Few modern artists are experts of their own history like Charli XCX is. Whether it’s remixing her old songs into new ones or literally morphing her own record into something completely different (that’s still the album), she’s been in command of her domain for a long time now. That fact keeps Wuthering Heights tied to what came before it despite taking a sharp left turn from the lime green laser that was BRAT. Inspired by the recent film of the same name and full of dramatic ... read more

In a year where we may finally see a new Death Grips album, Mandy, Indiana might’ve made a better Death Grips song than the actual band could make. “Sicko!” enlists billy woods to rap over needling electronic blasts that’ll make the floor fall out of any concert pit. His reverberating voice describes all sorts of sickness, leaving out only the sickness that would make you dive headfirst into an abrasive journey like URGH, an album that often sounds like its title. ... read more

This second EP in as many months from ole Skrill isn’t as good as the last one, or remotely close to the heights that his last album reached. But am I happy to keep hearing the most famous, most important dubstep artist of all time reinvigorated again? I sure am.

The debut solo album from Let’s Eat Grandma’s Jenny Hollingworth is quite similar to her past output. Quicksand Heart is full of synthpop gems, ones that rise and fall with the emotions of its lead vocalist. It’s missing a bit of punch without bandmate Rosa Walton assisting, but songs like the title track, “Appetite” and “Every Ounce Of Me” shine with a distinct passion for the genre. Hollingworth really gets to show her pipes on “Dolphins”, ... read more

CMAT’s big voice and indignant independence bring to mind Chappell Roan’s debut record, with nearly enough charisma to match. There’s big fun pop songs to spare across Euro-Country, and the Irish star’s pipes bring them to life well. The first stretch of the record from “EURO-COUNTRY” to “Take A Sexy Picture of Me” really showcases how big of a star CMAT could be, even if the album’s second half isn’t as strong.

Can you believe it’s been nearly a decade since A$AP Rocky dropped a full album? It’s true, we were barely two years into Donald Trump’s first term when Testing came out. I mention Trump because he’s part of the reason the gap doesn’t seem that long; the president got involved when Rocky got himself arrested in Sweden in 2019. Don’t forget the press coverage of his multiple court appearances over the last few years over a shooting offense, and he’s had ... read more

There was never really any doubt that David Bowie would age gracefully. His early-career persona shifts on each album showcased a limitless creative drive. His mid-career pop heights and experiments like Tin Machine only further cemented his status as an icon, and by the time he became an elder statesman of rock music, he was still pulling from new, unexpected places. The fact that he passed into the ether the way he did, with the seminal Blackstar, isn’t surprising; it’s how ... read more

The older the members of Cut/Copy have gotten, the more they’ve transitioned from EDM to IDM. Gone are the explosive melodies of a “We Are Explorers” or “Lights & Music”; instead, a lazy river of electronic bliss not unlike Hot Chip’s best is here to stay. There’s a comfortability to Moments that powers it forward, reveling in the serenity and polished nature the group’s music has accumulated. I wouldn’t say it’s close to being ... read more

After years of snarkily getting back at ex-lovers, it seems like one of them has hit Stella deep to her core. Much of Love and Fortune is sparse, with some of the more soul-baring lyrics Donnelly has ever put to recording in tow. She remains an very accomplished singer, and her softer touch makes the pained emotions come through, but the overall album has lost the soul that made Donnelly an indie star to begin with. It’s too generic across the board to really stand out, and that’s ... read more

Kai Slater’s second album of 2025 is an interesting experiment, albeit one that doesn’t work smoothly all the way through. It’s split into three parts, one for each balloon in the title, and each part of the triptych tries a number of different things in the lane of power pop. The first balloon is the most interesting because those songs are fully formed like they were on Radio DDR. But too many of the experiments aren’t fully explored, turning much of Balloon Balloon ... read more

It’s hard to believe Bar Italia are on their 5th record, because most of Some Like It Hot comes across like a new band imitating much better acts. If a song isn’t plodding along to the most basic melody you’ve ever heard, it’ll get sunk by the personality-free vocals by the two singers. It’s hard to be this average, and the fact that the overall product is competently made contributes to how below average it is. Instead of being memorably terrible, Some Like It Hot ... read more

I myself am a big fan of history, and based on the inspiration for LUX, it seems like Spanish star Rosalía is too. But that’s where our similarities end, because I’ve never thought to craft an album based around iconic female saints from history. Those holy origins give LUX an appropriately holy aura, as do the mixture of classical music and modern pop and flamenco that bring these songs to life. At times it’s a bit much, but Rosalía’s relentless ambitions ... read more

In need of some zany dance punk music that pulls from psychedelia, art rock and much more? Guerilla Toss have you covered. They’ve been on my radar before, and I’m sad I never decided to check them out before now. So much of You’re Weird Now is exactly that; alien in nature and frequently ear-catching. Songs like “Psychosis Is Just A Number” and “When Dogs Bark” vault through multiple movements and key changes, never resting in their quest to create ... read more

While the techno beats on KELLY are acceptable, they hint at bigger things to come that never materialize. The four songs here kind of stay at equilibrium, which is disappointing given their heavier lean into something club-appropriate. We’ve also heard better vocals from Kelly Lee Owens herself too; maybe the focus is supposed to be on the EP’s sound, but that doesn’t mean the vocal should be an afterthought like they are here. The EP’s brevity does work in its favor ... read more

On no other album in 2025 will you hear a sonic world like the one Daniel Lopatin has cooked up with Tranquilizer. Created entirely with CD samples from a deleted Internet archive (that’s the most OPN sentence ever typed), these synthetic songs are flush with life. It’s is a living, breathing world, taking you through plains and jungles and waterfalls across an hour long journey. OPN’s typical production magic makes it all come to life, turning these disparate noises into ... read more

Can you take a victory lap after already taking a victory lap? I suppose if the types of victory are different, than I can give it a pass. Skrillex took a career victory lap earlier this year with the wildly awesome (and wildly titled) F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT <3. Now with this hit me where it hurts x EP, he’s celebrating his success this year with a bite sized version of what made the main album work; fast paced electronic music that refuses to be limited to ... read more

Folk and Americana music is having a moment. Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band have been of this year’s breakout stars (at least according to this blog). Wednesday and the everpresent MJ Lenderman released an great album back in September. The Crutchfield sisters decided to make their own indie folk supergroup for the hell of it. With so many great voices in the genre, is there room for anyone else at the top? The Life You Save says yes, and that voice is Jenn Wasner. After a ... read more

One of the most colorful and entertaining synthpop albums I’ve heard in 2025. Switcheroo is like the soundtrack for a slightly demented children’s show, a modern PeeWee’s Playhouse performed by a disciple of Remi Wolf and the B-52’s. Our teacher is Angel Abaya, an artist who’s found one hell of a fun lane to drive down under this moniker. She’s capable of both melodic pop like “Bounce House” and an electronic march like “Spit”. Abaya ... read more

If you thought we might escape Ed Sheeran’s clutches one day, think again. After completing a series of albums named after math, he’s now begun a cycle of five albums named after media control buttons. Plus, he’s making an album to be released after he’s dead, so don’t expect music’s most middling ginger to go away any time soon. If he’s going to continue to be so ever-present, can his music at least try a little harder? Ed does try to take things a ... read more

In the seven years since Invasion of Privacy, plenty of other female rappers have followed the trail that Cardi B blazed. So why can’t Cardi B learn from the rappers she trailblazed for? Am I The Drama? asks a question and doesn’t answer it; instead it rotates between sleepy rap songs and faux-emotional balladry that are all very unbefitting of Cardi’s singular talents. There’s a couple highlights, like the husky “Outside”, but across 23 tracks and over 70 ... read more