Ranking Everything I Heard: February 2025
New 10/10s, some 2025 prep and a fair few Lils!
While this entry was delayed by my falling a bit behind on the latest Best New Tracks post, I’m still having a blast writing these monthly diary entries. I already can’t wait to share what March is looking like with some big anniversaries and some nostalgic listens, but February was no slouch either.
In case you aren’t familiar with this series’ concept: I’ll be reviewing all 19 projects I checked out this past month. The catch? I’ll only be allowed 35 words and a snappy wee score to get my thoughts across!
As always, to keep you in the right, here’s my pathetically patriotic rating scale:
10/10 - YASSSSS (Perfect, impactful)
9/10 - F***ing Spot On (Fantastic)
8/10 - Braw (Great)
7/10 - Quite gid
6/10 - No bad aw aw (Sorta good)
5/10 - Awright (Fine. It’s fineeeee)
4/10 - Wee bit minging (Lil stinky)
3/10 - Awfa' minging (Really stinky)
2/10 - Bowfing (Unbearable)
1/10 - URGHHHHH
So, without further ado, let’s dig into another month of listening! Starting with…
19) Lil Shine - Shine Forever
[2025]
Feel like being ~30 and saying "Plugnb" should have put me on some sort of list. Anyway: bit one-note, but some of the beats on here have this hazy melancholy that I really admire.
Best Song: Same Shit
6/10
18) Champa B & Tim Reaper - Pandemonium
[2025]
Starts off strong but sadly never got me as entranced with the rest of its dubstep cuts. P.S. Best cover art of the year so far!
Best Song: Vision Impaired
6/10
17) Kendrick Lamar - Black Panther The Album [2018]
Cowards will tell you that this is a blot on Kendrick's immaculate track record as if it isn't home to some absolute gems. The less said about that Khalid track, the better though...
Best Song: All The Stars (ft. SZA)
7/10
16) Oklou - Choke Enough [2025]
Getting to enjoy some Y2K-kissed Grimes-adjacent pop without feeling icky is an achievement in of itself. Once it gets going - sadly around halfway in - it does cast a convincing spell.
Best Song: Blade Bird
7/10
15) Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World [2016]
Nearly as fun as I remember it being, but IMO trap has progressed so much that some songs feel more pedestrian than they initially did. Still, the alien dance anthem Money Longer continues to SLAP!
Best Song: Money Longer
7/10
14) fallingwithscissors - the death and birth of an angel [2024]
Never would have dreamed of a mixture of Breakcore and Metalcore being good, let alone existing but fallingwithscissors have done just that. Excited to see this get fleshed out!
Best Song: tripping > wires
7/10
13) Squid - O Monolith [2023]
Not the sophomore slump I dreaded it might be! Cemented Squid as one of my fave new bands this decade: in no small part thanks to having one of the best openers of the 2020s.
Best Song: Swing (In A Dream)
7/10
12) venturing - Ghostholding [2025]
Gatekeepers may say differently, but emo can come in so many shapes or forms. Has it ever sounded anything like Ghostholding? Not in my experience, and it's all the better for it!
Best Song: Dead forever
7/10
11) Heartworms - Glutton for Punishment [2025]
Described this to the pal who recommended it - cheers, Ethan! - as sounding like Ellie from Wolf Alice decided to do a spin-off project honouring Siouxise and The Banshees. Honestly? I cooked.
Best Song: Jacked
7/10
10) Kendrick Lamar - Section.80 [2011]
Never has an album been as held back by a single song than this. No Make-Up aside - and Tammy tbh - this is a super strong debut that's better than some rappers' full discogs.
Best Song: Hiiipower
7/10
09) Jamie xx - In Waves [2024]
You should always give albums multiple run-throughs, but electronic music seems to especially benefit from this. Not as entrancing as In Colour, but some songs (Life, AYC, TEOR) can go toe-to-toe with it.
Best Song: Life (ft. Robyn)
7/10
08) Pixies - Doolittle [1989]
In shocking news: one of the most beloved albums of the last 40 years is really good! Had I heard this as a teen, I would have been doubly insufferable with my Black Francis impressions.
Best Song: Monkey Gone To Heaven
8/10
07) Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D [2024]
Respect to Porter for not just making Nurture 2 and exploring parasocial relationships in a pretty dynamic way. Helps that the production on here is top-notch too!
Best Song: Cheerleader
8/10
06) Kendrick Lamar - Damn. [2017]
Hard to say anything by the consensuly-declared hip-hop GOAT is "underrated". That being said, well worth returning if you haven't done so in a while - it's aged well with two of his all-time best tunes!
Best Song: FEAR.
8/10
05) The Weeknd - House of Balloons [2011]
Home to one of the most bonkers sample choices I've ever encountered: ridiculous but so fucking perfect. The importance and impact of this album are as potent and striking as a line of c-
Best Song: House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls
8/10
04) Vince Staples - S/T [2021]
When will society put Vince on the same pedestal as Tyler? Go to example of an album that RYM's community has unfairly shat: easily one of the most interesting hip-hop projects of the last decade.
Best Song: ARE YOU WITH THAT?
8/10
03) Squid - Bright Green Field [2021]
Can see this being looked back on as fondly as other quintessential 21st-century UK rock records. Sure, it's quirky, but I don't think Squid get their dues for how evocative they can truly be.
Best Song: Narrator
9/10
02) FKA twigs - Magdalene [2019]
One of the greatest art-pop albums I've had the pleasure of experiencing. When your "weakest" cut - which I don't feel is misguided like some do - is still a treat, you've done something special.
Best Song: home with you
9/10
01) Elliott Smith - Either / Or [1997]
Men in their 20s are destined to choose a moody singer-songwriter to get really into. So: Either / Or is an album that constantly feels like a brain rewiring.
Best Song: Between The Bars
10/10
And there we have it: my February ranking!
If you’ve liked what you’ve read, then I’d appreciate it if you subscribed - you can do it for free btw - and let me know what you make of my takes in the comments!
See you at the end of the month to discuss the best songs March had to offer…