Released: May 31
Over a decade after her second album was unceremoniously shelved by her former record label, songwriter extraordinaire Bonnie McKee finally opens the gates to ‘Hot City’.
An epic, 16-song detour into the vibrant, technicolour mind of the songwriter responsible for penning massive hits for Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Kesha and more, it’s a record rooted in the early 2010s, capturing the essence of the charts a decade ago while remaining strikingly fresh.
Opening with the triple-hit of singles Don’t Get Mad Get Famous, Hot City and Jenny’s Got A Boyfriend sets the bar high, but across the record Bonnie keeps up the standard with the brash Show You Mine and lovesick anthem I Wanna Call You both single-worthy.
What shines bright is her infectious personality, pushing ‘Hot City’ beyond a songwriter’s album and proving Bonnie to be every inch the perfect pop star – a notion matched by the accompanying visuals, from the 2013 single American Girl (which features on the LP) to the more recent Forever 21, another highlight on ‘Hot City’.
Alongside the 15 tracks originally recorded for the project, Bonnie returned to the studio for the playful Snatched with ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ winner Priyanka, offering further proof that – as a singer and a writer – she’s still got it.
With such an expansive tracklist, ‘Hot City’ is a treasure trove for pop fans, where each track brings its own personality and contributes to the fabric of the musical universe. Its bold sound makes for an intense listen front-to-back, and while some of the later tracks aren’t quite as glossy as earlier highlights, collectively they make for a strong showing.
With dozens of hit records and countless accolades under her belt already, Bonnie has nothing to prove in the pop world, but her resilience and persistence in finally getting ‘Hot City’ out proves her passion for her craft and, moreover, gives the world a truly fantastic record.
Stacked with songs, there’s the occasional lull, but within ‘Hot City’ is the perfect sister project to Katy Perry’s ‘Teenage Dream’ – featuring several McKee collaborations and in itself one of the strongest pop albums of the 21st Century!
