A new generation of pop musicians has emerged thanks to the internet providing greater recording software accessibility and social media making it easier to share content.

Many new artists, like Carobae, find success producing and releasing their own tracks, using social media to promote their material and establish an audience.

As recently as a couple years ago, many musicians who gained notoriety relied on large production companies to grow their careers before reaching market success.

These collaborations, however, sometimes limited artists' ability to achieve full creative visions.

Bedroom productions now reaching millions of listeners has allowed for artists to reach new creative depths and gives artists complete creative control of the work they produce.

Carobae has established herself as an influencer within this community of artists.

She utilizes elements from traditional pop music- clean vocals, three chord guitar arrangements, and occasional jaunty percussive and strumming patterns- but she subverts overly positive lyrical expectations with anxious, stream of consciousness ramblings.

Hooked on 00s/90s nostalgia, 80s pop influence and internet valued relatability, Carobae crafted a slew of matter of fact, angsty tracks that shy far from the overly complex and long metaphorical tunes for a more straightforward expression.

This expression and vision saturates all entries on this album, making it consistent; however, the tracks become hard to differentiate and leave the listener uninspired.

Although Carobae’s vocal stylings are strong and her musical elements are referential yet toying, her lyrics seem to rely on relatability rather than delving into her own unique experience.

There is nothing wrong with being referential. In fact, some could argue that greater reference leads to some of the most unique works.

In addition, most human experiences are not inherently unique.

However, all the situations Carobae presents as dread inducers - not being able to post a picture due to insecurity, losing her will due to a dying Earth and the internet's ever present and impending force - sadly sound like overused social media soundbites more than genuine insight.

To give Carobae the benefit of the doubt, the artist has expressed her passion for music has translated in her producing and mixing which is where she shines.

A listener can tell Carobae’s songs are complete visions.

Head to tail, she has a clear understanding of how to weave together distorted bass, echoey guitars and breathy vocals to achieve compositional excellence.

Artists Annie DiRusso, Carlie Hanson and Kailee Morgue share a similar talent for creating this style of angsty pop music.

So, if a listener is a fan of any of those artists, that person should check out this album.

In summary, this album proves there is much for Carobae to improve on before she releases another full length album, but she ultimately produced a well formulated album that long time Carobae fans will be happy to listen to.

For future reference, Carobae should continue to make music she loves, staying true to her perspective and preferred creative expression, but it would benefit her to work on her songwriting to express a less generalized perspective.

Rating: 5/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Tracks: “dead ends/happy endings”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Tracks: N/A

Eliza Casey is a second-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email egc5236@psu.edu.