Hayley Kiyoko- Expectations: album review

The lively and ambitious album debut of Hayley Kiyoko.

She went from an ex-Disney Channel star to "Lesbian Jesus." They grow up so fast.

Hayley Kiyoko (you might remember her from the Disney Channel original movie Lemonade Mouth) is one of the rising faces of pop music. She's brought fresh and progressive elements to pop music, portraying relationships and flirtation between women; something rarely found in the mainstream.

Due to the nature of her songs and music videos, her fans have dubbed her as "Lesbian Jesus." She's brought LGBTQ+ representation to pop music, which is rare but growing thanks to artists like Kiyoko, Troye Sivan, Frank Ocean and Halsey.

After a couple years of singles, EP's and steamy music videos, the 26-year-old artist has released her debut album Expectations. The album has ambition; a promising collection of what Hayley has done so far and what we can expect from her in the future. Her sound is still growing and requires a bit of honing, but Expectations definitely gives the artist a sense of direction.

She's still finding herself through her music, and while that is apparent in the record, we can all appreciate the experimentation and watching her journey unfold.

Experimentation and personal growth.

Expectations, rather than telling a story, seems to serve as a portfolio for Kiyoko's work so far and the experimentations of finding her particular sound. However, her ambitions are apparent.

Conceptually, there is architecture to the album. The songs transition well, blending together with the sounds of the ocean and seagulls.

The first track of the record, "Expectations (Overture)," opens the album smoothly and interlude "xx" gives the sound of the album a sense of structure. The dreamy LA-feel dazzles throughout the album. Though, lyrically, the concept seems a little inconsistent (hence the portfolio-feel).

There are songs like "Curious," a cheeky stream of thought and confrontation to a girl who left her then started dating a guy, all strung together into an R&B bop. Then there's "Palm Dreams," an ode to the Los Angeles lifestyle that repetitiously reminds you "If you party with us, we'll go up." It's got a nice 2008 pop feel to it, a Los Angeles anthem that Justin Timberlake himself would approve of.

The eclectic spectrum of pop music.

There is a spectrum of the pop genre throughout the album, it's eclectic in a very specific way. "What I Need (feat. Kehlani)" has top 40 summer songs written all over it, while the closing song of the album "Let It Be" has a warm feel to it that reminds us of The Lumineers. "Wanna Be Missed" has a hip-hop and R&B sound, accompanied by high vocals; a combo that's comparable to The Weeknd. It's like she took some of the best qualities of many pop artists played on the radio today and tried them out to see what fits best.

Overall,  Expectations serves as a great example of what Hayley is capable of. With a little bit of decisiveness and honing, Hayley Kiyoko can easily become a well-versed pop artist of today. Expectations outlines a promising future for Kiyoko and progression in pop music. Our expectations are high for the artist's next move.

What are your thoughts on Hayley Kiyoko's debut album, Expectations?

Zendaya would return to Disney Channel if it meant creating more roles for women of color