“The Roster” is a series created by Aneesh Batchu. Each week, a tier list of the best, most average, and worst new releases is published alongside blistering hot takes. The best of the best receive a trophy, and the worst of the worst are tossed in the bin. First, Batchu tackles the latest singles. Then, the team comments on the most recent albums. This Roster column covers the last release day: January 31, 2025.
SINGLES…
Good
🏆 JENNIE, Dominic Fike – “Love Hangover” is tongue-in-cheek. It plays as a positive, poppy chart-topper, and this playful approach to an otherwise dramatic, disheartening subject is a winning combination. The Fike feature fits smoothly into Jennie’s sonic world, and it’s a masterclass in pacing variation.
Nardo Wick – “I Wonder” if my preferences changed… or Wick did. In the past, never was one to love his style. Yet, this song’s trap-focused, synth-heavy beat worked well with Wick’s characteristically nasally voice. It’s a great piece.
James Bay, Jon Batiste – “Sunshine In The Room” reads just as it sounds. Even with its incessant corniness and romanticism, I can’t help but smile as the singers make odes to their lovers’ praises. This is a beautiful song; it’s perfect for the sunny days beginning to reemerge — the kind when everyone’s out, about, and laughing.
Mid
Morgan Wallen – “I’m The Problem” is a fitting title for a Wallen classic, and it sounds like the rest of his work. Though “I’m The Problem,” may be sonically pleasant with its constant guitar plucking and incorporation of country-pop production flairs, it doesn’t add any nuance or expansiveness to his drab discography.
Latto, Playboi Carti – “Blick Sum” just barely stands out with its mediocre but surprisingly understandable Carti verse in an otherwise Carti-less season of music. The haunting sonic atmosphere of the beat was the most entertaining part of this otherwise mid-tier song.
Jack Van Cleaf, Zach Bryan – “Rattlesnake” was a letdown. I had high expectations for the song, even theorizing about thematic and sonic elements that might be implemented before the release. While “Rattlesnake” doesn’t sound bad, it is dully similar to Zach Bryan and his colleague’s already extensive discographies, thus failing to live up to its powerful name.
Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Swae Lee, PnB Rock – “My Life” — and so many others’ lives — have been fortunate enough to hear Swae Lee’s features. This song is a tribute to his EDM/House lovers, and it makes no disguises from the beginning of these intentions.
Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist – “I Been” is backed by an old-school style beat complete with a trumpet/flute duet that pairs well with both rappers’ flow stylings. Despite the braggadocious nature of the lyricism, the tone is laid back, evoking feelings of a calm drive in the evening time.
David Kushner – “Breathe In, Breathe Out” does an impressive job of differentiating itself from Kushner’s recent album. The latest song’s unique tonal elements attempt a stray away from the more techno/futuristic album. It’s unexpected, but not terrible — it’s a pop track focused on vocals and a simpler string and piano instrumental.
Bad
Nessa Barrett – “LOVE LOOKS PRETTY ON YOU,” though sounds redundant and repetitive. This is yet another song by Barrett that’s sonically identical to the rest of her discography. If this track is any indication of the upcoming deluxe, it promises minimal novelty.
Loud Luxury – “Crash” and burn. This basic track too closely follows the EDM template. Further, the uninspired lustful lyrics only lead to an underwhelming drop.
Will Smith, Big Sean, OBanga – “BEAUTIFUL SCARS” leaves something to be desired in terms of beauty. Somehow, Big Sean’s performance outdid Will Smith’s ordinarily reliable sound. Sean’s delivery even paired better with the production style of the track. “BEAUTIFUL SCARS” is an unanticipated win for Sean, but a loss on the whole.
🚮 Yung Bleu, Meek Mill – “Friends To Miami” is boring. The lyrics rely too heavily on the title and are executed through a poor attempt at evoking Chris Brown’s vocal styles.
ALBUMS…
Good
🏆 EST Gee – I Ain’t Feeling You, but I’m feeling this album. Strong rhythmic lyricism, though occasionally repetitive, dominates his songs alongside solid, setting-the-vibe beats. Gee does not necessarily create a new or original sound, but he makes a solid entry into the classic trap style. Interesting storytelling makes the unsurprisingly excellent rapping on this record an even better listen. His features — Lil Baby and Travis Scott — on “Houstalantaville” are stellar. – T. Millenson-Willens
Mid
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow has me screaming at Abel, ‘Hurry up!’ Though this latest record contains more experimentation with synthesis and soul than his previous albums, the lyrics are simply uninteresting, the songs unoriginal and predictable, overall. The 90-minute-long album is like a road trip through an unending desert — just miles and miles of boring sand. – R. Ho
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