Album Reviews – Page 5

Big Dog by Bria Salmena

Bria Salmena‘s debut solo album, Big Dog, released on March 28, 2025, via Sub Pop and Royal Mountain Records, marks a ferocious entry into her individual artistry.

Best known as the frontwoman of Toronto post-punk band FRIGS and for collaborations with Orville Peck, Salmena channels years of personal upheaval—including the pandemic—into a 13-track chronicle of transformation and resilience. The title, inspired by finding inner strength and support from loved ones, sets the tone for an album that’s raw, unpredictable, and deeply intimate.

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Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025 by Public Enemy

Public Enemy‘s Black Sky Over The Projects: Apartment 2025, their 17th studio album and first in five years, arrived as a surprise Bandcamp exclusive, embodying the group’s unyielding spirit of rebellion.

Released on June 27, 2025, without fanfare and initially pay-what-you-want, it harks back to their golden era while confronting contemporary chaos.

Chuck D and Flavor Flav, at 65 and 66 respectively, deliver with undiminished fire, proving ageism in hip-hop is a fool’s errand.

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Rock in a Hard Place by Aerosmith

Released on August 1, 1982, Rock in a Hard Place marks a pivotal yet precarious chapter in Aerosmith‘s storied career. As the band’s seventh studio album, it arrived amid chaos: lead guitarist Joe Perry had departed in 1979 following onstage tensions, and rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford followed suit during recording.

Replacements Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay stepped in, with Crespo handling most guitar duties under producer Jack Douglas. Frontman Steven Tyler, grappling with severe drug addiction, struggled through sessions that ballooned to a $1.5 million cost. This backdrop of instability permeates the album, making it Aerosmith‘s only release without their classic lineup.

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moisturizer by Wet leg

Wet Leg‘s second studio album, moisturizer, released on July 11, 2025, via Domino Recording Company, marks a triumphant evolution for the Isle of Wight band.

Founded by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, now expanded to a five-piece, the album builds on their 2022 self-titled debut’s quirky indie rock charm while delving deeper into themes of love, vulnerability, and personal growth.

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