Vinyl Drop

Keith Montena

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MUSIC COMMENTARY

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.

25 MAR

Future Nostalgia vs. Short n' Sweet: Teenage Dream of the 2020s? (PART 1)

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 into Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia. Released March 27th, 2020, just as the world shut down due to Covid-19, Future Nostalgia became one of the defining pop rollout of the pandemic era. We discuss the rollout, the music, the history, and whether this album holds a candle to Teenage Dream, before going head to head with Sabrina Carpenter's Short N Sweet later on. Which album wins? You'll have to listen to find out.

53 min
11/12/2025

2025 Pop Albums | Selena Gomez's 'I Said I Love You First,' Miley Cyrus' 'Something Beautiful,' & Demi Lovato's 'It's Not That Deep' (PART II)

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 her work with Benny Blanco, and how both the singles and campaign may be a mismatch for the album's core. On 'It's Not That Deep,' I'll be going through the recent album and how the singles may have prevented the album from reaching its full potential, and how Demi's dance effort is her most ambitious to date. Plus, how does Miley's new album stack up next to 'Can't Be Tamed,' 'She Is Coming,' 'Endless Summer Vacation,' or 'Plastic Hearts?' Let me know your thoughts as well.

42 min
03/12/2025

2025 Pop Albums | Tate McRae's 'So Close To What' & Lady Gaga's 'MAYHEM' (PART I)

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 and how they tie to both longevity, public narrative, and their own Grammy chances. Did these albums hold up after months? Did the campaigns promoting the album help the artists reach their potential? I'll also be giving a special shoutout to another great Q1 project, which is 'SALVATION' by Rebecca Black.

27 min
10/06/2025

How do you follow up BRAT?

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 to discuss the seven films Charli XCX is working on, and how her own unique sound she explored across BRAT may not feel "unique" if she follows up with a similar sound. Find @vinyldropodcast on Instagram, and of course... Let me know what you think is in store for Charli XCX's next project. (ARCHIVE)

31 min
10/03/2025

"MAYHEM", Lady Gaga

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 taps into Gaga’s earliest songwriting roots, Perfect Celebrity almost took the album in an entirely different direction, and all collaborators on deck. Plus, how do the ‘80s influences fit into today’s pop landscape, and did the marketing set listeners up for something completely different? In just under 40 minutes, Vinyl Drop unpacks "MAYHEM" during release week.

35 min
14/01/2025

What Went Wrong with Katy Perry's Comeback

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 expectation. From a pop fan, hear about why "Women's World" faced so much backlash, the history behind WHY collaborators were controversial, and an analysis from a pop fan on Katy Perry's trajectory from "Teenage Dream" to "Witness" and her (lovely!) redemption arc with "Smile", in just under 40 minutes. Vinyl Drop dives into how this comeback went off the rails. (ARCHIVE)

36 min
17/12/2024

"Angel Of My Dreams" by Jade (BEST Pop Song of 2024)

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)

28 min

7 Episodes

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.

Creator

Keith Montena
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

7
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Vinyl Drop