2025 Albums, Part One

So this year, like years past, I'm listening to a lot of projects that came out in the year. Unlike prior years, I want to maybe do this more publicly, so every so often I'll share a list of albums that I thought were great or interesting or merited a revisit at some point.

With each album I highlight I'd like to provide a little info about what it is or what I like about it. I'll probably say little about releases that I've seen get more press, and I hope to say a little more about albums I've seen less about. Also worth note is that I'm using the loosest possible definition of 'album'. EPs and mixtapes will definitely show up on here, basically anything larger than a single is going to be under consideration. In no particular order, but probably close to the order in which I encountered them.

Here's the first ten!

Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

One of his best, I really appreciate the direction he's taken in this one

SWAMP THUG, bromethazine - THUG ZINE 003: AGAINST ENTROPY

Chill rapping, solid jazzy beats, well-executed, lyrics are interesting and good. Good start to the year for hip hop from some folks that are new to me

Ethel Cain - Perverts

Very very cool album. Wonderful mix of eerie ambient environmental somethings combined with vocals in distinct and expressive ways. One of the more interesting albums I've heard in a while

Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions - Cold Blows the Rain

Lovely collection of what I can best describe as dirges. A very wintry album

Laurent Durupt - Frankensteinway, Vol. 1

A charming experimental classical piano album, it's familiar yet inventive, and a really easy and fun listen

death's dynamic shroud.wmv - Dream is Over

This feels like a modern take on some older electronic pop trends. Manages to pull things from the past without getting mired in it

Ela Minus - DÍA

This album reminds me of Björk in some compelling ways

Khadija Al Hanafi - !OK!

Out of Tunisia, some of the best footwork I've heard in a while. Great energy, makes me wanna dance

FKA twigs - EUSEXUA

Pretty interesting pop album

Pink Siifu - BLACK'!ANTIQUE

A cool album, it does a lot and does it well. Loaded with features and a great variety of interesting production