Fancy That - PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress’ latest album, “Fancy That,” is one of my favorite dance albums this year. As someone who does enjoy a significant amount of dance-pop, this album was truly a highlight this year and I saw myself listening to this album over and over again. Even though the songs are definitely on the short side, you can tell the love and passion that PinkPantheress put into the album. Tracks like “Stars,” “Romeo” and “Tonight” are truly some of my personal favorites and do show off the work that PinkPantheress puts into her albums. Her collaboration/remix album “Fancy Some More” also highlights some other notable artists, from k-pop group Seventeen to pop singer Rachel Chinouriri. While the collaboration album was not as popular compared to the original album, it still had a major hit with the song “Stateside + Zara Larsson,” becoming PinkPantheress’s most popular song currently on Spotify.

- Landon Small

Mayhem - Lady Gaga

“Mayhem” is a masterclass in what it means to return to form. The dark-pop album features incredible written and produced tracks like “Zombieboy,” “Killah,” “Garden of Eden” and more. Seeing her performance at Coachella of this album truly highlights the amount of heart and soul that Gaga had put into this album. While the production varies between each song, the album still feels very cohesive and feels like all of the songs belong together. While the song “Die With A Smile” featuring Bruno Mars is an incredible song, its last minute addition can be a bit jarring, but still manages to fit in cohesively with the rest of the album.

- Landon Small

Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party - Hayley Williams

Hayley Williams returns to the studio for another solo album, and this time she has hit out of the ballpark. “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party” is the third album that Haylye Willaims released as a solo artist. When releasing this album, Williams released seventeen of twenty tracks on streaming services, with tracks “Parachute,” “Good Ol’ Days” and “Showbiz” released after the surprise drop. This is an album that I have been returning to since its release, with it being a fantastic album that highlights Hayley Williams’s vocals and songwriting, as she is credited as a writer on all of the tracks on the album. Some standouts on this album include “Ice in My OJ” and the title track “Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party.”

- Landon Small

The Art of Loving - Olivia Dean

One of the latest releases of last year, Olivia Dena manages to bring something new to pop music currently with her sound. “The Art of Loving” is an incredible sophomore album that swept the pop music scene with its R&B and Jazz production style. Songs like “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” have truly not only taken over the pop music scene, but also the Billboard Hot 100, with both reaching a peak of 4 and 14 respectively. Other outstanding tracks on the album include “Lady Lady” and “Loud.”

- Landon Small

DON’T TAP THE GLASS - Tyler, the Creator

Tyler, the Creator’s latest album “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” surprise album drop goes in a different direction from his previous album Chromakopia. After surprise dropping the album this year at one of his stops on his Chromkopia Tour at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Tyler, the Creator has performed some of the songs on his tour, you can see why his fans have begged him to perform songs like “Sugar on my Tongue" over and over again. His main rules for the album, which are found on the opening track “Big Poe,” truly encompass the album and how you should listen to the album to truly enjoy it.

- Landon Small

If You Asked For A Picture- Blondshell

This album was, in my assessment, perfect. Blondshell provides a masterclass for her ardent fans about sexuality, love and modern life as a woman. She tackles tough topics with the finesse only possible from someone who has truly suffered through them and comes out the other side alive and creatively inspired. “Arms” has to be my favorite track from this 12-track album, but it’s really a no-skip release for me. Thank you, Blondshell for your music and your tour, as it made my 2025 special. 

- Bella Mazzilli

Welcome To My Blue Sky (Deluxe)- Momma

Momma! A new love of mine. This album soundtracked my summer, between work and long drives up the I-17 in Phoenix. “Stay All Summer” and “I Want You (Fever)” prove to be two of my favorite songs of this year. The sound is unique, truly a feat these days. The cover art perfectly demonstrates the feeling of listening to this album, a feeling of closeness to the one or ones you love. 

- Bella Mazzilli

Oblivion- Alice Phoebe Lou

“Oblivion” feels like a picnic on a warm spring day. Just delicate and comfortable. The opening track, “Sailor” and “Mind Reader” stand out to me specifically, but I’ve been a fan of Alice Phoebe Lou since the fateful hot fall night when she opened for Clairo on her “Charm” tour. More recently, I saw Alice Phoebe Lou open for Men I Trust at the Arizona Financial Theater, and she was a quick hit with the captive audience. Fans of this album would enjoy Momma, Suki Waterhouse and Blondshell, though Blondshell’s tracks tend to be harder and a tad grittier. 

- Bella Mazzilli

No Hard Feelings- The Beaches

The Beaches will always be a band I want to see live. I got sick and had to sell my tickets, but I’ll curse that particular cold as long as I’ll live. “No Hard Feelings” is unapologetically frank, providing tracks that rock but have reflective lyrics as well. 

- Bella Mazzilli

Memoir of A Sparklemuffin (Deluxe)- Suki Waterhouse

I saw Suki Waterhouse live at The Van Buren in October 2024 and my life changed after that day. She’s an incredible performer, and her stage presence was extremely memorable. 10/10 album. 

- Bella Mazzilli