May 2025 Album Review Wrap-Up

Hi all and welcome back to another album review wrap-up! Quite the variety in this month, from metal to... country? Let's get into it!

Youthanasia by Megadeth

Released: 1994

Been eagerly anticipating getting back to my Megadeth discography listen-through! And I think I loved this slightly more than Countdown To Extinction, surprisingly. Their albums are getting less and less thrash-y as we go. Coming off the first listen, there’s no songs I immediately disliked. A solid album.

Favorites: Family Tree, I Thought I Knew It All, Blood of Heroes

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Sincerely, by Kali Uchis

Released: 2025

Kali has done it again! I'm mainly happy that she brought back Leon Michels to produce Angels Around Us, as he is my favorite music producer. I just love this album so much and I totally didn't grab a CD at Target to play in my room.

Favorites: Territorial, Lose My Cool, ILYSMIH

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Fancy That by Pinkpantheress

Released: 2025

I'm not a very big fan of Pinkpantheress but I do click with some songs from her. Unfortunately, other than the singles, I didn't connect with her newest album.

Favorites: Stateside, Tonight, Nice To Know You

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

Vulgar Display of Power by Pantera

Released: 1992

Didn't enjoy this one as much as Cowboys From Hell, unfortunately. It had some good tracks, but not as many outstanding ones like its predecessor. I did find a standout in Hollow, as it reminded me much of The Sleep (my favorite song of theirs).

Favorites: Hollow, This Love, Walk

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

D R E A M S I C L E by Maren Morris

Released: 2025

After her feature on Taylor Swift's "You All Over Me" (one of my favorite songs off Fearless) I've been wanting to get into Maren Morris' discography- though I was too intimidated by the aspect of her catalogue being country, and I haven't had the best experiences with country artists I've tried in the past. However, upon hearing that this was more of a country pop album, I jumped in headfirst.

I did end up enjoying the songs that had more of a pop production, and the more upbeat country-leaning songs secondarily, over the slow and ballady tracks. I loved Maren's vocals overall, and I can definitely see myself coming back to some of these songs. Though I'm not a fan of majority of these songs being so short (under three minutes long!) and I wish a few were longer, it's a good album overall.

Favorites: i hope i never fall in love, cry in the car, people still show up

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves

Revisited

Released: 2017

After listening to Maren Morris' Dreamsicle, I thought I would try Kacey again because maybe I'm in a country mood again. I really, really wanna like her, and I don't know what it is about her music, but it just doesn't click for me beyond a few songs. Maybe it's her voice? I have no clue why everyone likes this album and I just... don't.

(Maybe I'll like Star-Crossed and Deeper Well better, I have them queued for another day.)

Favorites: High Horse, Butterflies, Happy & Sad

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Same Trailer, Different Park by Kacey Musgraves

Released: 2013

I love it when I say I'm gonna do one thing and then my brain immediately wants to do the opposite lol. In my effort to see why I wasn't clicking with Kacey Musgraves, I decided to come back to this album and sit with it for a while. It has definitely grown on me, at least a good handful of the tracks.

The heavier country-leaning tracks are probably my least favorite, but songs like I Miss You (which has been on repeat all day) and Dandelion are sticking. Then there are songs like Follow Your Arrow, and while I appreciate the lyrics I'm not a fan of the production. I'm still listening and gonna see what else sticks.

Favorites: I Miss You, Dandelion, It Is What It Is

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Pageant Material by Kacey Musgraves

Released: 2015

Intermingled with the tracks of Same Trailer Different Park I have this one playing too. I'm meshing less with the tracks on here, as I'm finding them to be more stylistically classic country over the folk country of its predecessor. I'm still finding songs I like though.

Favorites: Are You Sure, High Time, This Town

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

See you next month!

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