2025 List Time!

Whether it’s 1 week too late or 3 months too late, SS Sounds is here to provide you with what is objectively (arguably) the most definitive list of albums you need to check out from 2025.

In this issue, I’ve provided you with 5 albums that barely missed the top 10. However this year was tough because compared to 2024, there were more great releases that I was able to find. Not sure if it’s something in the water or I acquired some search skills, but 2025 was amazing and I hope you all find some new favs in both the honorable mentions list, as well as the top 10!

Genre: Midwest Emo, Math-Rock, Post-Rock
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

From a musician’s perspective, Hitohira’s second album En is a fun and wild ride. Whether it’s the hazy shoegaze/guitar whammy bar playing on the closing track, or the perfect start stop band interplay on track 3, there are twists and turns at ever corner. With frantic drumming intertwining twinkly guitars, it’s safe to say this is Midwest Emo the perfect balance of heartfelt writing and Math Rock shred.

However, it doesn’t stop at just Midwest Emo, there is plenty of Shoegaze influence sprinkled throughout the album, which is what keeps this from sounding like a clone of classic albums from a bygone era.

Hitohira make bite-sized puzzle pieces of what already exists in the worlds of Emo and Math-Rock, and put it all together to create a multi-colored tapestry.

Genre: Art Pop, Chamber Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Pulling you into a moody yet barren landscape, this is one of those albums where the album cover looks just like the album sounds. It’s easy to gaze into the cover and only see the shadows and looming clouds, however there’s a beam of light hidden on the other side. This shimmer comes out on tracks like “Coma” and “Trial”.

As someone who’s a huge fan of the 80’s slide bass guitar heard on albums of Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, and King Crimson, praise has to be given to Marty Holoubek who not only replicates these beloved sounds, but also adds his own smooth twist to it

Just as the Greek tragedy of Antigone unfolds, Eiko Ishibashi not only captures the passion of defiance, but also embraces the process of grief, from the painful beginning to the ray of light at the end.

Genre: Indie Rock, Jazz Rock, Progressive Rock, Math Rock
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

An album that is just as focused as it is hectic, uniting both the chaotic and the systematic sides of songwriting. Khaki still sound like try hard theater kids who somehow stumble upon majesty every now and then. Yet, it’s this unhinged and unpredictable styling that makes it impossible to turn away.

The real beauty of this album are the songs where they don’t try to hard. Take “Winter Babe” (a Pavement reference?) for example, a near perfect Japanese Pop/Rock song that has just the right amount of flair to keep it from being stale.

Despite this preference, the songs where they don’t hold back and let their “freak flag fly”, such as the 9 minute long track 8 are just as astonishing. Maybe the one artist out of this list and the top 10 that have the most potential and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.

Genre: Art Pop, Glitch Pop
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Rarely do you come across artists who can change styles nearly every song yet still excel at crafting great Pop songs. Not only that, uami maintains a minimalist mentality that permeates throughout each track. Take track 6 as an example, where the only instruments other than her voice are the fluttery pianos and swelling sounds in the background.

So amateur yet so refined, uami crafts amazing songs that sound like they were made in her bedroom yet could be performed at stadiums by extremely famous bands. Yet that’s what makes this album so unique, is that even if you take the melodies out, these songs are still anthems for the underground.

Genre: Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Shoegaze
Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Prog-Pop? I guess you could say that this is the Japanese version of Magdalena Bay, yet it’s way more adjacent to early Akiko Yano. Even then, track 5 (ワンダフル・VHS) is an obvious Soutaiseiriron throwback. The influences and comparisons of previous classics are apparent and I could name drop for days, but Yuka Nagase seems to still create her own sound (and visuals) that are uniquely hers.

She has also brought together a collection of band members and writers including Shotaro Shimizu from kurayamisaka. His contribution is obvious on the Shoegaze inspired “hikari”, with the instantly recognizable soaring guitars.

Every track draws you into Yuka Nagase’s fantasy world, full of captivating songwriting and stellar performances.

As always, thank you thank you sooooo much for reading this issue of Shibuya’s Scrambled Sounds! 🥹

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See ya next time! Breakfast is ready.

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