I've been listening since the Miley Cyrus discography episodes, which were thoughtful and fun. I wish I could say the same about the Gracie Abrams album review and other reviews .
The episode was supposed to review Gracie's album, but it felt like an attempt to discredit her at every turn: her voice, her production, her songwriting. Every time the hosts had a chance to say Taylor Swift did it better, they took it. Crediting a collaborator is fair, but the way it was framed minimized Gracie's role in her own music. If the point is that she's "inspired" by Taylor, there are kinder and more honest ways to say it than picking apart every half second.
We get it, you're Taylor fans. That's fine. But you don't need to tear one artist down to praise Taylor, especially when the episode isn't about Taylor at all.
Then came the irony. After holding Gracie to an impossible standard, the hosts said they hold Taylor to a much higher standard, and then praised "Cleveland!" as a genius idea. Personally, that song was a miss and a ridiculous pick to defend. Taylor is a talented artist, and you can love her work and still be honest about it. But standards that only go one way aren't standards.
Even more frustrating was the claim that the best song on Gracie's album was only the best because Aubrey co-wrote it, with the suggestion that Aubrey basically wrote it alone. That completely erases Gracie's contribution.
Tearing one woman down to lift another up is bad taste, and it's sexist. Not every female artist should be measured against Taylor Swift, especially when they're in different genres with different vocal styles. The Madonna episode had the same problem, with comments about her age and gender that were disappointing to hear.
Honestly, the hosts seem out of touch at times. I hope they rethink this direction, because the Miley episodes showed they can do better.
