Continuing his ascent as one of Gen Z's more creative voices, English musician
Yungblud took his genre-bending style to new heights on sophomore effort Weird! Blending bubblegum pop melodies, hip-hop bravado, and youthful punk energy, he further refines a hybrid sound that places each of the album's anthems in an alternate universe where the best elements of
Harry Styles,
Bring Me the Horizon, and
5 Seconds of Summer have birthed a wild fusion for a misfit generation. From the raucous raunch of "Strawberry Lipstick" to the tender ballad "Love Song,"
Yungblud shows that he's capable of anything, with each stylistic approach held together by his vulnerability and relatability. That chameleonic energy carries Weird! through 13 refreshingly bold tracks, whether it's the stadium-sized rallying cry "God Save Me, But Don't Drown Me Out" or the
Depeche Mode-influenced title track, which sounds like
the 1975 if they were less pretentious. Frequent collaborators
Machine Gun Kelly and
Travis Barker also show up for yet another of the trio's brisk pop-punk blasts, "Acting Like That." Overall, Weird! is an energetic breath of fresh air that doesn't sacrifice heart or a hopeful, supportive message, adding another jewel to
Yungblud's crown as princeling of the outcast masses. ~ Neil Z. Yeung