Tired of your Spotify playlists? The Purbalite is here to help with our Essential Listening series.

Weird Faith, by Madi Diaz, is one of the strongest indie pop albums of the year. Released in February, the album focuses on meaningful lyrics, touching on the ups and downs of a relationship. Paired with melodic guitar and piano sounds, this album is well-rounded.

Though Madi Diaz is 38 years old, Weird Faith is relevant and refreshing. Its themes of young love and heartbreak appeal to the younger generation. 

Standout songs like “Same Risk” and “Hurting You” delve deep into the pains of an ending relationship, highlighting the confusing emotions, something many listeners can relate to.

“Don’t Do Me Good” is a country lovesick song featuring Grammy winner Kacey Musgraves. This collaboration makes “Don’t Do Me Good” one of the strongest and most popular songs on the album.

Though Weird Faith is consistently strong, “Everything Almost” falls short. The upbeat tempo does not blend well with the album, and the lyrics are not as strong and meaningful as heard in other songs. The album could do without this song, as it does not showcase Diaz’s lyrical abilities as well as some of the other hits.

Overall, Weird Faith is an essential listen for anyone who is going through a heartbreak or is just looking for a well-executed indie-pop album.