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Those of you who have been around since the inception of the Sleeping Village may remember one Ancient Hand, who was around...well, technically before the inception of the Village proper. Back in 2018, he was one of the very first people I met whilst writing silly lil' reviews on Instagram. He wrote some stuff here, I wrote about some of his musical projects...and then we both kinda stopped using Instagram. Needless to say, it was quite nice indeed to receive an email with this surprise AOTY list. Here it is (sans pink background, which is sadly not possible to replicate). Enjoy! - Ed Written by: Ancient Hand 2024 was filled with albums that I highly anticipated and was extremely satisfied with upon release, but 2025 held a number of records that were absolute surprises– both from artists I was aware of but maybe didn’t expect a ton in terms of quality and from artists I had never heard of before. I am happy to have listened to over 90 records that came out in this one calendar year and run down my thoughts on some of them! Let’s get started with my honorable mentions: records that I very much enjoyed but did not have space on my top 10 for.
This year was not without its duds, of course. Therefore, I feel I have to share what I think is the worst album of the year. In jest, of course. All art has value… or whatever.
And a quick shoutout to my biggest disappointment. It hurts, and I won’t harp on it for fear of disrespecting my kings.
The EPs this year were not as strong as last year’s in terms of overall standouts, but the highs of this year’s EPs did clear last year’s. Here are my top 3 EPs of the year!
And now, the moment I’ve been waiting for that nobody actually cares about… my top 10 albums of 2025! (at the time of writing this, who knows what I will think in the future… who knows what the future holds for any of us, fuck ICE by the way):
 #3: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams Now this one… we knew music could sound like this. Williams’ exploration of late 90’s-early 00’s sounds feels familiar while its presentation is anything but. Releasing the record as 17 standalone singles that listeners could construct in whatever order they see fit is something that can only be done in the digital age, and, more importantly, feels like something truly new and inventive from a release standpoint--something we as music fans have been desperate for since the commodification of every moment of our listening. “True Believer” is Williams at her lyrical best--20-something years into her career--while “Hard” is anything but its title, eschewing bravado for vulnerability and exploring the warring gender expressions of Williams after decades of being surrounded by testosterone and dangerous peers in the alternative music scene. My only issue is that with the official release of the album, the record’s tracklist feels off to me. The physical release obviously needs a clear order, but a burned CD-R in a clear jewel case made by you and decorated with a sharpie is the only real way to experience these tracks.  #2: Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You by Ethel Cain A lyrical prequel to (spoiler alert for my 2030 list…) the decade’s best record, Preacher’s Daughter, Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is a slowcore dirge for a high school romance fallen apart. Ushering in a closer-to-even split between tracks with vocals and instrumental tracks, Anhedönia creates an equally cinematic experience compared to her 2022 debut, but this time around, she delivers a tale focused inward: exploring themes of regret, love, and loss compared to the external threats of Ethel Cain’s tragic ending. Sensitively painting a hazy image of the blood-stained blonde that started it all, Anhedönia led me to downright weep at the pain suffered by both counterparts in this foreboding love tale. “Nettles” is an all-time love song for the patient. “Dust Bowl” is a fan staple and has been since the demo was posted on SoundCloud. “Tempest” is a disturbingly believable exploration of the young male psyche, where vitriolic insults lie in wait at the back of the tongue, waiting to be hurled at those most loved until the brain is finally finished developing… as long as it is free of “sulfuric acid.”  #1: Lonely People With Power by Deafheaven Deafheaven somehow cleared the seemingly impossible task of Sisyphus with this record. They topped 2013’s Sunbather, a record that has held a special place in my heart since I first heard it. However, this album might be the band’s new greatest outing. The songs are significantly more packed with vocals than previous black metal outings, which some may like less, but Clarke’s lyrics are at an all-time profound. I struggle to put into words the emotions this album stirs in me. I will leave it at this: incredibly tight and ferocious performances manage to maintain aggression (“Doberman”) while also giving way to starkly beautiful moments (“Amethyst”) and disturbingly brutal honesty (“Body Behavior”). This is a record for anyone who feels lonely in this panoptic age. “I was a man made of yesterdays Mornings glowing like coal Blinding the every day Legs buckling together when moving” Big thanks to Ancient Hand for the words! Give him a follow over on Instagram. I personally found some unfamiliar stuff in these lists--hopefully you did as well. - Ed.
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Written by: The Administrator
This one admittedly came down to the wire, but we still got this one in before 2026 begins so all is well. If you've missed out on my long-winded justifications for why my Favorites lists habitually run a year late, you can find an explanation here. Long story short, this year-behind approach allows releases to outlast a narrow moment in time. I enjoy the process of reflection, and I like to think a shoutout 18 months later or whatever is nice for the bands involved. So! These are 24 albums from 2024 that are, in significant hindsight, still very much my favorite albums of 2024. In terms of format, this list follows my established convention, i.e. alphabetical and unranked. Genres are primarily metal and hip hop adjacent--someday I may split the list into different genre categories for the sake of covering more releases, but today is not that day. If you are at all interested, you can check out my Favorite EPs of 2024 here, and my Favorite Album Artwork of 2024 here. The trilogy is complete. Regardless of whether or not you check out anything appearing in these lists, I hope you're inspired to revisit a favorite or two from yesteryear. To the readers: thank you for reading! It means a lot and I am very grateful that you've chosen to spend time checking out what some random internet guy thinks is cool. To the artists: thank you for making music that is cool. I have very much enjoyed listening and writing. Let's dive in, shall we? 
Written by: The Administrator
Whelp. Here I am once more, basking uncomfortably in the midst of list season, justifying why my year end lists are published a year behind schedule. If you've been around for a while, please feel free to skip ahead to the good stuff. If you're wondering why I do it this way, here's a brief explanation: I firmly believe that staying power is an important aspect of music appreciation. The ability of a project to outlast the narrow moment in time immediately surround release day is a testament to its quality. In deliberate spite of the inevitable industry churn, I enjoy the process of looking backwards to revisit old favorites at this time of year. But mostly, I started doing this because I got wildly off-schedule and found great value in committing to the bit. This is the way it is, now and forever. If you are at all interested, you can check out my Favorite Album Artwork of 2024 here, and my Favorite Albums of 2024 list will follow at, y'know, some random and inopportune point in the future. So: here are 20 EPs from 2024 that, given significant hindsight, are still my favorite EPs of 2024. They made an impact and stuck around in my rotation, and that's worth celebrating. As per established precedent, the following list draws from the assorted genres and subgenres that interest me, mostly within the sphere of metal and rap. I took some liberties with the "EP" label; some may technically be mini-albums, so apologies in advance. The list is alphabetical and unranked. Everything comes highly recommended. I'd also like to issue a massive umbrella "thank you!" to every artist who contributed to the releases contained within this list. And to you: thank you for your readership of this little music blog! You're very cool and I appreciate you very much. 
Written by: The Administrator
If you are a purveyor of music review sites, you've undoubtedly learned to skip over the fluff that constitutes AOTY intros. The pointlessness of writing this isn't lost on me, let alone the fact that this is a list for, erm, the wrong year. In the music industry churn, an album released last year might as well be a million years old. Obsolete. Irrelevant. Forgotten. So: why 2023? Why not 2024, like unto a proper music review website? What's the rationale behind publishing this list a whole damn year late? There are two reasons. The first is that I think demonstrable longevity is an important aspect of music appreciation, and the ability of an album to outlast a narrow moment in time is a testament to its particular excellence. The second (and real) reason is that I am a profoundly lazy and frequently overwhelmed person, and compiling this list last December was a very large task that seemed, frankly, insurmountable. So here we are. These are 23 albums from 2023 that are, in significant hindsight, still very much my favorite albums of 2023. In terms of format, this list is alphabetical and purely unranked. The generally arbitrary structure of counting down to #1 simply doesn't demonstrate the way I enjoy music, nor is it an effective or accurate way to make recommendations. I'm also completely unconcerned about genre, as I listen to a lot of different stuff. If I'm writing a list, it should probably reflect the reality of listening habits instead of projecting a false image of metal exclusivity. Be prepared for eclecticism. I hope there's something lurking herein that catches your ear. A massive thank you to every artist who contributed to the releases below. And, dear reader, thank you for your readership and support of artists! You're the best. Yes, you. 
Written by: The Administrator
When you hear that emphatic "Conductor! We have a problem!" tag followed immediately by Boldy James' calmly nonchalant tone, you know you're inevitably in for a good time. This full project team-up with Kansas City's own Conductor Williams felt almost destined--like the universe demanded a partnership. They are both masters of their respective craft, and arguably operate in a similarly pensive aesthetic lane. The fruits of their collaboration was inevitably going to be worthwhile. My first interaction with Across the Tracks was the lowkey "Off-White Lumberjack," which then prompted me to check out lead single, the emphatic "Terms and Conditions." After that point, waiting for the midnight release was a bit of a chore, but fear not. I made it, folks...and then waited like 4 months to write a review. That's how it's done 'round these parts. Long-term slow-burn musical digestion, or laziness? You decide.  Written by: The Administrator I've been very excited to witness the next iteration of Chicago rapper D2X. 2021's The Color Blue was a remarkably polished project for a newcomer, and I really enjoyed the increased confidence and storytelling he exhibited on 2023's heartfelt Hotel 1105. Since that particular project, it has felt like D2X is on the precipice of leveling up, both in terms of artistry and recognition. Enter "FIRE," the first track unveiled from his forthcoming EP, accurately and alluringly entitled The Hunger Era. This single feels like the next rung of the ladder. An evolution into a more forthright and aggressive chapter in D2X's career. Make no mistake: "FIRE" is a clear statement of intent. True to the title, D2X is fired the fuck up, rapping with a burning passion and purpose and intensity. It's a stylistic change that was admittedly unexpected at first blush, but perfectly fits his ambitious go-getter persona. On "FIRE," the delivery is gasping and urgent, and with the heavy breathing in the anticipatory intro, it truly sounds like he sprinted into the booth. He sounds poised and self-assured. One does not rap "in a room full of mirrors I'm surrounded by winners" with this kind of self-assured gravitas unless they really truly feel it. Lest it be forgot, the stellar production is handled by one Ro Moore. This beat absolutely knocks, integrating a rocking groove and edge that feels classic without feeling outdated, cool and assertive without overpowering the bars. The drums are snappy, the cymbals are crisp. I certainly wouldn't be disappointed to hear more beats like this on the EP. D2X is hungry as hell, and that has never been more evident than on this track. In his own words he wants it all, and while the desire for success is almost a near-universal, his drive is uniquely tangible and palpable. The Hunger Era is real. I'm excited to hear what he cooks up next, and sincerely hope his forthcoming project garners this talented man the attention and success he deserves.  Written by: The Administrator Despite a proclamation that 2024 would be the year I review whatever I want, audience expectations be damned, our coverage of hip hop here at the Sleeping Village has been lagging behind my actual listening habits to a pretty significant degree. Here's an attempt to remedy that! Atlanta's up-and-coming BabyDrill released this single on Friday, June 21st, and it's been on solid rotation all weekend. Worth talking about, methinks. I enjoyed ScoreGod, BabyDrill's album released back in February of this year, but admittedly haven't listened to with any regularity since the first few days post-release. With a limited beat variation and a lack of features on the back half, I did find his forceful monotone delivery to get a little repetitive. That said, several tracks were certified bangers. In the context of singles, his flow is fun and engaging. In any case, ScoreGod clearly demonstrated a lot of promise, and this is an overly expository way to say that I was excited to hear this latest track, "Dracula," outside of the context of a larger project. And this is quite possibly my favorite song from him yet. "Dracula" leans into the darker side of the current ATL trap aesthetic, and BabyDrill's delivery is urgent and hard-hitting, yet juuuuust effortless enough to indicate a certain air of confidence. His flow works quite well over the spooky beat, which is focused and polished. Bottom line? While the track doesn't really embody a particularly impactful experimental/horror vibe and is far from a sonic outlier in the current meta, "Dracula" is a pretty damn listenable track that bodes very well for future projects. BabyDrill - Dracula was released June 19th, 2024. BabyDrill can be found:
In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish the little one-off reviews that were previously (and arbitrarily) deemed too short for publication. Here's a mini-review of one of Hus Kingpin's many, many 2023 releases.
Written by: The Administrator
The tree has, alas, been discarded. The strands of light coiled in storage. The stockings haphazardly--carelessly, even--crammed in a drawer. Despite a distinct lack of holiday decor 'round these parts, I'm not ready to let go of that alleged magical Christmas spirit quite yet. Hence today's spotlight on Holiday Hus 2: Cocaine Christmas. This seasonally appropriate soundtrack, courtesy of the ridiculously prolific Hus Kingpin, provides a short and sweet lingering taste of the most wonderful--scratch that--worst time of year. Featuring no features and seven tracks across a delightfully brisk eight minutes, this project shows Hus Kingpin's characteristically confident raps over some tastefully dusty, chilly, and occasionally eerie instrumentals. Hus eschews hooks and classic song structure in favor of quick coke rap snapshots, giving the whole affair a laissez-faire and airy feel that contrasts wonderfully with the subject matter. It's a fun juxtaposition, and he plays into the implicit humor of the contrast--the entertainment factor is high. Had I heard this prior to publishing my EPs of the year list, it would most certainly have made the cut. I've had this on repeat for the past few days, and it has yet to grow stale. If forced to pick, my favorite tracks herein are the debonair yet somber "Fireplace" and the calmly menacing narrative of "Snow White." With that said, every song here, including the intro and outro, are absolutely worth your while if you enjoy--casually or otherwise--the allure of underground hip hop. Despite already dropping two (!) additional projects since this EP was released, Hus has another new LP coming in just a few weeks. Before the next in a looooong line of quality releases arrives, I recommend checking out this one out. Listen below and find it here! Hus Kingpin - Holiday Hus 2: Cocaine Christmas was released Dec. 15th, 2023. 
Written by: The Administrator
While compiling my list of 23 favorite hip hop albums of the year 2023--a task which has been significantly more difficult than initially anticipated, due exclusively to figuring out how the fuck to narrow it down--I realized that a variety of tracks were going to slip through the year end list cracks. Thus: a playlist containing 50 of my favorite rap songs of 2023. These are the tracks that I inevitably hit repeat on, the tracks that pumped me up, the tracks that made me return to an artist or project time and time again. This is an unranked list--everything here is fire and most certainly worth your while. Check it out below! |
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