BLOXX return with ‘Pop Culture Radio’ EP
BLOXX get raw and real on their latest EP
Photo: Parri Thomas
Following up their 2020 debut album Lie Out Loud, BLOXX are back with the same bright but strident sound on Pop Culture Radio.
After hearing the EP’s opening track Everything I’ve Ever Learned when it dropped as a single earlier this summer, I knew this was an EP I needed to keep my eye out for.
The song’s driving baseline drew me in instantly, and I stayed for the catchy melodies, undeniably relatable lyrics, and clever layering of vocals. When the chorus features lines like “Don’t forget life’s a mess / That’s everything I’ve ever learned”, how can you really expect this to be anything other than an instant hit?
The slower vibe of the EP’s second song Magnet adds a great dynamic to the collection, and really allows the lyrics to shine through. The continued analogy of two lovers/ex-lovers as magnets attracting and then repelling is genius — and is probably resonating with a whole lot of people listening to this track. The bittersweet nature of the song is food for thought and just another example of BLOXX’s brilliant ability to address topical and relevant content in the utmost style.
Although the title track Pop Culture Radio has a similar tempo and opening to its predecessor, the mainstream theme of the lyrics couldn’t be further away. Probably the most positive of the four songs, the clearest image I get from this tune is driving down a highway in LA, without a care in the world. If you’re looking for some music to soak up those final few days of summer, look no further my friends.
Another upbeat addition to the EP, final track Emily is a masterful enigma. Having listened to it multiple times, I still cannot decide whether this is a song about withdrawal from substances or withdrawal from an ex. Either way, the crafty writing paints an oh so relatable scenario of addiction to some kind of vice, and the band should be applauded for addressing such sensitive content so candidly. We are treated to Booth’s lower vocal range, which adds just another level to this already gem of a track.
All I can say is if this is what they’ve managed to achieve in a short amount of time, we better buckle up for the next few years of BLOXX.
