Top Ten Albums of the Semester

10) Destroyer – Dan’s Boogie (2025)

Founded by frontman and vocalist Dan Bejar, rock group Destroyer formed in Vancouver in 1995. Bejar’s debut album under the Destroyer name “We’ll Build Them a Golden Bridge” is a lo-fi collection of tracks, serving as a precursor to the band’s sound. His following 14 albums were released with steady pacing, each one produced about two years apart. The group’s most acclaimed album, 2011’s “Kaputt” was reminiscent of yacht rock stylings while retaining the independent rock sound. The album made it to multiple music outlet’s album of the year, including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and NME. Destroyer’s most recent album, “Dan’s Boogie” was released in April and is an expansive, jazz-influenced album with an immense piano presence.

This week’s selected track, “Cataract Time” is thoughtful and mellow, infused with meandering saxophones and the plucking of an acoustic guitar.

9) Glare – Sunset Funeral (2025)

Glare, a shoegaze trio originating from Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, is here with their first-ever LP. Forming in 2017 with the release of their first singles “Blank” and “Into Me”, the group seeks to create intense yet dreamy rock tracks. Originally an emo outfit, Glare quickly moved into the alternative rock/shoegaze arena with their spaced-out and vast guitar tones.

This week’s highlighted track, “Kiss the Sun” is expansive and raw, leaning back into sonically rich shoegaze.

8) Wisp – If Not Winter

San Francisco based shoegaze artist Wisp is back with her debut album. In 2023 her single “Your Face” gained immense popularity on Tiktok which got the artist a large fan base from the start of her career. She began touring and playing at festivals where her light and breathy vocals contrasting with her guitar’s wall of sound captivated audiences. Performing under the Wisp name, Californian Natalie Lu has cultivated a sound that blends her delicate vocals with crushing shoegaze/nu gaze instrumentation.

This week’s chosen track, “Mesmerized” features grungy layered guitar textures with slight dissonance, accompanied by Natalie Lu’s breathy but powerful vocals.

7) Oklou – Choke Enough (2025)

After multiple EPs and collaborations, French pop artist Marylou Vanina Mayniel, or Oklou as she is known musically, released her first debut album “Choke Enough” in February. Her career began with her 2014 EP “Avril”, released under the name Loumar. From 2015-2018, Mayniel was a member of the female DJ group TGAF, also releasing her very first EP under the name Oklou. The 2020s found Oklou releasing remixes of trending tracks from artists such as Caroline Polachek and releasing a mixtape with numerous other DJs and producers like shygirl, A.G. Cook, and Sega Bodega. Her style moves from synth-pop, art-pop, electronic, R&B, and ethereal underground pop.

This week’s selected track, “harvest sky” is an autotune-infused dance groove, a perfect late-night disco song.

6) Stereolab – Instant Holograms On Metal Film (2025)

With their retro-futuristic synthesizers, delicately hypnotic vocals, and catchy pop melodies, Stereolab has earned a special place in the hearts of indie rock fans. Hailing from England and France, their first EP was released in 1991. The group has always been on the lookout for a new sound, adding tones of jazz, indie pop, dance, electronic, and the avant-garde.

This week’s highlighted track, “Aerial Troubles” is light and airy with an eclectic mix of French indie textures and a catchy melody.

5) Braxton Cook – Not Everyone Can Go (2025)

Here with his sixth LP, Braxton Cook’s unique take on a jazz and soul fusion creates a good-natured sonic ecosystem. Spanning across more modern R&B style beats and pulling from earlier smooth soul artists. Cook has been releasing music since 2014, originally learning how to play the alto saxophone while growing up in Washington D.C. He attended Juilliard in 2011 and studied jazz saxophone, eventually touring and releasing his own compositions. Cook worked on the soundtrack for “Soul”, Pixar Studio’s 2019 release, for which he won an Academy Award.

This week’s chosen track, “My Sun” accentuates the versatility of Cook’s alto saxophone with a mesmerizingly laid-back but inquisitive collection of groovy instrumental verses.

4) Turnstile – NEVER ENOUGH (2025)

Hardcore punk band Turnstile hails from the East Coast, bringing Baltimore, Maryland sensibilities to their rock since 2010. The group has been nominated for three Grammy awards for their singles “Blackout” and “Holiday”. Turnstile was formed by vocalist Brendan Yates, lead guitarist Brady Ebert, bassist Franz Lyons, guitarist Sean Cullen, and drummer Daniel Fang. Their musical style has evolved through their fifteen-year career, maintaining their hardcore roots while sprinkling in some pop-punk and Baltimore club music.

This week’s selected track, “I CARE” keeps up the tempo with jangly post-punk guitar riffs and a sprinkling of joyful synths.

3) Bleeds – Wednesday (2025)

Forming in 2017 in North Carolina, Wednesday has since been carefully honing their craft with a blend of country, alternative rock, and punk. The group began with guitarist Karly Hartzman’s solo project of the same name, adding both Daniel Gorham and MJ Lenderman and releasing their first EP “How Do You Let the Love Into the Heart That Isn’t Split Wide Open”. Wednesday pulls inspiration from bands like The Sundays and Hartzman’s own Southern upbringing. The current lineup now consists of Alan Miller, Xandy Chelmis, and Ethan Baechtold, with MJ Lenderman no longer touring but remaining a creative member behind the scenes

This week’s highlighted track, “Pick Up That Knife”, switches between phases of heavy riotous vocals and sickly-sweet guitar lines, ending with emotional repeated refrains.

2) Blood Orange – Essex Honey (2025)

Since 2008, English songwriter Devonté Hynes has been releasing music under the name Blood Orange. Exploring R&B and electronic music, Hynes has had his share of super-hits thus far, going viral with his fourth studio album “Negro Swan”. Apart from his personal work, he has toured with and produced music for his fair share of noteworthy artists such as Florence and the Machine, Connan Mockasin, Harry Styles, and Solange Knowles.

This week’s chosen track, “Mind Loaded” features vocals from Caroline Polachek, Lorde, and Mustafa and is breezy but deeply introspective.

1) Franc Moody – Chewing the Fat (2025)

Dance/electronic duo Franc Moody has spent the better half of the last decade releasing synthesizer-infused funk that is positively dripping with catchy dance beats. Pulling influence from synth-funk greats such as Jamiroqouai and Daft Punk, this London-based duo composed of Ned Franc and Jon Moody lives to hypnotize with their eclectic disco arrangements. Their newest release, the LP “Chewing the Fat” is a modern funk odyssey, blending indie disco and upfront vocals for a danceable collection of tracks.

Our Gem of the Week is “Bloodlines”, which starts with simple vocals and synths but builds into a groovy string-infused danceable funk escapade.