The Guardian reviews Blue Island, the new album from Chicago singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae, released as a follow-up to her huge 2024 hit Love Me Not. That single's mainstream success sparked online backlash, with critics accusing her of chasing pop appeal and even questioning her artistic identity; Blue Island appears to respond to that scrutiny by leaning into stylistic unpredictability rather than retreating from it.

The record veers between influences as varied as Suicide, Squarepusher, grunge and Janet Jackson, with tracks such as opener Handle pairing pop hooks with distorted, grunge-tinged guitar, while Wish You Well blends the Cranberries with softer Jackson-esque soul. Elsewhere, songs like Potential and In & Out swing abruptly from polished pop-balladry or 90s R&B into bursts of alt-rock noise, and several lyrics hint at defiance towards her online critics despite reading superficially as love songs.