My Agenda- Dorian Electra

(Album) (Hyperpop) (Pop)

Wow. What to say about this album. Wow.

I think the best way to describe the listening process of this album for me was: I listen to a song, I go “wait, what the f*** did I just listen to?”, and then replay the album.

The first song that really made me go “waiiiiit”, was the second track, “My Agenda”, because WHAT. The track is so good, it has a great hook, funny little sound effects, and it is such a clusterf*** in the best way possible. Not to mention the incredible list of features from artists that no one could have guessed would feature on a Dorian Electra album. Guests like Rebecca Black, to PUSSY RIOT, to the f***ing VILLAGE PEOPLE. Like what?

All of this comes to encompass the album in about the neatest package you could put it in: it is dark, confusing, and twisted, but it’s also extremely hilarious, and fun.

To give some context, Dorian Electra is a singer/somgwriter from Texas, and released their debut studio album, Flamboyant in 2019. They have made quite a name for themselves among the hyperpop community, leading to collaborations with artists like 100 gecs. Now they release this album, “My Agenda”, following some singles, “Gentleman”, and “Sorry Bro (I Love You)”, which served to satiate our thirst for more Dorian Electra tracks, but could not have possibly prepared us for what this album would truly turn out to be.

Basically, I think the concept of the album is pretty ingenious, it takes various aspects of meme culture and applies them to a more fantastical setting, solidified by the vocabulary used within the album’s lyrics, as well as the cover art which features Dorian holding a medieval sword. Not to mention lyrics criticizing socially relevant topics like toxic masculinity, racism and homophobia on the internet, etc.

This concept does not exist in lyrics alone, however, as the sound takes on this very Led Zeppelin-esque fantasy kind of atmosphere. Tracks like “M’lady”’s opening keyboard line, as well as the instrumentals on “Gentleman” are definitely what I am referring to. On the flip side, the production also includes meme sound effects into the songs, which can be spotted pretty easily. The album’s overall use of these sounds only helps to strengthen the already brilliant concept.

Speaking to the album’s production, I find it hard to truly criticize, because everything is done so intentionally. I guess that’s the beauty of the genre of hyperpop, every song is nailed down so tight and relies so heavily on production choices, that it’s hard to say what could be improved upon. I could say things like some of the instrumentals sound like cheap MIDIs, but to be fair, that’s probably what a lot of these sounds are, and that’s the point. It brings the album to that part of abstract art that questions the purpose of criticism itself.

All I can truly say is that it is an intense album, worthy of the delineation of ‘hyperpop’, and definitely worth your time!

Give the album a listen: https://open.spotify.com/album/2QFXjy3u6Bl6ctdK9FS9eF?si=bCp-KWBWTWaWLpl6IOBeOg

FAVORITE TRACKS: ALL OF THEM (except Monk Mode lmao)