Flopstars

This episode, we’re taking a look at a fresh record. Jessie Ware’s fourth album ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’ has been met with critical acclaim and a wave of public excitement like she’s never received before. She’s always made great music while traversing a very fine line between the underground and the mainstream. This week, we’re discussing why this album feels so free and how she’s handled pop pressure throughout her career.

For Episode 1 of Season 2, we’re taking a look into Katy Perry’s fourth album 'Witness'. Prior to the release of the album, Perry was the biggest popstar in the world, breaking records with her third album 'Prism'. 'Witness', however, broke that trend. The experimental pop project failed to find favour with the mainstream and led to a series of questionable promotional tactics. Still, there’s some value to be found in the record as we approach her fifth album.

For our final episode, we’re turning to the ultimate Flopstar - Robyn. While not always claiming top spot on the charts, she’s become the gold standard of pop music. We’re looking into her seminal record ‘Body Talk’ - a 15 track opus that houses some of the greatest pop songs of our time from Dancing On My Own to Call Your Girlfriend.

It’s Christina Aguilera’s turn this time around as we look into her 2010 record ‘Bionic’. The album came off the back of some of Christina’s most popular work but it signaled a shift in direction. She worked with Sia, Santigold, M.I.A., Nicki Minaj and more on an experimental pop record. It wasn’t a hit on the charts though only managing one top 30 single in the US.

This week, The Veronicas’ Hook Me Up album is our subject. The second record from the Brisbane duo catapulted them to become the biggest pop act in the country with number one records and a string of singles that have stood the test of time. Internationally, they made their first major splash but despite being a great pop album, it failed to solidify their place in the global pop space. More than a decade later, ‘Untouched’ is having a moment though, as the track has become an Australian festival favourite.

This week, it’s Miley Cyrus’ turn as we take a look into her 2017 record ‘Younger Now’. The album marked a return to a more PG Miley after her ‘Bangers’ era which was fill of wildcards, psychedelics and shocking live shows. Commercially, it was unable to match her usual success but fans still champion the record as a display of her natural talents.

This episode, we turn our attention to Justin Bieber’s 2013 compilation ‘Journals’. Coming off a year of terrible PR, Bieber attempted to turn the headlines to music with a mature, R&B project. It didn’t create the hits that his last album did but it’s become a fan favourite and also informed his most recent album ‘Changes’.

This week, we’re looking at Britney Spears’ ‘Blackout’ album. The 2007 record was a pulsating club and urban-inspired album that pushed boundaries. It was also surrounded by a very public meltdown that captured more headlines than the album itself. 13 years later, however, fans and artists alike agree that its influence can be felt in pop today.

This week, we’re spotlighting Lady Gaga’s ‘ARTPOP’ record. The experimental, boundary-pushing pop record came at the height of her career but failed to nab the same commercial success as its predecessors. Since then, it’s become a fan favourite with many arguing it was ahead of its time.

This week, it’s the career of Tove Lo who we’re delving into. Bursting onto the scene early last decade with a string of huge pop hits, Lo has become one of the most challenging pop acts around. While the hits have stopped flowing, her music has only gotten more exciting with last year’s ‘Sunshine Kitty’ giving us some of her most unfiltered work to date.