If you rewind the clock five or six years and look at the rap landscape, names like Lil Mosey, Roddy Ricch, and Lil Tecca would likely come up, young artists who saw quick rises with a handful of viral hits. For Tecca, Ransom was the defining moment: a massive track that earned him widespread attention. But outside of that success, his career has often felt lukewarm, marked by fleeting relevance and underwhelming projects.

Many claimed he “fell off,” but truthfully, Tecca never ... read more

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard might sound like a novelty act at first glance; their name alone suggests chaos or comedy but their music is far from a joke. On Phantom Island, the Australian psych-rock collective continues to prove their mastery in genre-bending, blending progressive rock, glam rock, and a touch of experimental flair into a sonically ambitious yet accessible record.

The album thrives on its dynamic instrumentation: gritty guitars, layered percussion, and well-measured ... read more

Alive in the Catacombs by Queens of the Stone Age presents a stripped-back, acoustic-driven experience that fuses folk rock with bursts of noise rock energy. Clocking in at around 30 minutes across five tracks, the live performance leans into a more intimate atmosphere with slow-burning production and subdued vocals, showcasing a different side of the band. While “Villains of Circumstance” falls flat due to underwhelming vocals and uninspired production, the remaining tracks deliver ... read more

There’s something inherently magical about the fusion of jazz and rap. When done well, the result can be transcendent. While some artists struggle to balance these complex elements, McKinley Dixon thrives in this hybrid space. Though I wasn't familiar with his work before Magic, Alive!, diving into this project revealed why he's considered one of the most consistent and critically respected voices in jazz-infused conscious rap today.

Magic, Alive! is a whirlwind of sound; ... read more

Rappers often struggle to tap into universal human experiences. Many lean into materialism, others focus on issues specific to a narrow demographic but few manage to capture the emotional nuance of everyday life with both lyrical depth and musical excellence. Little Simz is one of those rare artists. With Lotus, she delivers a stunning collection of songs that feel deeply personal yet widely relatable, weaving intimate narratives with razor-sharp lyricism and effortlessly captivating ... read more

Mother Mother has been a staple in the alt-rock scene for nearly two decades. With that kind of longevity, one might expect a refined sound or some semblance of critical acclaim, but instead, they’ve landed in a frustrating limbo: consistent enough to maintain a fanbase, yet rarely remarkable enough to break through the noise. Their newest album, Nostalgia, is a glaring example of this underachievement and perhaps their most disappointing effort yet.

Let’s start with the good: the ... read more

Addison Rae’s self-titled debut, Addison, is a surprisingly strong and well-constructed entry into the world of alternative pop, one that defies the expectations typically set for TikTok stars crossing into music.

Once known primarily for viral dances and her magnetic personality on TikTok, Addison Rae has successfully begun to shift her public identity from influencer to legitimate pop artist. Unlike many of her contemporaries, such as Charli and Dixie D’Amelio, Addison’s ... read more

If someone asked me to list albums you must hear before you die, my list would include both the certified classics and the curious outliers; the ones praised by critics, or those with titles and covers so compelling they beg a listen. For me, one of those long-awaited albums was You Won’t Get What You Want by Daughters.

This record, from the once-obscure and now cult-acclaimed noise rock band, is a sonic descent into chaos. It's grotesque, it's unrelenting, and yet, ... read more

Swans, the legendary experimental/post-rock collective led by Michael Gira, have been pushing boundaries for over four decades. While their early output was raw and visceral, their post-2012 era has embraced sprawling, meditative soundscapes that redefine what an album experience can be. Birthing, their latest release, continues this ambitious trajectory, clocking in at over two hours and averaging 17 minutes per track. Yet somehow, it never feels excessive.

The beauty of Birthing lies in its ... read more

"Something Beautiful" by Miley Cyrus is a triumphant return to form and arguably one of her most cohesive and captivating records to date. Blending pop rock, art pop, and dance pop, the album feels tailor-made to showcase Miley's versatility and strength as a performer. Each track feels intentional, with thoughtfully crafted melodies and infectious choruses that stick with you long after the song ends.

What truly elevates this album is Miley's vocal delivery, her voice is ... read more

Aesop Rock is a towering figure in abstract hip-hop; renowned for his dense lyricism, complicated rhyme schemes, and abstract storytelling. With over two decades of work rooted in the underground scenes of New York, expectations for Black Hole Superette were understandably high. However, the album feels disjointed and inconsistent, despite flashes of brilliance.

Aesop’s signature wordplay is ever-present, but the execution often feels more performative than purposeful. The record leans ... read more

Evangelic Girl is a Gun by yeule is a scattered, yet often captivating project that tries to balance dreamy alt-rock with glitchy, experimental pop textures. The record opens on a high note, immediately showcasing yeule’s strength in atmospheric production, distinct vocal delivery, and an ability to paint emotive sonic landscapes. The first few tracks feel fully realized, with layered instrumentation, emotionally charged lyricism, and a confident tone that sets expectations ... read more

Whenever a new artist builds momentum through singles or EPs, there's always a sense of anticipation. A debut album/mixtape should be a moment, one that defines a new artist’s voice, showcases their evolution, and proves they’re worth the attention. But in the case of PlaqueBoyMax and his debut Five Forever, that moment never really comes.

Max isn’t just some underground name; he's cultivated a massive, loyal fanbase and is backed by one of the most influential ... read more

Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown is a wildly inventive and boundary-pushing record, often cited as one of his finest works. I first discovered Danny through Scaring the Hoes, his chaotic, genre-bending collaboration with JPEGMAFIA, which immediately showed his knack for experimentation and unpredictability. That same spirit runs even deeper through Atrocity Exhibition.

This album is jarring by design. The opening track admittedly didn’t connect with me, feeling more abrasive than ... read more

FOREVER by EKKSTACY is a moody fusion of slowcore and dream pop, laced with shades of post-punk and indie melancholy. At its best, the record offers atmospheric soundscapes, infectious vocal deliveries, and emotionally resonant hooks that capture the hazy, drifting quality of the genre. Tracks like the opener and the closer demonstrate EKKSTACY’s ability to craft immersive sonic environments, where dreamy textures meet raw vulnerability. His vocal tone, while understated, complements the ... read more

Rico Nasty’s LETHAL is an ambitious but uneven effort, caught between sonic experimentation and genre convention. Centered around rage and trap influences, the album attempts to carve out a unique identity. Yet, ironically, it's when Rico leans into punk and pop, styles she touches on sparingly, that her artistry truly shines.

The opener sets a high-energy tone, with hype-driven production and catchy if not particularly groundbreaking choruses. Unfortunately, as the record unfolds, ... read more

Rage music, at its core, often teeters on a fine line between chaotic innovation and derivative noise. While originators like Playboi Carti have elevated the genre through boundary-pushing aesthetics and charisma, many followers struggle to carve out a unique voice. Lucy Bedroque’s Unmusique attempts to dip into that same pool, but ends up treading water more than swimming forward.

From the outset, there’s promise. The opening track blends familiar rage elements with hints of ... read more

Alexandra Savior’s Beneath The Lilypad is, in a word, beautiful. It’s a lush, emotionally textured record that showcases not only her ethereal voice but also a clear artistic vision. The production is layered and cinematic, with string sections woven delicately throughout the album, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. Savior’s vocals, soft yet powerful, strike a unique balance between vulnerability and precision. Her use of stacked vocal layers adds ... read more

Funeral Music by Triathalon lives up to its name, but not in a poetic or emotionally gripping way. Instead, it’s an album weighed down by its own lack of energy, delivering an experience that feels more like a musical coma than a cathartic release. While the concept suggests emotional depth or introspective mourning, what we get instead is something frustratingly lifeless and uninspired.

From the jump, the album’s ambient production attempts to build mood but ultimately collapses ... read more

Aminé’s 13 Months of Sunshine caught my attention quickly, partly because I hadn’t checked in with him since his 2018 mixtape ONEPOINTFIVE. While I don’t claim to be deeply familiar with his full catalog, there’s always been something engaging about his approach to blending rap with lighter, pop-adjacent sounds. Unfortunately, this latest release feels like an ambitious experiment that doesn’t fully come together.

One of the most notable qualities of the ... read more