This is a really great EP. The instrumentation here is amazing, and the saxophone mixed with the heavy drums really creates an experience that feels like you're ascending. The four tracks blend in seamlessly to make a project that just stuns you. Seriously, that brass is really something else. I can't say for sure how original this is, since I'm rather new to exploring the post-rock genre, but what I do know is that this is a great-flowing EP that invokes a grand feeling unique ... read more

I saw a lot of hype surrounding this album when it released, and so I had pretty high expectations going into it. I can't really say I get the hype. This is just kind of normal pop music with some dance and electronic energy. Sometimes it works, but at other moments, it can come off as forced. Everything here works enough, but the short runtime and quick tracks means that it's hard for it to leave an impact on you. Rebecca Black may not be bad, but I don't think she's the ... read more

A pretty solid EP from NMIXX! Unlike the LE SSERAFIM EP I reviewed a couple weeks ago, this actually has creative work put into it to ensure that there's energy into the project. Decent voices, fun production, catchy beats, and a nice range from RnB to pop to some elements of trap. Just overall pretty nice, and it's good to see a K-Pop group that is focused on making more artistic releases instead of just cranking out things for the sake of streams.

It's an alright EP. There's only so much you can do in only 10 minutes of runtime, and even less you can say about it. There's some solid flow here, and it's not by any means bad, but the entire project whips by you so fast that it's hard for it to leave any impact. Also, fuck off with the AI opening track. keep ai out of music holy fucking shit

Ghost is a band that I think a lot of AOTY members kind of misunderstand. I see many former Ghost fans and metal enjoyers hating on this album for being a shift away from that sound, but I honestly think this shift works in their favor, because at the end of the day, Ghost was never even that serious. While they still have real moments, a lot of their music works when it's fun. There's nothing like seeing their gothic cult-like image, and then listening to some pure dad rock ripped ... read more

I'm giving this a 69 because I have no idea how to seriously rank this. I've never been too into Skrillex's music, but this is an alright album. It's definitely overstimulating, but it kind of works in a backwards way, where there's so much shit going on that the entire album feels like one long song, or a radio station glitching out. The record is also just honestly really fucking funny; the DJ Smokey taglines the whole way through are actual musical cinema. Aside from ... read more

This one actually surprised me! In my search for 2025 releases, not many have really appealed to me. Cowards is a different story. It's a creative and almost experimental post-rock album with some really good production. It reminds me a little bit of Gorillaz's spoken word sections, but taking the full leap and embracing it. It's an emotional record with lots of really impactful lyrics about humanity. While the album does sort of lull at moments, it definitely makes up for it ... read more

I don't think this kind of folk is really for me, but this is a solid enough release. There's a good amount of energy put into this album. and some of the writing is nice, despite coming off as a little overdone at points. I just wish the album was a little less boring; the second half is really interesting and full of some great songs, but the first half can lag a bit until you hit Pale White Horse. It's fine, and those who like the genre might even love it, but it's not ... read more

At first, looking at the tags, I was kind of concerned seeing Djo switch away from the Synthpop sound, since I think it could have been improved on to make a great follow up record. But, after listening to this, I actually really enjoy this style change. The Crux may not be a perfect record by any means, but it's an authentic one. There are so many little moments and lines that make you know it's really indie. The counting going up to 29 on Gap Toothed Smile was particularly funny. I ... read more

This was a pretty good listen. I don't have the context behind Weatherday, but I'm sure this lives up to a 6 year wait for hardcore fans. On its own, though, Hornet Disaster is a solid album. There's a lot of emotion behind the vocals, and the instrumentation is nice. It feels raw and aggressive due to the distorted instruments. I do feel like a couple songs could have been cut out to make it a more concise project, but I'm also not opposed to longer album times. While I ... read more

Before we start, little monsters, dont forget that your fav has repeatedly overstepped BDS lines to play shows in Israel while they were actively killing Palestinian children

This album on its own would be fine, but I feel like the fact that it's come from Lady Gaga makes it kind of worse. Let me explain: I feel like a lot of the acclaim behind Lady Gaga when she was just growing was that she was shameless and outspoken. She didn't care about fame or public image, and that shows from ... read more

choke enough is a project where it feels like if PinkPantheress tried to be FKA twigs. This project is kind of iffy. It teeters on being boring and interesting depending on the production of each track. I'm not big on the more lowkey tracks, as well as the muffled sounds. When it's good, though, it's pretty great! songs like endless, harvest sky and blade bird are nice and fun. I don't have a lot else to say, but between the 11 full songs in the approximately 33 minute ... read more

This one was alright, but it didn't do much for me. It's fine and all, don't get me wrong, but the production here just felt a little unmemorable. Jennie has a few nice songs here, I thought Mantra was nice, but besides that, most of the memorable songs here seem to be the features. She pulls in some big names here, from Dua Lipa to Childish Gambino, but the best moments on the album tend to be where they outshine her. For instance, my favorite moment was Doechii's verse on ... read more

This was a fine album and all, but after listening to this, I don't really think this genre is all for me. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but I just don't think I like black metal. The instrumentation here is actually wonderful, and there's some great instrumentals. Maybe this is an ignorant or uneducated take of mine, though, but I just couldn't get into the vocals. The writing is good, but when I listen to the album, his voice is drowned out by the instruments, ... read more

I hate to be dogging on this so much, because I think AOTY has a general problem of hating on Kpop all the time and not giving it a shot. But, listening to this EP, I really can't say much I got out of it. Nothing here is particulatly bad, but nothing here left any impact on me. I feel like I've heard most of these songs before; they feel almost like they're trying to be radio hits. Additionally, a 5-track EP being only 12 minutes means that most of the songs are under 3 minutes, ... read more

This was a really nice time. I think I just particularly enjoy this kind of sample-heavy rap music where despite the production, the personality and flow really shines through. It's dense lyrically, sonically, and the songs are able to catch your ears through both the rapping and the flow of the backing track. This isn't anything phenomenal, and not every track hits, but I don't think it's in any position to be called bad at all. This is just a really solid hip hop album, ... read more

Wow this is actually just really really bad. The album is 20 minutes and 10 tracks, every beat is the same and horribly mixed so the bass is hard fucking your ears, the lyrics and flow remains the exact same, and Soulja Boy sounds like he's been smoking for 43 years. I can hear the grinding in his throat and it's viscerally uncomfortable. ESPECIALLY IN Back in LA. I am only listening to this because I wanted to listen to every 2025 album, and this technically counted because I heard ... read more

Forgot to log this when I listened to it a couple nights ago. Gemini Rights is a pretty good album overall! This is one of those albums that has a kind of bad reputation for being "basic", but listening to it in full, I enjoy this quite a bit. Steve Lacy in general deserves more respect on his name. The fact that he's such a talented producer on such primitive equipment just shows his versatility, and he's also got a good voice to boot. As for the album itself, it starts off ... read more

This is a pretty great listen so far, and easily one of the best album releases I've listened to so far that's come out of 2025. I can't compare it to The Turning Wheel, as I haven't listened to it yet, but this album was pretty powerful. Her vocals remind me of a mix between Rina Sawayama and FKA twigs, two very artistic and particular artists. Her lyricism and production are also great here, making captivating songs that walk the line between rock and rnb. It packs in a ... read more

I mean, this is perfectly okay pop music. There's nothing really wrong with this type of music, but I do admit that I got kind of bored with it halfway in. Nothing in this album is really bad, and it's completely serviceable, but it's also not the best. The thing is, I feel like she could make a lot better of an album, but it feels too overproduced. It almost feels as if there's a filter on her voice, or something else that's holding her back. I wish I had more deep ... read more