In an age of many teens finding new music solely through ten-second TikTok clips, listening to full albums has become somewhat of a lost art for our generation, but it shouldn’t be. Listening to a full album can expose you to songs that aren’t as pushed by social media algorithms, and serves as a complete experience, immersing you in the artist’s collective vision for their songs. Here’s a list of my favorite albums from the past few months, that are definitely worth a full listen:
“The Passionate Ones”, Nourished by Time
Throughout this album, Nourished by Time (aka Marcus Brown) tells the story of the push and pull between pursuing your passions and making a living. It is evident that Brown pulls from a variety of influences, most notably elements of 80s new wave pop and 90s R&B. The sound of the album is eclectic yet pulled together seamlessly, reflecting an impressive cohesion throughout upbeat and mellow tracks. Many of the songs serve as a master class in sampling and beatmaking, notably the song “Max Potential” layering Labi Siffre’s “Saved” beneath its chorus. This album makes it clear that Nourished by Time is definitely an artist to watch, as he is forging an entirely singular yet compelling sound for himself.
“It’s a Beautiful Place”, Water From Your Eyes
Likewise to the title, this Water From Your Eyes album is able to create a beautiful, playful, and tangible world for the listener to escape to. The two-piece band is composed of singer Rachel Brown and multi-instrumentalist Nate Amos, who has become increasingly well known for his solo project This Is Lorelei over the years. While listening, I couldn’t help but associate the sound of the album with themes of childhood wonder. The playful instrumentation, Brown’s mix of dreamy vocals and spoken word, and somewhat stream-of-conscious lyrics show that they are not aiming to play by any rules of genre. This album is in nature and evokes a wide variety of musical themes, ranging from guitar-heavy shoegaze to ambient dance music. While many of the different elements present across the songs may sound, Brown and Amos were able to execute this blender of influences successfully, resulting in a product that is exceptionally unique and creative.
“Essex Honey”, Blood Orange
Greatly influenced by time spent in his hometown in England, Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes) made a return after seven years with an album that masterfully blends orchestral arrangements with his classic alt-pop sound. The majority of the songs are supported by starstudded features such as Lorde, who supplies vocals on the song “Mind Loaded”. These songs posed great similarities for me to the work of Arthur Russel, who wields Hynes’s same ability to incorporate the cello in a contemporary way. While I have been a fan of Hynes’s catalogue for years, this album marks a clear upgrade regarding the maturity and overall quality of his sound. The instrumentation across the record feels pure and elegant, as if it is sunlight pouring into your ears. However, Hynes was able to weave this light in with darker themes through lyrics and introspective moments, creating a compelling balance and relatability for the listener. This album demonstrates both Hynes’s musical intelligence and storytelling abilities to a degree which he has never done before.
“Bleeds” Wednesday
On Wednesday’s fourth album, the band successfully transports the listener to their North Carolina small town roots. It is obvious that both the lyrics and instrumentation share this distinct influence, making me feel nostalgic for a place I’ve never been. While the instrumentals alone make this album stand out to me, the frontman Karly Hartzman completely amplifies the sound of the record. Her voice is extremely charming and delivers lyrics in a way that feels like she is telling a story to a friend. The album finds an intriguing balance between a heavier alt rock influenced sound and more somber country and singer-songwriter influenced moments. This reminded me a lot of the band The Breeders, whose 1993 album Last Splash has a similar distribution of heavier and softer songs, and an adjacent sound to Wednesday. “Elderberry Wine” was a standout track for me, with its endearing lyrics and chord progressions (delivered by MJ Lenderman, who has seen recent success in his own right with the 2024 album Manning Fireworks) that feel summery and nostalgic. Bleeds blends country, rock, and alternative in a way that is both original, yet reminiscent of bands from the 90s and 2000s.
“Twilight Override”, Jeff Tweedy
Jeff Tweedy is the frontman of the rock band Wilco, and while this record certainly pulls elements from the band, Twilight Override sees Tweedy as a songwriter under much more introspective and wistful light. The album highlights both the variety and consistency of his songwriting, with none of the songs feeling dull or repetitive despite its 30 track duration. The highpoint of this album for me was definitely the track “Caught Up In the Past”, where Tweedy is able to simultaneously encompass feelings of nostalgia and hope for the future. In comparison to Tweedy’s previous solo work, this album is remarkably accessible, as it details his personal stories in a way that has the potential to feel familiar and relatable to any listener.
“Getting Killed”, Geese
The indie rock band Geese has seen a significant spike in popularity recently, with this album serving as a clear justification. All the instruments play off of each other in a beautiful way, resulting in a sound that is seamless and deeply intentional. The band’s frontman, Cameron Winter, has an ability to convey meanings through imagery and lyrics that aren’t on the nose, often coming off as abstract and eccentric, but come together to paint a broad picture throughout a song. Winter’s lyrics and intense vocal deliverance illustrate the frustration that comes with the isolation (“Islands of Men”, “Getting Killed”) and unjust systems (“100 Horses”, “Taxes”) present within our modern world. The critical acclaim received by this album over the past few months has marked a reintroduction of new rock music into mainstream media, proving the relevance of their bold lyrics and unique instrumentation.
“Oblivion”, Alice Phoebe Lou
On Alice Phoebe Lou’s sixth album, she is able to amplify relatively classic and simple songs with her ethereal production and vocals. This simplicity is not a bad thing – the subtle familiarity met by Lou’s signature airiness is able to deliver the effect of a meditation and successfully soothe the senses. The album’s sonic melancholy along with Lou’s delicate cadence is reminiscent of folk singers of the 70s such as Joan Baez, Linda Perhacs, and Karen Dalton. The beautifully understated and lullaby-like nature of this album makes it perfect for relaxing and trading the chaos of everyday life for something sweet and comforting.
