Unwanted (Dirty Hit)I was previously of the opinion that once you’ve heard one Pale Waves song, you’ve heard them all, but this third album from the Manchester band offers something a little more intriguing. It expands on the pop punk territory that was explored in their second album, and is filled with a nostalgic, Avril Lavigne-esque noughties sound. Vocalist Heather Baron-Gracie’s voice has a newfound strength to it, particularly noticeable in meditative, stripped back track ‘Numb’. The band’s lyrical content also reaches a bit deeper than usual, covering ground such as finding ‘Reasons to Live’ and the suicide of a bullied classmate - tragically a true story. Without doubt, this album shows growth. LT

Out now on Dirty Hit