Speaking of drama, Hilary Duff has stayed out of the musical spotlight for the past 11 years, but upon reentering the spotlight for something more than just a millennial nostalgia fix with her long-awaited sixth studio album, luck… or something, the one-time object of Charli’s “Boom Clap” intentions doesn’t shy away from embracing the messiness (as well as plenty of adult fun) that doesn’t stop just because you’ve become a mother of three and are now in your late 30s.

Recorded and co-written alongside her husband, Matthew Koma, Duff’s sound in 2026 doesn’t living in the past of her Disney pop days. Instead, this is a perfect blend of contemporary pop stylings colored in the hues of hot pink neon reminiscent of the emotional peaks of Koma’s ex, Carly Rae Jepsen (“Weather for Tennis”, “Mature”), Swiftian blush with a ’90s pop-rock sizzle over her relationship vulnerabilities (“Roommates”, “Tell Me That Won’t Happen”,) darker indie-pop clouds befitting of the family drama discourse (“We Don’t Talk”, “The Optimist”,) and — sure — a soft-sparkling interpolation of blink-182 (“Growing Up”.)

Adding up the sum of the parts, luck… or something, is more than just a stroke of that — it’s the best pop album of the year so far.

Highlights: “Weather For Tennis”, “We Don’t Talk”, “Mature”

Hilary Duff’s luck… or something is available now on Atlantic Records.

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