June 2025 Album Review Wrap-Up

Hi all and welcome back to another album review wrap-up! June's been a really eventful month for album releases and I have quite a few packed in, so without further ado...

Honey To The B by Billie Piper

Released: 1998

Listened to this in lieu of the newest Doctor Who episode's ending, as Billie Piper may be playing the Doctor? Either way, she made a good r&b-infused pop album. I actually used to hear Because We Want To and Girlfriend a lot as a kid on social media, but this is my first time hearing the non-single tracks. Thous I will say that many of the tracks felt very surface level and lyrically catered to partying teens. The last track, Don't Forget To Remember reminded me a bit of Fiona Apple.

Favorites: She Wants You, Honey To The Bee, Don’t Forget To Remember

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Addison by Addison Rae

Released: 2025

Aside from Aquamarine I already wasn't the biggest fan of Addison's singles, but the album tracks were quite underwhelming in comparison. I think I would have liked this better had she not released over half of the tracks prior to the full album's release. To be fair, this isn't really my style of music. Very, veryyyy superficial and it sounds like she's trying too hard to be Lana Del Rey.

Favorites: Aquamarine, High Fashion, Headphones On

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

PRINCESS OF POWER by MARINA

Released: 2025

I can't understand why, but something shifted when MARINA dropped "and the Diamonds" from her stage name. I just haven't loved her music as much since. Feels like she's trying to chase the style that she had with Electra Heart (her prime in my opinion) and she's very close but just isn't reaching it. Something about Love + Fear (I don't even acknowledge this album anymore), Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land, and now this feel inauthentic compared to The Family Jewels, Electra Heart, and FROOT. However, with all that said, I feel like this is the closest she's gotten to that style again; METALLIC STALLION was giving Teen Idle vibes and JE NE SAIS QUOI felt very much like The Family Jewels era. I did enjoy some of what this album had to offer, but I am disappointed overall.

Favorites: JE NE SAIS QUOI, DIGITAL FANTASY, FINAL BOSS

Least Favorites: ROLLERCOASTER, HELLO KITTY (no seriously what was that)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Say You Will by Fleetwood Mac

Released: 2003

Pleased that the final Fleetwood Mac album features more of Stevie Nicks on vocals, as she is my main draw to the band at all. I particularly enjoyed her songs while I was neutral on the others.

Favorites: Illume, Smile At You, Running Through The Garden

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Only Making It Worse by Sarah Julia

Released: 2025

I've been a fan of the Dutch pair of sisters since their acting careers, but I'm happy to say that they've made another beautiful and soothing extended play! Only sad it took me so long to get around to listening to it.

Favorites: Black Box, How Do You Fall In Love So Easily?, Amsterdam

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

50 Words For Snow by Kate Bush

Released: 2011

I’ve been hesitating on listening to this one because I didn’t want my Kate Bush journey to end, but it was time. I hadn’t revisited Aerial and have mainly been listening to Lionheart through Hounds of Love, so the deepness and maturity of Kate’s voice took me aback. Overall though, this was a very polarizing album and is nothing like Kate has made before, especially considering all of the tracks are seven minutes long or more. I actually got so sleepy listening to it that I had to pause midway through and take a short nap. In the end, I can say that despite my criticisms, over the past year Kate Bush has become my favorite artist of all time (though she sometimes competes with Taylor Swift for that spot).

Favorites: Misty, Lake Tahoe, Snowed In At Wheeler Street

Overall Ratings: 3/5 Stars

I Quit by HAIM

Released: 2025

It's an unfortunate truth that HAIM has not hit for me since their sophomore album Something To Tell You. Women In Music Pt. III was a disappointment (besides the Gasoline remix featuring Taylor Swift), and with the involvement of new producers on their fourth album, I was hopeful for a fresh new take on the sisters that I would love. Unfortunately this was not the case, as majority of the songs did not stick out to me. In fact, I'd say that they all seemed to run together and were near-identical. Very disappointed.

Favorites: Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out, Gone, Spinning

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

Walk of Life by Billie Piper

Released: 2000

The final album from the Sixteenth Doctor (again, maybe?) actress Billie Piper is simultaneously an improvement from her debut as well as an exploration of Britney Spears-esque pop and deeper ballads. An album I can see myself returning to again!

Favorites: Ring My Bell, Because of You, The Tide Is High

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Magazine by Heart

Released: 1977

Following up my favorite album of last month, Heart takes their debut and condenses it into an extended play-length project. I really enjoyed this one, and Heart is turning out to be one of my favorite bands!

Favorites: Devil Delight, Heartless, Just The Wine

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Virgin by Lorde

Released: 2025

I need to start this by saying I'm a Solar Power girlie, not a Melodrama girlie. I didn't listen to any of the pre-release singles (aside from a few snippets of What Was That) in attempt to get the experience in full, and I'm very glad I did. Virgin feels like Lorde took the styles of her second and third albums and amalgamated them together into something new.

Favorites: David, Broken Glass, Shapeshifter

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

See you next month!

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