What I've Been Listening To: January-February

One type of media which has brought me some measure of joy and relaxation at the current moment is: music. January and February saw the release of some of my most anticipated albums, and with how many of them I enjoyed, the first quarter of 2025 has set the bar pretty high. And with that, welcome back to the music minded corner of Our Thoughts Precisely!

Hurry Up Tomorrow by The Weeknd is supposed to be his last under this particular name. Honestly, this album is a vibe. It was a sequel to Dawn FM and a callback to his previous work, mixing in references, themes, and dark imagery while also pulling in beats which could sound familiar at times but with a fresh take. Hurry Up Tomorrow was contemplative; an album that was in conversation with The Weeknd’s career and discography—the effects of the persona on the person behind the artist—while, at the same time, as the title suggests, it was looking forward.

I’m an occasional listener when it comes to Kendrick Lamar, as such his latest album, GNX, wasn’t initially on my radar. However, I circled back to it after his Super Bowl Halftime performance, particularly in search of his collaboration with SZA, Luther, which was one of the songs they performed. GNX felt like a hip-hop and rap album from the early 2000s but with an update. Kendrick Lamar delivers some excellent verses over quality production.

Next, I checked out four artists—The Pocket Queen, ALT BLK ERA, Defences, and Justice— based on Adri’s recommendation.

Justice’s Hyperdrama is a solid electronic album with a number of great features including with Tame Impala (Neverender, One Night/All Night), Thundercat (The End), Miguel (Saturnine), RIMON (Afterimage), Connan Mockasin (Explorer), and The Flints (Mannequin Love).

Then Groove Theory Vol. 1 by The Pocket Queen is a short EP. I really like this artist’s style. Her music is almost like a drumming showcase while it also takes some influence from R&B and disco, for a very smooth listening experience—this is also true for her latest song, Good Vibes featuring Duckwrth.

Shadowlight by Defences and Rave Immortal by ALT BLK ERA scratched my itch for rock music. Shadwlight falls on the heavier side standing firmly in metal. All-in-all, it’s an incredibly enjoyable album. And then there’s Rave Immortal, which is the first of the two rave inspired albums I’ve listened to so far this year. It’s rock and, in the words of Adri, “dubstep,” but it isn’t all fun and game, there are some reflective songs there too (Straight To Heart and Come On Outside for example).

And last, but certainly not least: Eusexua by FKA Twigs. This was my most anticipated release for the first quarter of 2025, and it did everything I hoped it would. It kind of filled the space left by Brat with FKA Twigs’s take on rave. They’re two very different albums, and Eusexua, in particular, has a grungier party vibe—a little strange, a little ethereal—which was complimented by Twigs’s vocals.

Here are some singles which made it onto my playlist: Weight of Desire by Tennis, Disease and Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, Monsters by Nova Twins, Good Vibes by The Pocket Queen featuring Duckwrth, Meddle In The Mold-A Colors Show by Banks, and Butterfly by Marina.

I Listened to Dawn FM by The Weeknd

I’ve listened to The Weeknd on and off over the years. I’ve certainly had my favorite songs. With the release of Star Boy (2016), I started following his music more closely. I enjoyed that album, especially for the collaboration with Daft Punk. After Hours (2020) produced some of my favorite tracks: Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears, Too Late, Hardest To Love, the titular After Hours, etc. It felt reflective, and it was also a tonal shift.

I finally got around to listening to The Weeknd’s 2022 album, Dawn FM. There are no words to describe how much I’ve been enjoying it. I’ve replayed it in full too many times to count, before I finally decided to dedicate a post to it.

The Weeknd does retro pop so well, and each track was precise in its messaging and consistently good in its lyrics and backtracks. All the hallmarks of dance and synth were present, but the album excels at feeling fresh and current. I really can’t name a single song that’s greater than the other, because Dawn FM was just one of those albums where I enjoy every track on its list.

I loved the concept here, as well as the delivery. It was styled after the experience of listening to the radio. Jim Carrey narrates the album, acting as a guide through The Weeknd’s version of purgatory. And the dark imagery I’ve come to associate with his style was present in the music videos that were released in support of Dawn FM.

All that to say: Dawn FM is one of my favorite albums of 2022.

Music Monday (206): FKA Twigs, Louie Vega, Caron Wheeler Jimmie Allen

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: One of my favorite songs from FKA Twigs' Caprisongs is her collaboration with The Weeknd. It's called Tears In The Club.

Adri: This week I'm enjoying A New Day by Louie Vega featuring Caron Wheeler.

Andrea: Hi all! This week I'm listening to Jimmie Allen's Down Home. Have a great week!

What are you listening to this week?

Music Monday (205): The Weeknd

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I've lost track of how many times I've had Dawn FM on in the background. It really is some of the best music I've listened to so far this year. Another one of my favorite songs is How Do I Make You Love Me?

What are you listening to this week?

Music Monday (202): The Weeknd, Jody Watley

Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Lately, I've been listening to a lot of The Weeknd's recent music. Dawn FM is pure excellence, and it was hard to choose just one song for Music Monday. But, for the sake of keeping this post at a reasonable length, my pick is Is There Someone Else?

Adri: This week I am listening to Photographs and Clouds by Jody Watley. I had to bring her up again because found out she released a house album rightfully titled Midnight Lounge. I love it. 

What are you listening to this week?

Music Monday (186): Allie X, Epica, The Weeknd

 Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Allie X released a deluxe edition of her 2020 album, Cape God, which added four new songs. One of my favorites is Anchor.

 

Adri: I'm listening to The Skeleton Key and Kingdom of Heaven PT 3 by Epica. I like the album versions, but I feel the Omega Alive performances add an extra flair.

Andrea: This week I'm listening to Take My Breath by The Weeknd. Have an amazing week all!

What are you listening to this week?