Vinyl Drop

Vinyl Drop

New episodes every Wednesday diving into the biggest pop music releases with exciting series: singles, album deep-dives, and the campaigns behind them. From Lady Gaga to Sabrina Carpenter, The Weeknd to Olivia Rodrigo, we’re breaking down the music, the strategy, and the reception. Press play for facts and rollout dissection, with some unfiltered opinions along the way.

Episodes

April 23, 2026 57 mins

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet is quickly becoming one of the defining pop eras of the 2020s. After discussing Future Nostalgia in Part 1, this week we'll be providing our final thoughts on Future Nostalgia and begin comparing and contrasting Sabrina Carpenter's breakthrough with Katy Perry's Teenage Dream.

In Part 2 of Vinyl Drop’s first VS series, Keith Montena is joined by AJ Marks, host of Main Pod Girl and lead moderator a...

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Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" set the blueprint for the term "Pop Bible", six smash singles, five number ones, and cultural moments that defined a generation. But which 2020s pop album comes closest to claiming that throne?

In Part 1 of Vinyl Drop's first Pop Bible, Keith Montena is joined by AJ Marks, host of Main Pod Girl and lead moderator at Reddit's Popheads, to break down what made Teenage Dream so defining, before diving deep...

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Part II of my year-end review of pop music across 2025 tackles Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco's 'I Said I Love You First,' Miley Cyrus with 'Something Beautiful,' and Demi Lovato's 'It's Not That Deep.' All three acts shared similar experiences in the earlier halves of their music careers, and this episode discusses the parallels shared between these artists in 2025. For Selena Gomez, I'll be diving into the couples branding behind he...

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Kicking off my chronological review of pop music across 2025 with Tate McRae's 'So Close To What' & Lady Gaga's 'MAYHEM.' Both artists kicked off in Q1 with some of the years most defining albums, and in this episode I'm breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of both projects in reference to the specific artists catalog, and the grand scheme of pop music at large. Plus, I'll be diving into the campaigns surrounding each album a...

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June 10, 2025 30 mins

How do you follow-up an album like BRAT? This episode breaks down Charli XCX’s growing momentum post-BRAT and the new demographic of fans she's pulled in. With so many new eyes and the opposite expectation for this era, I'm discussing what her next move can be and how a lot of other pop acts like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga pulled off creative pivots at the height of commercial success to sustain longevity. Plus, I'm going...

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March 10, 2025 34 mins

Keith Montena returns this week to break down MAYHEM, Lady Gaga’s seventh studio album, and the sonic landscape that defines it. While early singles Disease and Abracadabra hinted at one direction, the full album takes an unexpected turn, pulling from Prince, Bowie, and electro-grunge influences in ways that might surprise you. From the rollout to the creative choices, how does MAYHEM actually stack up? Find out how Garden of Eden ...

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January 14, 2025 35 mins

Keith Montena returns this week to discuss  "143", Katy Perry’s sixth album, and the missteps that defined her 2024 comeback. After a few underperforming albums, Katy set the stage for a maximalist dance-pop album with Women’s World as the lead single, dubbed a female empowerment anthem. But with producer Dr. Luke’s controversial involvement, an inconsistent rollout, and material that failed to resonate, the era did not live up to ...

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In 2024, Jade Thirlwall of Little Mix debuted with "Angel Of My Dreams". Her first solo offering after Little Mix, the girl group went on hiatus. Dive into the music, the vision behind the music video, and the creative and marketing decisions that made this debut single unforgettable, and the best pop song of 2024. Also, let's dive into what her album next year may include. (ARCHIVE)

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