 |
| Art card by Zachary Bernabe |
HELLO, and WELCOME TO MY 2025 LIST!
28. Mac DeMarco - 'Guitar'
27. CHAEYOUNG - 'LIL FANTASY vol. 1'
JYP Entertainment Corporation • September 12 In under 21 minutes, coming into CHAEYOUNG’s debut album with a different set of expectations was the most satisfying part of listening to this album. As part of the Korean girl group TWICE, I expected that this debut was going to be more inclined towards the style of her fellow group members’ solo work. But as I think about it, in TWICE, CHAEYOUNG was THE Cubao expo girl of the group. So when I began listening to the first song “AVOCADO,” the instruments were indie instrumentaling hard and I was like damnnnn, this is fresh! From song to song, CHAEYOUNG goes from Indie to R&B and back, and it honestly is just a good 21 minutes of vibe-y chill. I’m glad that CHAEYOUNG chose this direction for her debut as it really sets her apart from a lot of the manufactured albums that we see from the solo debuts of her peers in the industry.
26. Fujii Kaze - 'Prema'
Republic Records / UNIVERSAL SIGMA / HEHN RECORDS • September 5 Coming off his greatest hits tour with visits to locations in Asia, Europe, and North America, Fujii Kaze releases “Prema,” his third studio album. To switch things around this time, Kaze’s “Prema” was advertised as his first English-language studio album, as the previous two were in Japanese. And although I could confidently say that I enjoyed his previous works so much more than “Prema,” I believe that this album still had its moments that kept it on my rotation this year. On “Casket Girl” there is a part in the outro that I have been raving about ever since. Those space-y chords that transition into “I Need U Back,” will always keep me floating every time I come back to it. The fourth song on this album, “Love Like This” is the best song on “Prema.” This song literally has the perfect radio fade in intro, and aside from that, the chorus as Kaze sings “I’ll never find another love like this, it’s true” honestly takes us to the signature Fujii Kaze charm that transports your mind to a place of calm. Further down the album is “You” that follows the retro blueprint “Love Like This” carries. Honestly, the reason why this song stood out to me is because I saw that Kaze wanted to try out his 90s R&B songwriting skills, and with the sound that he has been using since the very beginning, it expectedly goes perfectly for this type of sound aesthetic.
25. Doja Cat - 'Vie'
Kemosabe Records / RCA Records • September 26 On her fifth studio album, it is obvious that Doja Cat had a great time creating “Vie”. As you listen from song to song, you would realize that she locked in and stayed ultra focused for the tracklist in order to attain the feeling of hopping from one dance party to another. From the moment I listened to this for the first time, it became one of those instances where I realized that I had to include this on the list. From songs such as “AAAH MEN!," "Couples Therapy,” “Stranger,” and the SZA featured “Take Me Dancing,” Doja Cat’s “Vie” lets itself be known that this latest project from her deserves to be labelled her best work so far.
24. Sabrina Carpenter - 'Man's Best Friend'
Island Records / UMG Records • August 29 A year after her sixth studio album "Short n’ Sweet,” I was honestly surprised that Sabrina Carpenter immediately had a follow-up to her biggest album so far, home to hits such as “Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Juno.” I was too used to artists taking their time before releasing their albums again, but with Sabrina, it was obvious that she has been working late all year. On “Man’s Best Friend,” I felt that I enjoyed this album more than "Short n’ Sweet,” as the album was so much more consistent and that the humor on this was on point. On songs such as “Tears,” “Never Getting Laid,” or “House Tour” Sabrina showcases her signature satirical comedy as she navigates disappointment from the relationships that she experiences. If there’s one takeaway from this album it’s that you brodies should stop breaking Sabrina’s heart!
23. FKA twigs - 'EUSEXUA'
Young / Atlantic Records • January 24
As my first FKA twigs album, I did not really know what to expect coming into “EUSEXUA.” It was earlier this year when I first heard this record, then again recently when writing this review. I realized that this record sounded like traveling late at night without a destination, trying to figure out your fleeting thoughts. The fact that the somber mood of the album is mixed in with bangers makes it such a combination that works perfectly in its own way. I did not see much discussions about this album this year which was unfortunate, because with songs such as, “Drums of Death,” or the moody title track, “EUSEXUA” deserves to be on a list of favorites this year.
22. KAYTRANADA - 'AIN'T NO DAMN WAY!'
RCA Records • August 15
In contrast to the guest-filled third studio album, “TIMELESS,” with fantastic highlights such as “Drip Sweat,” “Witchy,” and “Snap My Finger,” we find KAYTRANADA leaving behind the typical “album by a producer” trope where you invite guests to perform on the songs while you manage the production of the music. Alone on this newest release, “AIN’T NO DAMN WAY!” KAYTRANADA curates a 12 track DJ’s setlist that is similar to those that you could stumble upon on YouTube. And that’s not a bad thing of course, because these mixes are one of the best things you could find on the platform. With this album, KAYTRANADA lets his instrumentals take front and center, (except for the remix that includes vocals from one of my favorite TLC songs, entitled on this album, “DO IT! (AGAIN!).” I remember the first time hearing the drums on “SPACE INVADER,” when it was first released as a single, and I thought to myself how I haven’t heard fresh drums like that in a while. The way it bounces made me realize that maybe, this album was worth it to increase song volumes, and damage my ears.
21. PinkPantheress - 'Fancy That'
Warner Records UK • May 9 After 2023’s “Heaven knows” being one of my favorite albums of that year, I’ve always anticipated when the next PinkPantheress will be. And so, when she released “Tonight” as the lead single of her second mixtape, “Fancy That” felt as if I entered a rabbit hole to Y2K wonderland. I remembered that I had that song on loop for about thirty minutes straight (my Spotify says that I listened to it 93 times). Then she releases her second single of the mixtape, “Stateside,” and you notice how the production on these songs are just getting better and better and that she was developing her skills as a musician. She was leveling up her game. Although “Fancy That” only has nine songs, this mixtape perfectly showcased how PinkPantheress is just getting started, and that there is more to come.
20. CA7TRIEL & Paco Amoroso - 'PAPOTA'
5020 Records • March 6 CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso are an Argentinian duo and “PAPOTA” is their first extended play. The first time I ever heard of the duo were through festival posters, but the moment I started to really take notice was when they became the opening act for Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National Tour for Mexico, Brazil, Argentina & Chile. Then, I stumbled upon their NPR Tiny Desk Concert and I was so surprised how mesmerizing and slick the entire performance was. “PAPOTA” includes the entire tiny desk set, plus four new songs, which I believe makes this extended play a great introduction to the duo if you plan on getting into their music. Songs such as “EL DIA DEL AMIGO” or “DUMBAI” are perfect examples of the duo’s capabilities as rising stars.
19. Wet Leg - 'moisturizer'
Domino • July 11
Wet Leg’s “moisturizer” is just pure band fun. On songs such as “catch these fists,” “pond song,” “pokemon” and “pillow talk,” we see a perfect example of a band that has chemistry. Wet Leg is one of the new artists that I discovered this year and I became an immediate fan. On my first listen of this album, I remember enjoying the project so much that right after the last song played, I immediately listened to their self-titled debut right after. Since they’ve only released two albums so far, I am excited about what the future holds for Wet Leg, and where they will bring their sound as they continue to develop from album to album.
18. Kali Uchis - 'Sincerely,'
Capitol Records • October 3
If there are two things that I could rely on from Kali Uchis, it’s that one, every album that I anticipate from her has some of the best atmospheric production that you will hear. Two, is that it will always end up as one of my favorites of the year it was released. Although her sound has been very consistent ever since 2020’s “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios),” it is always the type of music that I could rely on to just space off to and enjoy a solid uninterrupted thirty or forty minutes of Kali Uchis singing to you angelically over the most godly production. On “Sincerely,” “Sugar! Honey! Love!” is a perfect example of how Kali Uchis displays her signature artistic sound.
17. Fred again.. - 'USB002'
Atlantic Records UK / Warner Music UK • December 12
10 weeks. 10 songs. 10 cities. Fred again..’s infinite album “USB” that began in 2022, gets an expansion this year with the release of “USB002.” As a compilation of weekly singles, Fred manages to capture the atmosphere of a dark rave with the various raging bass synths, catchy hooks, and guest features that are perfect when blasted to the highest volume. From songs such as “ICEY…,” “Beto’s Horns,” “Talk of the Town” or “Facilita,” “USB002” manages to keep the groove running, and is one of the primary culprits for the hearing loss that I have been experiencing recently.
16. Ninajirachi - 'I Love My Computer'
NLV Records • August 8 Ninajirachi’s “I Love My Computer” is the dark horse addition to this list. On my first listen through a speaker, I thought that I didn’t really enjoy this as much as it was hyped online. But after deciding to give it another chance with an earpiece, I must say that the experience was a complete 180 degree shift. It was so much worth it. On her debut album, Australian artist Ninajirachi creates an electronic Y2K project that takes us from songs such as the vocally chopped up “CSIRAC,” to the bass driven “Battery Death,” and finally the crazy as hell intro of the final track “All At Once.” There are a lot of electronic projects on this year's ender list, and I believe that this is one of the best made ones, especially when respecting the concept of the album.
15. Little Simz - 'Lotus'
AWAL Recordings • June 6
I was first introduced to Little Simz through her 2021 album, “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” and I remembered that it felt like I discovered instant gold to add to my Spotify album collection. In 2022, she releases “NO THANK YOU” and I must admit that I haven’t listened to this album yet because I have a weird tendency to get lazy to listen to my artists and listen to too much music, that it gets overwhelming. I did not skip last year’s party ready “Drop 7” though, and I was glad that I didn’t because it reinvigorated my interest in Little Simz’s music. That project reminded me that she is the goat that I should be paying attention to and that I should not skip her music releases. And so, this year when “Lotus” was released I gave the entire album a go and my expectations were once again shifted. I expected it to sound a lot like “Drop 7” but instead, “Lotus” offers us non-electronic drums and emotional vulnerability. I remember listening to “Blood” for the first time and thought that this song stood out he most from my entire first experience of this album. It is a story about a brother and sister catching up in life after a while, calling each other out about where their current familial bond is at. And to think about it, the concept of this song is not usually seen in a lot of music now, so hearing something like this on a song was such a shift in the stuff that I was used to hearing.
14. Joey Valence & Brae - 'HYPERYOUTH'
JVB Entertainment / RCA Records • August 15
This high energy rap duo is honestly one of the greatest rap acts to have recently popped out. After discovering them on their 2024 album “NO HANDS,” (which I also highly recommend), this year’s “HYPERYOUTH” was honestly one of my most anticipated albums of the year. From the lead single featuring JPEGMAFIA entitled “WASSUP,” this album is energy-filled from front to back. One of my favorite songs this year is from the album called “IS THIS LOVE” and I think after all the aggressive club bangers that the duo has produced, this was the first time I’ve seen them dip their toes in making a love song. One of the goofiest and is my favorite line on this song has to be: “Collab post on IG, come on, girl, you know that would eat” because it is so cliché as hell but the comedic line delivery makes it so iconic.
13. The Weeknd - 'Hurry Up Tomorrow'
12. Ichiko Aoba - 'Luminescent Creatures'
11. Hayley Williams - 'Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party'
Post Atlantic • November 7
First surfacing on a website and later on released as a complete project, “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party” marks Hayley Williams’ return after Paramore’s 2023 album, “This Is Why.” Honestly, the Paramore comeback was one of my favorite albums of that year, and so, as a new fan, I immediately had high expectations for their next project. However, unexpectedly, Hayley Williams decides to pursue a different route on what comes next, and releases her third studio album as a follow-up. On an album this massive, I was glad that she did not let me down as this was a pure hour of engaging songwriting and production. I don’t think there was one song where I felt bored, and songs such as “Mirtazipine,” and “Zissou” were just some standout tracks that are new favorites that I will definitely come back to. There are moments on the album where the songs cohesively go back to back from high energy performances to 10PM relapse type beats, and I must say that that was this album’s superpower because it showcases the passion Hayley Williams has for these songs from start to finish.
10. Lily Allen - 'West End Girl'
BMG • October 24
Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” is not the story with a happy ending that you are looking for on this year-end list. The album chronologically follows the events, breakdown, and reflections she had on her marriage with David Harbour (Stranger Things, Thunderbolts*), in possibly the most vulnerable way this year. On songs such as the title track, where on the second half of it, we literally hear Lily Allen receiving a call to get separated, or on “Madeline” where she confronts the woman who allegedly sleeps with her ex-husband (which she later confirms), or on “4chan Stan” where we see her detail how she rummaged through her ex-husband’s bedside drawer to look for evidence. “West End Girl” gives us a question to ponder—what was all that effort and connection that you both went through if in the end, you choose to cheat?
09. McKinley Dixon - 'Magic, Alive!'
City Slang • June 6
The fifth studio album by McKinley Dixon “Magic, Alive!” is one of the best examples of a Jazz rap album in 2025. The project is under 40 minutes and is an example of blending rap storytelling withr some of the most theatrical jazz instrumentation that you will hear this year. “Magic, Alive!” is the perfect example that reminds us of what rap could and should be if we truly care about the music. Each song perfectly sets the scene with the jazz instrumentations as it prepares the listeners for the twists and turns that you may encounter while listening to the stories it has to tell. My only wish is I hope that on McKinley Dixon’s next album, Kamasi Washington shows up, as I really think that would be the perfect collaboration if this is the direction he wants to go with. If you are looking for a new album to listen to, I highly recommend “Magic, Alive!”
08. Mulatu Astatke - 'Mulatu Plays Mulatu'
Strut Records • September 26
When looking for new albums to listen to for myself and this review, one of the album covers that caught my attention was this album. It was one of the many on my list that sat unlistened to until recently, because of my habit of frequently coming back to my other favorites and procrastinating a lot of the other albums that I have on my list. So, when the time came that I had to write this review, I gave this album a listen from front to back. And to describe my experience, I must say that this record was honestly one that I would encourage others to listen to if they want to expand their critical palette. On “Mulatu Plays Mulatu” by the Father of Ethio-jazz, Mulatu Astatke, it confused me in a way that helped me think really hard about the music. And although challenging, I think that that was a great thing in helping me deepen my appreciation for the album. It was a difficult listen but in a good way. To honestly differentiate it from the usual albums that I would encounter—albums where I could turn my brain off for thirty to fifty minutes—this album forced me to understand critically and ask questions as to why this decision was made or where this song is going. On the song “Zèlèsègna Dèwèl,” there is a part around the six-minute mark where a lead percussion shows up. When I first heard it, I realized that although subtle, the direction on this song has reached a new level. Or on “Yèkermo Sèw,” the song has this element to it of dueling wind instruments that was so satisfying. “Chik Chikka” gave me an experience that was very uneasy, but I found myself really listening through trying to predict the unpredictable. Although my appreciation for this album sounded more technical, I must point out that I still did enjoy the album as is, but I think that I just really appreciated how it was able to teach me along the way.
07. Danny Brown - 'Stardust'
Warp Records • November 7
The last Danny Brown album that I listened to was the collaborative effort with rapper-producer JPEGMAFIA entitled, “SCARING THE HOES,” which was released in 2023. I remember listening to that album and feeling how this project sounded like microwaving fireworks on full heat, and how it was the best thing ever—it was fresh, violent, and the jokes were so unhinged. So when I heard that Danny Brown was going to make a hyperpop album, my brain immediately defaulted to: “Will it be sounding like 100 gecs’ “Money Machine?” At that time, there were only two singles released and I decided to give “Copycats” a listen. And I must say that upon listening, I thought to myself that this was one of the craziest songs that I’ve heard this year, in a way that the production was just going ham, and over it is Danny Brown’s signature high pitched delivery. ALSO, this song is really just three songs in one mp3 file, so expect a lot of beat switches. The crazy hyperpop world of “Stardust” goes on for almost 50 minutes, but it is honestly worth giving it a listen if you are trying out new sonics to widen your musical palette.
06. Clipse - 'Let God Sort Em Out'
Self-released • July 11
As someone who just started listening to hip-hop around 2017, despite loving this genre so much, it always felt like I was missing out on an artist that everyone in the hip-hop sphere was talking about. And I think that this applied to the Clipse, because I was already a fan of Pusha T but was not familiar with the duo that he used to be a part of up until recently. I was surprised that he had a side in his career that was this, because to me, I’ve always known Pusha T as a solo artist, or the dude that was heavily involved in collaborations with Kanye West. It always felt like Pusha was always secondary in the narratives that I followed, and that although I was a fan, it always felt like there was something off. But that all changed with their comeback album, “Let God Sort Em Out,” which was released after their sixteen-year hiatus ended. I was really surprised how the brothers were able to bring the best out of each other, which was an energy that I did not evidently observe from Pusha T before. In every live performance or interview I watched, I saw how Pusha T was so confident in promoting this album, and always took the lead at all times. Malice, on the other hand, became the nonchalant but lethal older brother who only spoke when he was sure to kill. Aside from the brotherly reunion that we witnessed, they also reunited with Pharrell Williams who returns in assisting them with the production for this album. With “Let God Sort Em Out,” this showed me how important it is that you find in your life what you love, and pour your attention to it, in order to unlock the best version of yourself.
05. ROSALÍA - 'LUX'
Columbia Records • November 7
Out of all the reviews that I have written for this list, this was by far the most difficult one to express correctly. I spent an entire afternoon thinking about how to put this album into words and to just process how I could properly describe the concepts and decisions that were evident on this album. But to think about it, and to describe what I felt listening to, it became obvious to me how “LUX” was made by someone who wanted to get every detail perfectly, and succeeded in the execution flawlessly. From singing in fourteen different languages to give justice to her album’s concept of “feminine mystique, transformation and spirituality,” to shifting genre gears back to back cohesively on the: “Porcelana,” to “Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti,” to “Berghain” then “La Perla,” run, ROSALÍA proves to her listeners that she meant every inch of sonic space that she breathed life on for this project. As of finalizing this article, it is still very difficult for me to describe the emotions that this album carries. That is why I highly encourage giving this a listen instead as I am a believer that this is work that really deserves your time, and meditation.
04. Tyler, The Creator - 'DON'T TAP THE GLASS'
Columbia Records • July 21
I remember the first ten minutes when “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” was announced, and my initial reaction was that I couldn’t believe that there was a new Tyler, The Creator album just 9 months after the emotionally driven “CHROMAKOPIA.” I was so used to having a year in between releases before expecting another album, but now I was going to experience a new Tyler, The Creator album in just three days time. I did not know what to expect with this album, and so on my first listen, I remembered feeling so dead inside because I did not know if this was what I wanted. Was I underwhelmed, or were these songs really bangers? And I must say, it took some time for me to adjust my ears to the concept of this album because I think that I expected something too serious. However, “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” taught me that life shouldn’t be serious all the time—we should sometimes find time to just turn off our brains and enjoy the moment that we are in. When my Spotify Wrapped came out, it was so hilarious because this album ranked number one and it showed that I listened to “Sugar on My Tongue” 309 times. I realized how an album that did not sit with me at first had such a great relationship with my ears this year, and that it helped me face the very serious life of college.
03. IV OF SPADES - 'Andalucia'
Sony Music Entertainment Philippines • November 5
Ever since their pandemic hiatus, I’ve always felt like the band has reached its natural ending and that they were never going to get back together. To me, IV OF SPADES felt like a limited series that you did not want to create a sequel to, one that may potentially ruin its legacy. I knew they were good, but at the same time, it felt like it was over. But when Aura released back in July of this year, I was so surprised that what I thought was impossible actually happened, and it seemed as if they had bigger plans than just a single. And I was right, because a month later, they released the album’s second song titled “Nanaman,” and it slowly started to feel like it was really leading up to something. The reason I’ve had some doubts as to whether they would release an album is because I remember when Unique Salonga left the group in 2018, it felt as if the band were only focused on releasing singles and were caught off guard by the sudden change in their band. But six years later with “Andalucia,” their first album as a quartet, it felt like this rollout had the confidence and plan that it deserved. To be honest, when the album first released, my expectations were so high that I kind of felt underwhelmed, as the songs that they did not release as singles did not live up to the appreciation that I had for the singles. However, I told myself that I’d let it simmer. So, I listened and listened, until I reached a point that this new album became the soundtrack to my December. Songs such as “Konsensya,” “Tamis ng Pagkakamali,” “Suliranin,” and “Kabisado” became the album highlights for me because these songs felt like the talks you needed with friends when life got too serious. Mixed in on this album are evolved production techniques on the songs, and it becomes very evident that you get the perfect mixture of IV OF SPADES at their most vulnerable when it comes to their lyrics, instrumentations, and chemistry.
02. De La Soul - 'Cabin In The Sky'
Mass Appeal • November 21
Nearly three years since the death of their groupmate David Joliceur, also known as Trugoy the Dove, the hiphop trio De La Soul delivers a most beautiful tribute that will always remind us that three will always be the magic number. It was the summer of 2024 when I first heard De La and their first four albums: “Three Feet High and Rising,” “De La Soul Is Dead,” “Buhloone Mindstate,” and “Stakes Is High.” These projects have always been considered as the skit filled Jazz rap classics of the 1990s, and with that, I’ve always had high expectations for the albums that they have released. 9 years later after their last album as a trio, “and the Anonymous Nobody…” I waited for “Cabin In The Sky” with excitement.heard that they were collaborating with the record label Mass Appeal to release a new album, I anticipated how Trugoy was going to appear on this album. I remember the moment I first listened to the songs, and I realized how much they were able to turn their grief into a celebration of life. From the very beginning of the album with “Cabin Talk,” where a skit goes from a comedic roll call to a chilling introduction, as you anticipate Trugoy the Dove’s name, the album teaches us that life is precious and that those that we love live forever if we choose to continue for them.
01. Rich Brian - 'WHERE IS MY HEAD?'
88rising Records • August 15
Rich Brian has been gone for a minute, so, where has he been? I could say that I’ve always considered myself a casual listener, first hearing about him from his record label, 88rising. At this point, I’ve only heard a string of singles released during the pandemic. I’ve never sat down and listened to his other two albums, so coming into “WHERE IS MY HEAD?,” I really did not have any expectations to begin with. So when I decided to listen to it for the first time, from my very first listen, I knew that this was going to be at my number one spot this year. Over smooth chord progressions are songs such as “Senja,” “Little Ray Of Light,” “Ma,” and the outstanding six minute track “Timezones” where we hear Brian showcase his storytelling abilities. The lyrical content successfully paints a picture of what it means to be a Gen Z’er who is struggling with slowly drifting away from his family and culture, and the thoughts and experiences that you keep looking back to. “WHERE IS MY HEAD?,” honestly deserves the top spot because it serves as a reminder that we live in a world where everything is moving too fast, and that we have to stop once in a while to recollect our thoughts in order to move forward.
