while sipping on boxed wine cause it’s all you could get your hands on. Maybe you’re in a college dorm room, while “400 Lux” trills on a record player you don’t have room for. Or you're in the back of a car with friends while "Ribs" blasts on the radio, with the uncomfortable awareness that this won't last forever, but learning to make peace with that

Written by: Manisha Rekhi ARTIST: Ellie Goulding ALBUM: I Know Too Much (2026) GENRE: Pop RATING: 7/10 Ellie Goulding is best known to me for the shimmering pop sound of her debut album, Lights. Earlier songs such as “Starry Eyed” and her cover of Elton John’s “Your Song” showcased the airy, captivating vocals that first drew me to her music when I was a young teen. On her sixth studio album, I Know Too Much, I hear a more personal side of Goulding as she balances acoustic te