After the success of his 2020 album everything means nothing and its huge single “hot girl bummer”, genre-defying Florida singer-songwriter blackbear returns with misery lake, an EP about the very relatable feeling of isolation written near the end of quarantine. “This is the end of me playing pretend that I’m available emotionally,” he sings on “@ my worst”, a track that embodies the pain of loving someone who hurts you. More than just pop songs, misery lake is full of reminders of the harsh realities of romance. (Check the Tate McRae-featuring “u love u” for a particularly scathing one.) But while tracks such as “alone in a room full of people” and “ghost town,” with Sasha Alex Sloan, might have a mellow vibe, they’re still upbeat. It’s the kind of EP you put on to both get into your feels and dance along with them too.