August 2025 Album Review Wrap-Up

Hi all and welcome back to another album review wrap-up! August has been a crazy month on the music side of things, especially for Swifties. But I'm not here to talk about that (yet), so let's get into my reviews!

Panda by Ley Soul

Released: 2025

I discovered Ley Soul the way I believe most have: through her 2023 song Intergalactic Janet that went semi-viral on TikTok. Now in 2025, she's finally released her debut extended play. Consisting of her four previously released singles, a song she previously only hosted on her YouTube channel, and one brand new song, this wasn't an entirely new listen for me. I love her neo-soul and alt-pop sound so much, and I am anticipating more new music from Ley!

Favorites: Into Sands, Intergalactic Janet, Fortune Eyes

Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars

Some Things Just Stick In Your Mind by Vashti Bunyan

Released: 1964-1967

My rating is low, but it doesn't mean this singer is not good. This album is just a compilation of Vashti Bunyan's few singles and their demos, and I'm sure my forthcoming rating for her full-length albums will be higher.

Favorites: Train Song, Coldest Night of the Year, Love Song

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

BITE ME by Reneé Rapp

Released: 2025

After Rapp left her hit show "The Sex Lives of College Girls" and starred in the poorly-received musical adaptation "Mean Girls," it was a curious thought as to how she would continue her career. I wasn't the biggest fan of her extended play "Everything To Everyone," and while I enjoyed some songs on "Snow Angel" she hadn't completely sold me. Her newest has yet to meet that mark as well, and lacks the sort of individuality that her previous album had. Can't tell why, but she went with a very generic and modern sound that I couldn't care less about.

Favorites: Why Is She Still Here?, At Least I'm Hot, Leave Me Alone

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

star-crossed by Kacey Musgraves

Released: 2021

Following up the Grammy Award-winning Golden Hour was always going to be a hard task to complete, and star-crossed is a perfect display of that. Kacey goes full pop (and indie-pop) with her breakup-slash-divorce album, and it works in some areas and doesn't in others. It's not a bad album, just a flawed one when you have the knowledge that Kacey can do better.

Favorites: gracias a la vida, justified, good wife

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Wishbone by Conan Gray

Released: 2025

There seems to be a running trend with Conan Gray albums in which I only really enjoy one song and feel indifferent towards the rest. With Kid Krow it was "The Cut That Always Bleeds", with Superache it was "Family Line", and with Found Heaven it was "Never Ending Song" (yes, I know I have terrible taste). Now, with Wishbone, the only song that piqued my interest was "Class Clown". I think that, instead of being disappointed every time, I need to start going into Conan Gray albums with the expectation that I will only enjoy one song. It will save myself some pain in the long run.

Favorites: Class Clown

Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars

Little Queen by Heart

Released: 1977

Another great one from Heart. I definitely preferred the slower, more somber songs on this record. I especially loved the soundscapes, particularly in Sylvan Song. Heart is definitely one of my favorite bands right now.

Favorites: Treat Me Well, Go On Cry, Sylvan Song / Dream of the Archer

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

cozy you (and other nice songs) by aron!

Released: 2025

I had been listening to all of Laufey's A Matter of Time pre-released singles and was letting YouTube autoplay until I came across the title track for this jazzy little extended play. It's so good! I highly recommend if you are a fan of Laufey or jazz in general.

Favorites: cozy you, eggs in the morning, i think about you lots

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

A Matter of Time by Laufey

Released: 2025

I've always admired Laufey's ability to combine modern classical with the sounds of traditional jazz. And with A Matter of Time, she carries on with that sound with lush and vibrant production. Though I will say that this album has a few more pop/folk elements than I prefer compared to the jazz elements, particularly in songs like Castle In Hollywood, Tough Luck, A Cautionary Tale, and Clean Air. But maybe I’m just an Aaron Dessner hater disliker at my core. The rest of the album was magnificent though.

Favorites: Forget-Me-Not, Carousel, Clockwork

Least Favorites: A Cautionary Tale, Clean Air

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

I Barely Know Her by sombr

Released: 2025

Saw him in Laufey’s TikTok and thought, why not? Did not realize he was the "back to being friends" singer until now though! It’s not a bad album at all but definitely had a few snoozers. The opener actually made me think that I was about to listen to the guy version of Renee Rapp, but when 12 to 12 kicked in I was sold.

Favorites: 12 to 12, we never dated, undressed

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

I Don't Like Being Honest by The Aces

Released: 2017

The Aces are a band I've been wanting to get into for a long time, as I've heard their songs littered across my whole life. Their debut extended play is definitely a good opener for such a great alternative pop-rock band.

Favorites: Baby Who, Stuck

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

This Thing Called Living by Eloise

Released: 2019

I LOVED this! It's a mix of R&B and modern jazz. A short extended play, but every song was perfect. I really enjoyed this and will be revisiting soon! 

Favorites: You Dear, This Thing Called Living, Left Side

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Temporary Love by Renée Gros

Released: 2022

Renée Gros's classic New Orleans jazz style drew me to her music, but unfortunately I feel that this extended play is a bit too unpolished. I wish Gros had let the songs simmer for a while longer before putting them out, as I feel like I listened to four uninteresting demos.

Favorites: Scared To Call You Baby

Overall Rating: 2.5/5 Stars

Glow by Alice Phoebe Lou

Released: 2021

I've listened to various Alice Phoebe Lou songs throughout my life, along with a handful of songs from her band Strongboi, but I decided to start with this album. I love the retro vibes and the strong Omnichord presence. A really pretty and comforting album.

Favorites: Lonely Crowd, Only When I, How To Get Out of Love

Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars

Somewhere In-Between by Eloise

Released: 2021

I love Eloise's R&B vibe but this was not as instantly enjoyable as her debut extended play. I'm going to need more time to sit with this one.

Favorites: Who's She, Trick of the Moon

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter

Released: 2025

I'll be honest: when the debut single for this album came out, Manchild, I was a bit nervous I would not enjoy this album as I don't enjoy Sabrina's more country and acoustic-leaning songs. That song still has yet to grow on me, but it did make me hesitant about Sabrina's new album going into it. That said, Man's Best Friend was still my second most anticipated album of the year, just behind Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl.

Of the twelve tracks, only four stuck out as major highlights upon my initial listen; the 80s disco pop-inspired Tears, the mellow-pop on Sugar Talking, the 70s R&B vibes of Never Getting Laid (which felt like the lovechild of Don't Smile- my favorite from Short n' Sweet- and Please Please Please, and thus my favorite from the album), and the fun and boppy House Tour. Other tracks I liked are the Lily Allen reggae-styled Nobody's Son, the 90s trippy hip-hop beat of When Did You Get Hot?, and the ABBA-esque closer Goodbye.

On the other hand, there is a slightly heavier country-leaning and acoustic presence on this album compared to Short n' Sweet, specifically tracks like My Man on Willpower, We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night, Go Go Juice, and Don't Worry I'll Make You Worry. I much prefer her R&B sound, and I like her pop enough. Overall it makes the album a bit more divisive for me, as the highs are very high but the lows are very, very low. Though if I can praise one thing on the album as a whole, Sabrina kept it cohesive and stuck with the retro 70s and 80s inspired sound throughout the album- my favorite aspect of Man's Best Friend.

(TL;DR I need Sabrina to bite the bullet, drop the country and go full R&B on her next album.)

Favorites: Never Getting Laid, Sugar Talking, House Tour (+ honorable mention for Tears!)

Least Favorites: Manchild, My Man on Willpower, Go Go Juice

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

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