Problématique

Though Kim Petras’ groundbreaking album *Feed the Beast* arrived in June 2023, she decided to offer up another treat just a few months later. After tracks from *Problématique* leaked in August 2022, Petras encouraged listeners to seek out the stolen songs because they would probably never hear them again. But her devoted fans begged her to finish the project on her own terms. The result is an album chock-full of dreamy pop anthems inspired by Petras’ love of French house music. The album opener and title track is a disco-inspired funk banger which finds Petras happily delighting in her status as one of pop’s biggest stars: “Queen of my castle and I ain\'t ever coming down/Love it or hate it, you can\'t keep it out your mouth.” Layers of vocoder vocals give the song a retro feel, setting the tone for the album’s celebration of ’70s and ’80s dance music. Paris Hilton makes a surprise appearance as the only guest contributor on the dreamy “All She Wants,” and in another twist, Petras decided to include one of the fan favorites from the leak, “Treat Me Like a Ho,” on the project. While much of *Problématique* indulges in pure pop hedonism, songs like “Confession” find Petras looking for enduring love. She croons, “I got so many diamonds and rings/I don\'t need more material things/But lately you\'ve been all in my dreams/Yeah, and I got to have you.” Whether singing about being on top of the world or alone in her dreams, Kim Petras brings pop maximalism to a surprise present.