Even though the majority of sounds you hear on Tomita's The Planets never truly existed in the physical world, his clever use of imaging and reverb makes this synth-based adaptation of one of classical music's greatest orchestral suites feel as though it's being performed on a grand stage. Some of the synth choices are especially enjoyable, notably the way certain tones mimic human voices singing along to movements in Jupiter; I couldn't help but smile when I heard those. ... read more

This is a generally strong album, showcasing a range of genres—from BIBI's signature R&B style to more traditional K-Pop sounds and even some singer-songwriter influences towards the end. It's a versatile effort that succeeds far more than it falters, though the last couple of tracks do cause the album to drag slightly. "Midnight Cruise" stands out as the clear highlight, easily the strongest track on the record.

I think I need a cigarette after that!

What an amazing combination of heavy psych, space rock, and stoner. It's an album that's not afraid to smack seven colours of shit out of you and then pick you up and give you a great big hug.

Crazy progressive space rock that's varied, well-written, sequenced and produced.

A big improvement production-wise compared to their last EP. It is a little less consistent than their previous effort was, but overall, this was another strong EP. I'm really excited to see what this trio could do with a full album release.

An encapsulating album with beautiful vocals, glorious instrumentation, beautiful lyrics, and great production. It's pop soul at its best.

I really enjoyed this. Strong strings, good vocals from Stu, Joey and Amby.

A fun continuation of the music she put out on E•MO•TION

A pretty decent mixtape that feels a little too DIY and a little too short.

What a super fun and bouncy mixtape! Feel-good vibes throughout, catchy as hell, and really well produced.

I have a list outside of AOTY of every album I have listened to since I first started using streaming services in 2015. Since joining this site in 2023, the amount of new music, both new in age and new to me, has increased substantially. So much so that To Pimp a Butterfly is now the 1,000th album I have listened to.

I don't come from a background where I listened to much hip-hop, so it's a genre I'm not very familiar with. The context of many hip-hop albums is quite alien to ... read more

My first experience of Sextile's work isn't without its flaws, but overall, it's a catchy and danceable EBM album that hits way more than it misses. It’s a really varied listen, shifting between moods and textures, but I found myself gravitating more towards the upbeat tracks—they’re where the album truly shines.

Model/Actriz sidestep the dreaded second-album slump with an absolutely incredible industrial dance-fest. This one feels a touch more approachable than their debut—but not in a way that dulls their edge. In fact, some of the more ballad-like tracks emerge as unexpected standouts.

It would be disingenuous to categorise f5ve's debut album as just another J-Pop record, because there's so much more at play here. Whilst the core elements are undeniably poppy and fun, there are traces of more experimental bubblegum bass and hyperpop—possibly due to A. G. Cook's production on much of the album.

It's catchy, fun, and bouncy, and well worth your time, even if you aren't generally a J-Pop fan.

I really enjoy Satti's mix of Balkan-Pop and Electropop. It's such a rewarding combo that doesn't grow old.

Hearing that this is Tennis' final album is a shame, especially since I only discovered them through their 2023 release, which I really enjoyed.

This album leans more heavily on guitar and feels quite safe. They’re not pushing any boundaries, and while there’s nothing bad about the music, few tracks truly stand out. It’s by no means a bad record, but I doubt I’ll revisit anything here.

After nearly 30 years of consistent output, Deerhoof prove they can still deliver an incredible album. "Noble and Godlike in Ruin" is equally experimental and political, but above all, it’s a supremely fun listen—blending their signature flavours of experimental and indie rock to near perfection. My only complaint is the brevity of many songs on this project; there are definitely a few that could benefit from being a minute or two longer.

Even though there are a small number of tracks that fall flat, Doechii's mixtape is almost always high-quality, creative, and fun.

Cloth straddle the line between being super chill and occasionally a bit boring on this record. While they mostly stick the landing with gorgeous, airy vocals, shoegazy guitars, and light drums, the album sometimes falls flat, feeling a bit monotonous. Still, it's definitely worth a go if you're into indie rock—it may suit your taste more than mine.

Unlike my previous Charli review, I wasn't really looking forward to listening to "CRASH" as I was never massively excited by any cuts I heard from it. And whilst it isn't as mid as some people (Fantano) say it is, it also isn't as great as pretty much all of her post-2016 output. It's very mixed, with some good tracks here and there, but a lot of it just feels very flat. It's just good, not great, I guess.