Some pop songs are built for escapism. They offer a three-minute vacation from the weight of things. Paul Jenner, the creative force behind the musical project 50mething, seems uninterested in this kind of holiday. His work is consistently grounded in the here and now, tackling the social and political agitations of our time with a composer’s ear and a critical eye. His 2026 single, “You Can’t...

Right then, let’s talk about Sean Kennedy and his latest single, "Insane." It arrived, not so much announced, as simply appearing in the sonic landscape, like finding a misplaced chess piece on a park bench. Kennedy, who’s apparently been putting pen to paper since he was ten (good lord, what angst were you channeling at ten?), crafts this slice of indie pop that digs...