Kim Petras’ bimbo-esque pop star persona is central to her music, but ‘Detour’ injects her brand of bubbly hyperpop with a level of creativity and substance that we haven’t yet seen—possibly due to the fact this is her first independent release. ‘Brutalist’, arguably the cornerstone of the album, tells the story of a beautiful building that Petras’ father would point out on the way to her gender-affirming care appointments, which was subsequently demolished. It’s a striking metaphor for broken dreams that is particularly poignant given that Petras would avoid referencing her identity as a trans woman in her early career. By far one of the year’s most exciting pop albums. LT

Out now on BunHead