fusing western influences with a foundation rooted in the latin american rock scene, the galaxy of sound in candelabro's "deseo, carne, y voluntad" passionately and profoundly dissect the disillusionment and religious angst currently afflicting the youth in their adored home of chile.

without denying its gigantic influence nor the genius of fourteen-year-old richard james, aphex twin's timeless debut album rocks foundations with the ethereal "xtal" and inimitable "heliosphan", but it is, as a whole, not engaging or emotive enough to warrant a higher score.

seasoned and confident, "waiting to spill" finds the backseat lovers trading catchy choruses for an artsier approach defined by textured guitars driving grandiose payoffs and sentimental lyrics taking center stage.

there's a rough, unrefined quality about "elevator days", but the backseat lovers present enough songwriting chops and charming teenage spirit for one banging indie rock ep.

on "when we were friends", the backseat lovers offer a comforting, high-quality indie rock jam session with superb performances on warmly-toned guitars and infectious hooks sung with raw authenticity.

a compelling blend of crisp, hard-hitting trap beats over phenomenal samples of asian origin, this nearly-twenty track saga comes together with SKAI's fluid, effortless bars on cantonese culture.

the gorgeous chamber that is "de todas las flores" soars with natalia's hair-raising vocals, her band's stirring folk instrumentals, and the moments of divine emotion. above all else, it's the lyrical poetry, inspired by nature and a grounded love for life, told through the entrancing vessel of the spanish language that makes the project simply stellar.

kendrick lamar strips away all but his bare soul on this collection of simply stunning, groundbreaking songs. after years at the pinnacle of hip-hop, the king returns with what is arguably his most important project— and that is saying so, so much.

"igor" is a genre-bending, chromatic narrative of heartbreak and yearning that both entreats and rewards paying it the closest attention; it's truly inspiring to see tyler at his decisive artistic prime on this generational project.

"twin fantasy (face to face)" is undeniably a landmark project: a necessary remaster with explosive, rich instrumentals, genius songwriting rife with inversions and motifs, and an emotional power that has clearly provided a home to millions of fans.

the ventures into traditional pop are great and reminiscent of early taylor swift, but "a matter of time" excels when laufey operates in her wheelhouse of soft, twinkling jazz and sweeping classicism.

between cameron winter's standout vocals belting bittersweet lyrics and the staggering, exceptionally-produced instrumentation, "getting killed" is one of the grooviest and most special rock records of the decade thus far.

a most exquisite and necessary listen, "the art of loving" shines with its confident and honest exploration of what it means to love another as well as oneself with patience and kindness.

from love-infused anthems to gentle, piano-led ballads to the beautiful tribute that is "carmen," olivia dean's debut album stands out with its maturity, composure, and impressive versatility.

masterful as ever with her pen, olivia continues her hot streak of wonderful eps, with this project featuring softer tunes over more stripped-back instrumentals.

with this, olivia presents another smashing ep, gorgeously crooning over the same big band soundscape— this time about themes much more poignant and touching than before.

a succinct ep that wonderfully introduces olivia's sophisticated songwriting, smooth vocals, and signature soulful production— all refreshing and standout qualities in today's music scene.

with impressive consistency and commendable musical growth, malcolm todd presents a thoroughly cohesive debut album, showcasing upgraded instrumentation and exciting, novel songwriting.

despite a limited musical palette and repetitive lyrical structure that can grow weary, "sweet boy" flaunts malcolm's most infectious, energetic, and hypnotic songwriting yet.

malcolm todd continues to find his sound with more fully-fleshed tracks while still dishing out funky, easygoing bangers on another promising ep.