Top 20 Favorite Albums of January 2025
- Brandon Morgan
- Jan 31
- 13 min read
Every month, we see a large release of various albums throughout the musical landscape. Whether it be pounding metal, bright and bubbly pop, international bangers from Latin America or Asia, some smooth and relaxing jazz, or modern takes on classical music.
I am somebody who listens to so much music and sees it as THE most important form of expression and art that exists. Something that I love and cherish heavily. And I am here to share my personal opinion (in no particular order) of my favorite new albums of the month!
It took me a while to see what albums I should or shouldn't qualify and count. I tried to ignore singles (even if on Spotify it will have anywhere from 5-9 songs listed as a single), or compilations. As for things like Deluxe Editions, I included one in this list only because of how much was added from the original album and really made it into something special and new.
And I also included a few EPs, which according to Google is more than a single but less than an album. Typically, a maximum of 8 songs finishing out to less than 30 minutes. I am really just following the simple rules of things that are labeled as EPs or Albums on Spotify or other music streaming services.
If you have any other personal favorites or questions or critiques, make sure to let me know by messaging me on any of my social media accounts or leaving a note on the home page!
satsuma by Ciao Ciao Marigold
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 Lo-fi music is some of my favorite things to vibe out in the entire world. I scour through the internet to find as much of it as possible to just chill out and enjoy some nice sounds.
This album was one that I came across and fell totally in love with. A complete and beautiful vibe of great music that is so great. Ciao Ciao Marigold is relatively new to making music, at least that is able to be streamed on Spotify, but they are some of the best lo-fi producers I've ever come across. Such incredible music that I seriously love so much! A album that will probably be one of my most listened to once the year is over.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6RPweItCkCJaZeYO7GEG5g?si=MrSNYzxjTn-lty4Ky-UJQg
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infrared orchids by King Caiman and Dirty Art Club
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 Something that is VERY different and unique. A collection of very interesting glitchy soundscapes. A bit of a dub inspired sound album that had collections of jazz, vibe, indy rock, and some beautiful tones that sounded incredible. I genuinely don't how much more I can talk about it, because it is just an experience that is hard to describe in proper terms.
I do not do drugs, but listening to this music on them must be a wild trip to take.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0cCqNvjI3rdKbqFcFWquQ8?si=9iTvFZWlSCqkPescOEG9Zw
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FABLES by Banshee
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 The fact that Banshee is able to make such AMAZING music that she also self writes and self produces and self publishes blows my mind.
She is unique and special. An artist who I feel should be the main stream star over many other people who are currently there. Her production is so clean and amazing while her vocals are seriously next level.
A artist with a album of the year contender who deserves so much more recognition and attention and love. Such a great showcase of her amazing talents. A massive recommendation that is for anybody and everybody who loves great music and supporting independent artists.
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Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/6oHz1CC0PuNSGgRzAOZowX?si=Yy6CJMv2Q9mX1hc_rKew5Q
Walkerworld 2.0 by Alan Walker (And Guests)
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 Alan Walker has long been one of my favorite EDM artists of the past few years, and this album is a big reason as to why that is.
Full of absolute bangers of incredible music alongside a whole bunch of guest stars to make them even more special and this album feel truly massive.
If you enjoy EDM, which I know some people might not, this is a great album to enjoy. And even for those who haven't heard it or given the music genre a real chance, this is great to start off with. I'm not huge on the super crazy styles like Hardcore or super intense Drum & Bass, so having some lighter and more Future Bass style is the stuff that I love the most.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2NNRWnLkPkqmVXQbvlBlkw?si=TGKYR2s8T5CnOi4j006Xmg
Never give up by Remo
Release Date: January 1st, 2025 Remo is somebody that I don't remember how I came across his music, but he is somebody I've been listening to for months and think is good with a whole lot of potential. He has that something that you can just feel and hear. He clearly has a bright future ahead of him, and I am very excited to see how well he does in the future.
I do not have much more to share about him, as this album is something that a successful artist shows off when they're first starting out or very early in their career.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Q4Ul8KfS9hqg6wGCdea3d?si=uH9VSwZvQW6Vn-f8OTtpXg
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Look Up by Ringo Starr (And Guest Stars)
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 Ringo Starr and really The Beatles in general have never been my favorite. I can respect and say that they are important to the history of music and that they pioneered a lot of things, but their music has been stuff that I've never gotten invested in or loved.
This though was a very surprising album that I thoroughly enjoyed. Going into a very country sound with some soulful elements was a great change of pace. A great genre album of a genre I never expected from him. Even with the multitude of features who have more experience with the style, Ringo held his own in a great way. I love this album, which is not something I fully expected to say when I first saw that it was released.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/0MdReiUZQM3xFZ1RvBKgrt?si=Ocwf6dtjQYa_x1iaT4K66A
Drifting Away by OMB Peezy
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 OMB Peezy is a rapper from Alabama who I honestly struggle to even call a rapper.
What I mean by that is his music is varied with an incredible mixture of genres and styles that just calling him a rapper or hip hop artist doesn't tell the full story.
He has emotion and vulnerability that mixes in well with great production and some amazing lyrics that you can just feel are true and honest. A very genuine person making music that speaks to him and his character.
Hopefully, a future star for the world to see and hear.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2JkHowxSCOloyq23lbE0Y2?si=qvPND2xsQ9afLLYxh3jdBA
Quicksand by Cameron Sacky Band
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 Country music is typically my favorite music out there in terms of vocal delivery and getting the true SOUL of the singer letting out their toughts and emotions. Their feelings in very artistic, special, sweet ways.
Cameron Sacky Band are people who I discovered through this album and wanting to see how the landscape of country music was changing, and they hooked me.
Some incredible vocals that are so beautiful and lovely to listen to while the music is such a wonderful southern vibe that goes back to classic country music.
Not overly produced or electronic or modernised. Just people singing their hearts out over pure, good, acoustic music.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/71c9E1RjHBacjk9hY8titl?si=RFHSiDzGQP612mTHGHarOA
All I've Ever Known by Ryan Waters Band
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 More lovely country music that continues to go into an admittedly oversaturated market that tries to make itself different.
The Ryan Waters Band is a group that I feel like has done the absolute best job of making catchy, almost danceable pop country that still sounds purely country. It doesn't go too far away from what makes it special and feel grounded while the music can continue to feel upbeat and fun.
Songs like Whiskey Talkin' and Take It From Me are what I mean. But then you get songs like Bloodstream and Her & Nascar which are more of the old school country.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/1biom60r6W0qZTe5A1N5NA?si=dqQoZbqnSOCPTiVrOkS79A
søn of dad (deluxe) by Stephen Wilson Jr
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 This one might be a little bit of a cheat, as the original album came out back in 2023. But this album is something that is truly special. Full of INCREDIBLE music that greatly expands on the original.
The original album was 22 tracks, while this one is 34.
It has a wide collection of acoustic versions of songs and starts off with 2 live recordings, but that just makes the album even better and more special. It is just a great collection of such wonderful music that creates an incredibly diverse and complex album.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3iTz4Hhtzy2o7O6U9n2JXe?si=CvmmAfq8TIew_i0mN8rvaQ
Zatto by Nariaki
Release Date: January 15th, 2025 Jazz music is something that I have been a massive fan of for years. While I tend to go back to listen to the golden age of jazz with the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Herbie Hancock, and many more legends...
I also love to see what the modern landscape of the jazz scene looks like.
Nariaki is a super talented jazz musician from Japan who makes some great, funky vibes that do an incredible job of merging so many different elements.
All sorts of awesome and great upbeat, fast music that is just so nice and lovely to listen to. A GREAT way to advance jazz music into the modern day.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3zpeZbl6NBa9KJbXpQMrig?si=YqVe_sO2Q82-PrBZJT_00w
Balloonerism by Mac Miller
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 This album is...a hard one to try and talk about.
Mac Miller sadly passed away in 2018 at the very young age of 26. I have not really listened to much of his music before. I am honestly unsure if I HAVE listened to any of his music before.
Posthumous albums as well are something I find quite strange but interesting. Albums of sometimes unfinished music as a way to remember the person and publish their last works of art. There are many things that I could say, but I want to focus on this album only.
It's...it's incredible. This album is a absolute work of art.
Every single song is haunting because of the passing, yet every single song is just so beautiful at the same time.
The music and production is some of the best I've heard on an album in a very long time. The beats are incredibly creative and refreshing with something brand new that I have never heard before.
The songs are beautiful to listen to and experience. It is just a shame that it was released after his tragic passing. We sadly will not be able to hear anymore works of art like this perfect album.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2ANFIaCb53iam0MBkFFoxY?si=Y4lmCjR9QeuAGbHkSmy5Ig
take me by the hand by Oklou
Release Date: January 16th, 2025 Futurepop or Hyperpop are two genres that I have fallen in love with to an insane degree over the past year or so. An incredibly fun, infectous, enjoyable genre of music that truly is something that I feel like anybody can love or listen to.
While Oklou was not the one I often listened to the most, they were somebody that I was aware existed. This album was the first time I truly sat back and listened to their stuff, and I became a major fan.
The incredibly nostalgic and lovely synths with some seriously amazing production made this something that was just so nice to listen to. Like, it's a album that I really just describe as "nice" because it's how it made me feel. I felt happy listening to this album.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/537kzzis1FK64BYUQanxci?si=kJMfUkaqQ82--l3OAdG8dQ
Humanhood by The Weather Station
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 The Weather Station was a artist I had heard of in the online community, but have not given a proper chance until this very album came out. I listened to it because I was doing my best to keep up to date with all of the albums coming out every day and doing my best to listen to as many of them as possible, but this one was especially a stand out for me.
An incredibly unique style of music with some incredibly well done production that felt truly honest and true to the performer and their words.
Almost folk. Almost rock. Almost pop. Almost so many things, but this really was an album of music that is impossible to nail down as one specific thing. An album that is just...magical.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/5oiIdyuDWZ9einLEUdAccO?si=jMq6By2pQa60AkaUo1C79g
Aquarius III by Logic
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 Logic is an artist that I feel like gets a large amount of hate or disrespect, and I don't really understand why. He is incredibly talented when it comes to rapping, and his production on his beats are some of my favorite in the entire industry today. He clearly has a love and passion for music as an art form, which makes me an even bigger fan.
This album is rather short. A 5 track EP. But it is packed full of quality. The beats are especially just things I would listen to on repeat forever. And Logic's vocal delivery in each song is something that only adds to the music and the vibes. Even the last one that seems to just be an audio message set to a beat is pretty unique and fun. Not just a normal audio recording or skit, which I tend to be against, but this one had a really nice and positive message to it that tied the short EP together nicely.
I don't know honestly why people may not give this album a chance, as even the day I'm writing this (January 31st) the streaming numbers are incredibly low. And the things I have heard or seen online about it seem to be mixed, so it is quite a weird thing to see. I wish Logic got more appreciation for his immense level of skill and artistic expression.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Sgg02H2euJ1x6eZAysstY?si=8jE3T7UATfuFRt1klPPDfA
Keep Planting Flowers by Stick To Your Guns
Release Date: January 10th, 2025 Stick To Your Guns is the only band on this last who I have seen live. I saw them at a weekend long punk rock/metal music festival in 2022 back when I had never heard of them before. They were a highlight of the weekend, and somebody who I have tried to keep up with since.
This album is a great, high energy, fun ride. Packed full of great, fast paced music with some amazing guitar melodies, pounding drums, and great vocals.
A metal album that is everything it needs to be and shows off all sorts of incredible skill and artistry.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/4zZ2m5o6f0HqhDUGFEqGWR?si=X-k0z9GRQICrSaOA9Y43CQ
for your validation by Alessi Rose
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 Alessi Rose is somebody who I had never heard of and had no idea of what to expect from this album. I only really know who she is now because I was looking up new releases in music to see what there is for this month.
This album is packed full of a variety of styles and music, but every single song has Alessi showcasing an incredible vocal range and ability. An album that is incredible at showcasing her talent. She is an artist who I feel completely deserves more recognition and success after hearing this album for the first time. She could easily be a top pop star in this world.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/1urRiweW0usayaxE3ueVmd?si=bj-KiHgeR-WSlTLxYMpyHg
Honeybee by BØRNS
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Like most of the albums I came across in this search for new releases, I went into this completely blind. No idea who BØRNS was or how his music sounded.
This album really surprised me. It showed a wide range of things that sounded like they came from a bygone era of music. Music that I would describe as almost Beatles-esque, with all sorts of old school production and instrumentation brought forward into the modern age with new things and flourishes to make it a very unique and special combination of past and present music coming together.
And even with that idea of it being similar or reminiscent, every song is so incredibly special in that they all sound different and unique enough to be something special. Something that is hard to truly find a similarity in any of them, but I think that is perfect! An incredible combination of so many different things mixing together to keep the music fresh and not overly repetitive!
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/3RqqMQcxhHd2KSrevactyA?si=yH-WfcQNT7a7ogTNlahp3A
TOY by Dear Seattle
Release Date: January 17th, 2025 A rather small, newish Australian rock band that has recently been getting more and more attention globally, Dear Seattle is a incredible band that has been around since 2013, but only released their debut album in 2019. TOY is only their 3rd album, yet with the absolute quality of the production and music you would think that they have been making music for 20 years.
This really sounds like a complete showcase of a band that has been rocking at the top of their game forever. But to have a relatively new and lesser known band being so incredibly skilled in terms of their sound is a great thing to see and hear. An awesome introduction to me for this amazing band, and I can't wait to see how well they keep improving upon their sound and making even better music in the coming years.
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/52lo3aziYDWeoWjEoKMJ52?si=F3R9eWVkTJmRqtrdyp97rQ
Wasted Talent on Type Beats by Robert Ivory
Release Date: January 3rd, 2025 Robert Ivory is quite the unique artist. He is not just a hip hop artist. Not just a R&B artist. He is a true musician who is able to perfectly work in a way to combine so many different elements all together into special, unique ways. Something truly amazing and magical with the absolute best vocals over some incredible production.
To properly share what this album means to the artist, I am going to just paste his caption for the announcement of the album because it is truly incredible and emotional.
"This project reflects not only the growth of an artist but also the journey of a lost individual striving to find their path. At the start of this album’s creation, I would DoorDash for sub-minimum wage and sit in parking lots for hours, watching people rush to destinations that they had no interest in. After realizing that I was also falling victim to this life, I saw that it was crucial for me to use my time more wisely. Instead of watching others, I chose to write lyrics over type beats as I froze in my car during the winter, and as the days passed, I noticed myself improving more than I thought could be possible. Track 02 on the record was recorded three months into making music, which pushed me into selling my car to give myself the motivation that was needed to improve as efficiently as I did. I bought 2 speakers, an audio interface, and an Amazon Basics mic stand and recorded for 10 hours a day with no days off until this project was finished. And on Day 724, my birthday, I can finally enjoy one day off.
Every beat used on this album came directly from YouTube searches, as I spent hours upon hours looking for ways to teach myself how to write and record. I have no team, no professional studio, no coaches, no industry connections, and no one to speak to face to face. And still, I was able to create this masterpiece."
Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/album/68ChACiIls801Lu1x8VfW4?si=qkB9Y-ooSUmo0PjCrO5faA
So those are my favorite albums to be released in the past month, and I hope that the year continues to follow the momentum and keeps staying packed full of incredible artists showcasing their talents for the world to see.
I hope you will give all of these albums a chance, and might discover some new artists or music for you to enjoy and support. I hope you enjoy and have a great rest of your year packed full of art!
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