Scubadiver is back with a lead single from what could be his first LP in almost three years!

I loved his "Search Session" era last year, some of the most authentic pop music out there. With Navigator, Scuba provides his own lane of pop music once again, filled to the brim with warmth and creativity.

It’s a song that sounds like it could’ve landed on one of his Search Session single packs last year, with an instrumental built around that beautiful, psychedelic guitar, ... read more

Quaranta is Danny Brown’s first solo album as a considered hip-hop “unc,” where his confessional introspection explores themes of growing up in Detroit, staying devoted to rap despite his age, becoming less lascivious, using music as a bridge through his struggles, and embracing sobriety.

We’ve seen wilder, more energetic albums from him before, but on Quaranta, you really have to sit down and appreciate the penmanship, while the lush production, that's true to its ... read more

Don't ask why I chose this album to be my introduction to Aphex Twin, but i'm happy it was, as this is such a wild experience.

The spazzing breakbeats are the obvious highlight for me, but they’re strangely complemented by some of the most awkward, almost peculiarly sneaky melodies of all time. Especially toward the back end of the album, we get these whimsical instrumentals that feel like they’ve been lifted straight out of a quirky fantasy play. I'm for sure ... read more

Man what a unique blend of glitch hop and hip-hop, creating a wild remixed world of rapid-fire programmed drums, sampling recognised rap artists like Yeat, Lil Uzi and Carti. The second half does let this project down alot but I really respect the experimentation overall.

Favourite songs: 4 angel, did and maim.

Least favourite: 10 on 10.

Another album with the vintage and nostalgic atmosphere of the 2000s, brilliant breakbeats and a slight house vibe. If it ain't broke don't fix it, and this sound will never be broken in my eyes. Great album.

Favourite songs: cloud, genesis and savestate.

Least favourite: world.

I completely forgot this project existed. I LOVED this thing in 2020, and surprisingly, still do. It's obviously such a mixed bag in bangers and pretty forgettable tracks, but the bangers on here are BANNNNGGGERSSS. We moved on from this era of rap too quickly and I don't care when anyone says, this shit defined an era of some of the most enjoyable rap music.

Slayyyter really came out of nowhere for me. I had only first heard of her a couple of weeks before this album’s release. I can definitely see what all the hype is about though, as WORST GIRL IN AMERICA is going to end up being THE party album people remember from 2026.

The production is consistently great, with a seamless blend of industrial and electronic music. The synth bass on most tracks really drives everything forward, and the overall abrasive approach to each mix hits hard. I ... read more

BULLY further reinforces my opinion that Kanye should've retired after Donda.

Well, at least it's a slight improvement over VULTURES. Although i'm not 100% sure, there's totally AI scattered throughout this whole album. Either its AI, or Kanye giving minimum energy to these horribly written and performed verses. At least the opening track and ALL THE LOVE are actually great, just really should've stopped at track 4.

The production is bearable when industrial, but ... read more

I really bought this album on Vinyl expecting some simple and smooth Jazz. I guess I should've read the genres, as on Bitches Brew, Miles Davis and the rest of the band run absolutely rampant for an hour and a half.

The compositions are incredible, allowing each band member to use their talents and improvise a sprawling mural of something so unconventionally beautiful. It's like each instrument is in a competitive battle with each other to grab your attention. I really can't ... read more

Danny’s follow-up to his magnum opus is his most accessible album to date. It’s short, but consistent and immediate.

Uknowhatimsayin¿ contains brilliant feature work, some of Danny's catchiest hooks, and a perfect balance of wild and banging production. Danny remains as whimsical as ever while still spitting on tracks like 3 Tearz and Savage Nomad. RTJ are the stand-out feature on this album for me, but also seeing Blood Orange on the Shine felt like a surreal ... read more

Jim Legxacy is still that guy in the UK scene.

After a 9 month rollout, U is finally here!!!!

Underscores has quickly become one of my favourite artists, especially after her generational late 2025 run, from her work on Danny Brown’s latest album, to the release of Do It, easily one of the best pop-adjacent songs of the decade, Underscores has really proved that she has the work ethic and talent to become one of the biggest artists in the world.

"U" showcases this wonderful ear that Underscores has for curating the most ... read more

Danny Brown transcends to another level on Atrocity Exhibition. It's an unrelenting manic episode of the most out-there rap music you'll ever hear.

AE is a dark experience. Throughout the album, we see Danny battling his severe problem of drug usage, downward spiralling his life into a dark hole. This heavily contrasts the Danny we heard on his earlier projects, who seemed to treat this problem as a prowess. Thanks to Danny's hunger and lyricism reaching its prime, Danny ... read more

Wowwww these additional tracks just make the whole experience even better. What an album!!!

I had to get around to this album before the release of U, and of course this album just had to be a world-building masterclass.

Wallsocket's whimsical concept and detailed character lore may seem confusing and messy on paper, but Underscores clears the long road ahead through her one of a kind production, vividly immersing you in this virtual town. The tunes are absolutely stunning aswell, so catchy and colorful, the balance of mellow and upbeat energy is amazing too. Locals (Girls like ... read more

Old is Danny's most experimental endeavour in his first few years of mainstream attention, with 2 sides of aggressive energy, intense introspection, electronic madness and undeniably hard flows.

This is the most I’ve learned about Danny as a person from any single album of his. His lyrical performances are visceral and personal on tracks like Torture, Lonely and Clean Up. The first six tracks are killer, but the sudden shift in pace during these three songs allows Danny to open up ... read more

Although lacking memorable hooks and a clearer execution, with some repetitive tracks occurring, Strictly 4 The Scythe's highlights and standout features like TiaCorine and A$AP Ferg really bring this experience to life with energetic flows and disgusting delivery. HOOPTY is genuinely going to end up as one of my favourite rap songs of the year and I really can't tell you why, you just gotta wait for it to click and you'll understand. Overall i'm looking forward to see more ... read more

It should be considered a crime to listen to this project on shuffle.

Slayr doubles down on the Half-Blood experience, carefully curating one of the best rage projects........ever. This whole experience feels like 20 different roller-coasters intertwining and converging into one ride you'll never forget. Each transition is so energetic and technically jaw-dropping, i'm left in awe within the first eight bars. It’s such a refreshing and innovative approach to a genre I had ... read more

Forgot to rate this one after listening to the offline version about a year ago lol. If anyone even cares to hear my thoughts on this one, just read my offline version review here: https://www.albumoftheyear.org/user/samutft/album/428719-lp-offline-version/
I pretty much feel the same about both versions so I don't wanna write a whole new review lol. Amazing album.

The Gorillaz become a powerful vessel for channeling the hardships of grief and turning them into a mountain meant to be climbed in the most romanticised way.

The Mountain is a seamless blend of culture and genre, forming one beautifully bittersweet and immersive experience. We’ve seen levels of immersion on Gorillaz albums before, but this time it’s taken up another notch. Although some of Albarn’s vocals can occasionally throw me off, you just gotta love an album with this ... read more