Month: January 2026

Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park

Posted January 15, 2026 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction / 1 Comment

Title: Same Bed Different Dreams (Goodreads)
Author: Ed Park
Published: Random House, 2023
Pages: 544
Genres: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction
My Copy: Paperback

Buy: Amazon, Kindle (or visit your local Indie bookstore)

There is a blurb on the front of the novel Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park that compares it with Gravity’s Rainbow. I have not read Gravity’s Rainbow yet, but I do assume this was more of a marketing gimmick. The blurb is by Jonathan Lethem, so it was enough to pique my interest. Not that I need the blurb, I have been eyeing this novel for more than a year, and I finally picked it up.

Trying to describe this novel is going to be difficult. It is a post-modernist, satirical metafictional novel…or maybe I should say two different novels: or maybe it is three different stories. The novel follows Soon Sheen, a former author, now working for a Google-like tech company known as GLOAT in the sections known as The Sins. At a literary dinner with fellow Korean Americans, Sheen hears about the next buzz book Same Bed Different Dream from an author known as Echo. He eventually gets his hands on some of this book and begins to read it.

This manuscript is told in a sequence of dreams and is an alternative history of the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) but then you have the 2333 story of a Korean War veteran writing a science fiction novel. So, it’s a book within a book; but that book is part alternative history and part specialities history. It sounds confusing, but I found this novel to be so much fun to read. Basically, it is a look into the divide of Korea, while both the North and South are considered as part of Korea, but they have different ideas on how the country should be run. They are living in the same bed but have different dreams.

While this novel explores the history of Korea, it also explores the idea of history and how it all falls to who is writing that history. For example, there are references of M*A*S*H in this novel, a TV show based around a movie, both telling a story of the Korean War, which is a subtext for the Vietnam War. I was surprised to learn the movie is about the Vietnam War, I had to look it up and it was made during that war. This book has so many layers and I keep trying to piece together the novel and keep coming up with more and more interesting ideas at play here.

As this is a satirical novel, there is a lot of comedy here, exploring not only the history of Korea, mainly around America and the Soviet Union’s influences on the country, but also the racism Korean American’s face (the reference to M*A*S*H set in the Korean War but being about the Vietnam War being one of those reference to the racism). There is even a scene in the book where a Korean is mistaken for a fake Japanese baseball player. The layers of this novel is what really stood out to me.

I enjoyed this novel so much, I wanted to reread it right away. I did borrow this from the library, but have since ordered my own copy, as I know this will be a book I will revisit. This reminds me of novels like Slaughterhouse Five, Catch-22 or Infinite Jest, but the novel I closely associated this book with is Underworld by Don DeLillo. My head is spinning, even trying to explain this novel; I love when I book has this effect on me. Not for everyone, but I am very much a big fan of Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park.

My 2026 Manifesto

Posted January 4, 2026 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in What I Think About When I'm Not Blogging / 4 Comments

I want to go into 2026 with more intentions, I have set myself a word of the year. 2026 is going to be the year to linger. When thinking about what I wanted for the new year, I decided I wanted to slow down, be more intentional with what I engage with, quiet my mind and disconnect from my phone more. My wife was trying to work out her word for the year, and she found linger for me. What I love about the word is the way it seems to cover all my intentions in a single word. Linger tells me to stay in the moment, to be present and not performative, to be quiet and grounded, but also, I can remind myself not to linger on my phone.

I have taken up journaling recently as a way to slow my thoughts down. I find that taking the time to write with a pen and paper to be freeing and while I realise this is just a small step in the never-ending journey of self-improvement; It really has been meaningful to me, and I hope I can stick to it. I have been doing a course on creative rebooting in the hope to develop better practices for activating my creativity and there is a piece of advice that has really stuck with me. “Reengage with your notebooks”; even a simple act of transcribing what I wrote a week ago into a document allows me to interact with my previous thoughts. This could lead to new ideas or projects, but also it allows me to have a conversation with previous thoughts while I centralise my data into one place.

What I really liked about this idea is not that it is a form of editing; it’s almost like translating; and if you’ve seen my handwriting, it does need to be translated into something readable. Also, I am engaging with previous thoughts and seeing if I agree or disagree now. I am taking the time to interact with myself and hopefully finding ideas to expand into something more. I am hoping this will help me understand my mind a little better and also be more creative.

I plan to engage more with the media I consume as well; I find I think about music more than I do any other form of media at the moment. I thought maybe it was because I listened to over 200 albums last year, but I have realised that it is the simple fact that I have been engaging with these albums on AOTY. With each album I wrote a few words of what I thought about what I heard and picked the tracks that stood out to me. It might only take me a few minutes but the fact that I am reflecting and trying to understand my thoughts as well as document my journey has been quite insightful. It is interesting to see what albums I rated highly but were not in my most played albums on last.fm.

I have seen a few journaling videos on YouTube recently and there is this phrase that keeps getting used: “journalling ecosystem”. The idea is that not all journals are the same, there could be a commonplace book, a media journal, a planner, and any type of journal. I saw one person that loved talking about their K-pop journal and I have no idea how much information you could write about Korean music, but I am not someone that is actively listening to it. The idea of a media journal is the one that interested me; why not do what I do with music and write my thoughts on films, shows, podcasts and anything else. It can help me engage with the media and maybe even write reviews. I know I neglected literature here when talking about media, I did that intentionally.

For my reading plans of 2026, I want to get back into the habit of writing reviews, I might not blog every book I read but I will write something somewhere about them all. I hope to get more out of what I am reading. The simple act of writing something about my favourite books of last year made me realise my feelings towards them a little better. Like when I wrote about Giovanni’s Room, I realised themes in the book that I did not pick up on while reading it. That act of reflection made me like the novel more.

I have not set myself a reading goal for a few years now, I always wanted to read without worrying about hitting the goal, but why am I scared of failing? Does it change anything? I am going to try for 50 books this year because I want to intentionally push myself more and disconnect from my phone as well. When I stopped setting a goal, I can see a decrease in reading. I was reading over 100 books a year and then it dropped to 83, 65, 56 and then last year only 46 books. I was disappointed with the amount of reading I did, I know it has been a busy time, but I want to see if the act of goal setting has any bearing on how much I read.

This is my plan for 2026; I hope this sparks some creativity and thoughtfulness in my life. I wrote the term ‘sparks some creativity’ and realise that is wrong, creativity requires practice, but I left that in as a reminder. I am really hoping to be less online and, on my phone, and more in the moment. I want to be more creative and slow my mind, I hope this plan works for me.

Best Books of 2025

Posted January 3, 2026 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Literature / 4 Comments

My final “best of” list for the year and my most important one. I am reflecting on the books I have read, and it seems that my favourites are older books. I spend time reading new books and this year it was the classics I enjoyed the most. I think this will be a focus next year, as I am still working on my reading challenge. I do remember when I was reading over 100 books a year and I am jealous of that now, but life has other plans for me.

10. What We Can Know by Ian McEwen – 2025

You know when you read a book and you immediately want to start reading it again; I felt that way about What We Can Know. I think after reading part 2 of this novel, I wanted to go back and remind myself of the first part. I did read most of this on a plane; not being distracted by my phone could have been why enjoyed this novel so much. My first Ian McEwen and not my last, I found the prose so beautiful, engaging and yet so easy to read. I found myself comparing the style with Julian Barnes (another author I need to read more from) in the way it felt elegant to read and yet their style kept me engaged. Set in two parts, starting on 2119 where a scholar is looking of the archives of the twenty first century, in particular a long-lost poem. The second part is set in 2014 and the events that lead to the poem being written. It was an interesting exploration into how we engage with history verses what happened in these people’s lives to create this piece of writing.

9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – 1818

My wife and I decided to do a buddy read of this Jane Austen novel and I found it interesting to have a book to discuss with her. I think in 2026 there will be more buddy reads together (Chosen Family by Madeleine and another Austen, possibly Sense and Sensibility). What I loved about this novel is the exploration of gothic fiction and Catherine ‘fan-girling’ over an abbey. There are so many types of novels happening here; it is a satire, it is a gothic novel, it is a bildungsroman and a social critique. I find it hard to believe that this was written before all Austen’s major works and remained unpublished in her life. While I do prefer Pride and Prejudice (the only other Austen book I have read) I was impressed with everything happening in this novel…maybe I should write a review for this book.

8. Bad Girls by Camila Sosa Villada (translated by Kit Maude) – 2019

Camila Sosa Villada is a transgender actress, writer and singer from Argentina and this a semi-autobiographical novel around her time as a sex worker. Sometimes published in English under the name The Queens of Sarmiento Park, this novel explores a group of trans women on the streets around Sarmiento Park and the tales of their encounters with people. As it is a South American novel expect a little magical realism and be warned these experiences are horrifying. I love the way this novel explores the social divide, not just of economic classes but with the transgender community as well. This novel does not hold back, but I think the use of magical elements is used to blur lines of reality and still be informative about the dark sides of sex work.

7. The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion: Vol 1 & 2 by Beth Brower – 2019

Technically two novels (and I still have six more to read) but I am invested in this series. Set in 1883, Emma M Lion is a young woman who is returning to St. Crispian to take her inheritance, Lapis Lazuli House. The house has been managed by her eccentric cousin Archibald who is not too keen on returning the property to the heir. The journals document the life of this very young woman and the interesting people she meets in St. Crispian. I found these books so charming and a delight. While the writing style is trying to be suggestive of authors like Oscar Wilde or maybe Jane Austen, I think there are choices made hrere to make it accessible to today’s readers. I had to force myself to not pick up more of these novels just so I did not spend the entire year only reading these books.

6. Orbital by Samantha Harvey – 2023

If it was not for book club, I do not think I would have read this novel at all; even if it did win the Booker, it was not the Booker prize I follow. I am never too sure if I should describe this as science fiction, maybe it is more a science than sci-fi or a philosophical novel. Orbital follows six astronauts on the international space station orbiting earth in a period of 24 hours. This is a contemplation of earth, our environment; the beauty and problems we see and if we have the ability to change or help our world. This was a novel that I read through quickly but remained on my mind for the rest of the year.

5. First Love by Ivan Turgenev (translated by Isaiah Berlin) – 1860

There was something so fascinating about the way this explored first love, and the complexities of romance as an adult. This follows Vladimir Petrovich who, much like most young men bidding for the affection of Princess Zasyekin who lived next door. Vladimir is only 16 years old and the way Turgenev explores the growth and understanding of his heart and emotions was stunning and as this is Russian literature you can expect a lot of angst and heartbreak; but I think that is expected with first loves.

4. Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin – 1956

This novel follows a young American in Europe who starts an affair with an Italian man, Giovanni. When Baldwin was asked if this novel is autobiographical, he as often stated this was not shaped by his own experiences in Paris; but I do suspect there were similar experiences between David and author. When thinking about how to describe this novel, I feel like I start listing the dozens of themes that play out in these pages. There is social alienation, exploration of bisexuality and homosexuality, masculinity, depression, racism, homophobia and so much more. I think I love Giovanni’s Room because there is a lot going on here and all around 150 pages. I need to read more James Baldwin but part of me also wants to reread this one next year.

3. My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin – 1901

I am not sure why it had taken me so long to read this novel, but thanks to the reading challenge my wife created for my birthday, I read and fell in love with My Brilliant Career. This is an autobiographical novel by Stella Miles Franklin who was only 21 when the novel was released and it is surprisingly feminist to the time. The heroine Sybylla Melvyn is a headstrong woman who refuses to confirm to social pressures, such as marriage. She wanted to achieve what she considered to be her dream career, to be an author. The questions about social pressures put on women remains relevant today as when this novel was written, which is disappointing but probably why this novel remains so applicable now.

2. On the Calculation of Volume I-III by Solvej Balle (I and II translated by Barbara J. Haveland, III translated by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell) – 2020-2021

It is 18th of November again and Tara Selter seems to be stuck in time. Many people compare these books to Groundhog Day, which is fair, but I think they offer so much more. I remember going into the first book wondering how can Balle keep this up for the intended seven books. It is hard to separate these as separate books as we all wait for the new translation of the next book to be translated into English (April 14, 2026, if you are wondering). While the focus is the time loop, I think each books seems to focus on an aspect of being stuck in a day. For example, book 1 focuses on Tara’s relationship with her husband who is not stuck in November 18, book 2 she discovers a new person and what it is like to realise you are not alone, while book 3 there are even more people trying to build a community together. I have no idea what is going to happen in book 4 or any of the other books but I cannot wait to find out.

1. Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park – 2023

In 2015 a Korean American author got an ARC or a book called Same Bed, Different Dreams by Echo; the novel explores the sinister and secretive history of the Korean Provisional Government. This novel Same Bed Different Dreams (the one written by Ed Park) is a weird metafictional novel about a fictional novel, the Korean War, the division of North and South Korea and writing. It is so hard to categorise this novel, it is alternative history, science fiction, historical fiction and literary fiction all at the same time. I really wish I had the skills to describe this novel, it is complex, but it takes you one a weird postmodernist journey.

Best Films and TV Shows of 2025

Posted January 2, 2026 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Film & Television / 0 Comments

What I love about this time of year is the reflecting and planning, not sure why I tend to wait till the end of year. Why not share my favourite movies or television shows more often. I know I say this probably every year, but I want to be more active, I have taken up journalling, and it seems like I was waiting for inspiration rather than exercising my creativity. The problem with waiting was I tend to find that at 2am and often I am too tired to do anything about that. Maybe next year will finally be the year I do something about it, but in the meantime, I thought I should share my favourite films and shows of 2025. I went back and forth on whether to share my favourite “new to me” films or the ones I saw at the cinema/released in 2025. I went for the later or my list might have been full of Kurosawa or Powell and Pressburger films. Also, there is always a time delay (as you can see with a few of my picks), some films might have released in 2024 but here in Australia we were not able to see them till 2025, but I digress.

My 10 Favourite Films of 2025

10. Materialists (directed by Celine Song)

I loved Celine Song’s Past Lives, so was excited to see what she was going to do next. I find it interesting to see how lacklustre the response was to this film, but for me it worked. What I found interesting was the way Song used the romantic comedy genre to deconstruct the Hollywood ideas of romance. There are elements of class divides, social expectations, heart break and ultimately finding a solution that best suits the protagonist. If it was up to me, I would have picked Pedro Pascal and wealth over Chris Evans, but like Dakota Johnson I never found love with a wealthy person. I do find it amusing to see all the Letterboxd complaints about this being Broke Man Propaganda.

9. Companion (directed by Drew Hancock)

This film really stuck in my mind for the longest time. There is something about these social critic science fiction thrillers that I love. I am not a sci-fi nerd but if there is a social commentary or critique, I am all over it (Tarkovsky’s Solaris would have been in my top 10 if I allowed classics). I find this movie’s plot is an interesting way to look at incel culture and the sexual politics of a relationship. If you have not seen this film basically Jack Quaid orders a sex-bot (Sophie Thatcher) as a companion, but she is unaware she is a robot. When she does discover this, she seeks out revenge. Think Her if it was blended with the films Revenge and Terminator.

8. Nickel Boys (directed by RaMell Ross)

Sometimes you see a film that is brilliant and devastating you never want to see it again, but it is forever buried in your mind. An example of this would be a film like Sing Sing, and obviously Nickel Boys. That first person point of view was an interesting approach; like walking in someone else’s shoes. Set in the Jim Crow-era of Florida, the two actors Ethan Herisse and Brendon Wilson did an incredible job portraying the two reform school students through all the convict labour, sexual abuse and social injustice.

7. Conclave (directed by Edward Berger)

An adaptation of the Robert Harris novel of the same name; Conclave explores the election of a new pope in the style of a political thriller. This was just a lot of fun, as my wife is a Catholic, I found it interesting to see her dissect the theological aspects of the film. Granted we do not know what happens in a conclave, but it was still fun to speculate. Considering we all witnessed a conclave this year with the election of Pope Leo XIV, I think that a little peak into the internal politics of the Catholic church was riveting. I suspect there is negative discourse around the way this film portrays the church and the cardinals but for me, it was just fun.

6. Train Dreams (directed by Clint Bentley)

I have not read the Denis Johnson novella, and I probably should but Train Dreams was a stunning piece of cinema. I think it would be one of those films where every frame is a piece of art. Watching the gorgeous scenery felt like a mediative experience for me. I am reminded of Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days here where we follow a nobody through life. This might be a little more focused on solitude but at a time where I keep thinking about disconnecting from my phone more, this felt like the it was trying to tell me to stop looking at a screen and look at the world around you.

5. Sorda (directed by Eva Libertad)

In English this film is called Deaf, but I am using its original Spanish name. We saw this at the Travelling Film Festival when it came through our city. A stunning look at relationships, marriage, motherhood from a deaf woman. The film stars a deaf actress in the lead, the sister of the director but also features other deaf characters. It was a beautiful look at the complexity of being deaf and the way people treat you. With a hearing partner things are not always easy, and it reminds you of just how much a little head turn could make for someone being able to hear you (via lip reading). There is a scene that has really stuck with me; where Ángela puts in her hearing aids to try and hear a conversation and that all sounds are boosted makes me wonder why anyone would hear hearing aids.

4. Nosferatu (directed by Robert Eggers)

Robert Eggers film style is what draws me to this film. This is a film of beautiful cinematography, costumes, production and if you are a literary nerd like me, then you can try and compare it with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I know they are different but there are a lot of similarities. This is a visually appealing film; I remember looking up Jarin Blaschke to see what else he had done but for the most part he just films Robert Eggers films. I guess that is why an Eggers film is recognisable by the visuals. I do not consider myself a horror fan, but I found this film to be beautiful and yet repulsive, there is so much to like about this film, that when the gore or horror comes it feels like it hits a little harder than it should. I guess that is why makes this more so interesting.

3. Affeksjonsverdi (directed by Joachin Trier)

Joachim Trier is one of those directors I have been meaning to watch for a while; the Oslo trilogy (Reprise, Oslo, August 31^st and The Worst Person in the World) in particular. Affeksjonsverdi (English: Sentimental Value) was another film I saw at the Travelling Film Festival and my favourite from the weekend. It’s the family tension that really stood out here. We have an esteemed film director (Stellan Skarsgård) trying to reconcile with his daughters, but he lacks the emotional ability to connect. I love the way that the house is the main character witnessing everything, from the microaggressions all the way to the generational trauma. Renate Reinsve was an absolute star in this film but the supporting roles from Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning are also worth mentioning.

2. Sinners (directed by Ryan Coogler)

There are so many elements of this film to love, the writing and direction from Ryan Coogler, Michael B Jordan as twins Smoke and Stack, the supporting cast which included Hailee Steinfeld and the amazing debut from Miles Caton, the music by Ludwig Göransson or the cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw. This southern gothic vampire film managed to hit that sweet spot of being both beautiful cinema and a box office smash hit. Without giving away the plot, I think this was an interesting depiction of African American and Choctaw culture in the great depression. We could include the Irish, but I do not believe they are exactly like that; but maybe the way race divide and culture stealing plays out in this film would be worth exploring.

1. Ainda Estou Aqui (directed by Walters Salles)

If there was one film I would recommend from 2025, it would have to be Ainda Estou Aqui (English: I’m Still Here). This political biographic is based on the Marcelo Rubens Paiva memoir of the same name. It explores the kidnapping of his father Rubens Paiva by the military dictatorship under the leadership of Jair Bolsonaro. With an unbelievable performance from Fernanda Torres, the anxiety and anger shown by her transcended the screen and I felt like I was feeling all her emotions with her. This is a film that will stick in my mind forever and might be in my top picks of all time. I feel the need to rewatch this now…or maybe I should read the memoir.

My 10 Favourite Television Shows of 2025

I was reflecting on the year of television, and I really struggled to find ten shows, I feel like I watched a lot more Taskmaster than anything else (I think Taskmaster New Zealand might be my favourite).

10. Ballard

Renée Ballard is my favourite of Michael Conelley’s characters, but I do wish they spent more time on why she was an outsider from the Police department. Maggie Q played Ballard perfectly and I love a police procedural that focuses on a single case over a full season.

9. Optics

Optics follows two social media savvy woman (Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst) who suddenly find themselves as the CEO of a public relations firm when the original CEO dies. Created by Owen and Zerbst with Charles Firth, this is an amazing modern look at the cynical world of PR. Jenna Owen and Vic Zerbst are amazing quick-witted women and it is refreshing to see the ABC give a show to two newer comedians.

8. Fisk

I love this comedy series which centres around the life of lawyer Helen Tudor-Fisk as she starts to rebuild her life in a small probate solicitor firm after her marriage falls apart. There is a wide range of interesting characters and fingers crossed no Marty Sheargold in season four. I am a big fan of Aaron Chen as the probate clerk and tech guy for the office, but I think it is the butting of heads between Fisk and Roz (Julia Zemiro) that really keeps the show interesting.

7. Disclaimer

You do not see many erotic thrillers anymore (when I was a teenager, I watched far too many of them). Disclaimer is a non-linear miniseries about a famed documentary journalist who finds out that she is a prominent character in a novel that seems to reveal a hidden secret. Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón based on a book of the same name by Renée Knight, what I loved about this series was the techniques used to keep the narrator unreliable all the way through the show. This is a thrilling psychological puzzle of a show, with amazing acting by Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline and surprisingly Sacha Baron Cohen.

6. Man on the Inside

I remember the day I suggested watching A Man on the Inside to my wife because I wanted something light. A few episodes in and I am bawling my eyes out over Gladys Montrose and her memory loss; while this is a comedy this was far from light. We watched both seasons quickly and while I think the first season is better, there is an amazing collection of characters here. The chemistry between Lilah Richcreek Estrada and Stephanie Beatriz was the highlight from the show, but I think I would watch anything Michael Schur creates (Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place and Rutherford Falls)

5. Austin

This is a beautiful comedy show that follows a neurodivergent character Austin as he tries to connect with his biological father, the recently cancelled English children’s author (Ben Miller). Austin is played by Michael Theo, and this is his debut acting role but was a participant on Love on the Spectrum. There is an amazing cast on this show including; Sally Phillips, Gia Carides, Charlotte Nicdao, Billie Piper, and my favourite Natalie Abbott, which for some reason IMDB is saying was uncredited for her 6 episodes.

4. Adolescence

I think everyone has Adolescence in their top shows of 2025. I doubt I have anything interesting to say except I am glad I do not have children. There is so much that is unsettling about this show, and it is chilling just how well Owen Cooper portrayed that character. Yet again, this show had such an amazing cast, Stephan Graham did an amazing job as the father but there is that one episode featuring Erin Doherty as the forensic psychologist that still sends shivers down my spine.

3. Paradise

Honestly, I do not want to say anything about this show in fear of giving any of the plot away. This is a political thriller that follows a Secret Service agent (played by Sterling K. Brown) who is assigned to protect the President (played by James Marsden). There is so much more going on here, but I recommend watching this with as little knowledge as possible; enjoy the ride.

2. Hacks

Season four of Hacks might be my favourite season so far, and this has been an amazing show. The relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) is such a thrill to watch, but the twists in their relationship that play out in this last season makes me thrilled to see season five.

1. Severance

We all waited years for season 2 of Severance and when it dropped, I do not think anyone expected the direction it took us. This show has so many layers and it really knows how to depict the surrealist nightmare that is an office job. I often think about how Ben Stiller directed Cable Guy, Zoolander and now this; they all seem to share similar themes of mind manipulation. If you are unsure of what Severance is, the show follows a character Mark Scout (played by Adam Scott) who separates his memories so one part of him knows work and nothing else. It’s a psychological and surrealist look at corporate life but it goes much further.

Best Albums of 2025

Posted January 1, 2026 by Michael @ Knowledge Lost in Music / 0 Comments

When it comes to picking a top ten, how do you work out the list? I think I have spent too much time trying to work this out for a simple top ten albums list. Do I pick the ones I rated the highest on my first listen (I do rate every album I listen to on AOTY and I have a spreadsheet) or do I go to my last.fm stats and find out what were my most listened to albums? I have decided it needed to be a merger of the two but also which albums I still think about. My most listened to album according to last.fm is on this list but I don’t think I have played it in full for a long time. I was really into that album at the beginning of the year and while I still enjoy it, I may have overplayed it.

10. Even in Arcadia by Sleep Token

I am a Sleep Token fan; I got into them a few years ago with Take Me Back to Eden and then went back and listened to their previous albums. It’s interesting to see the online discourse around this anonymous band; they get so much love or so much hate, and there never seems to be much middle ground. Because the band chooses to be anonymous, you also get some horrible doxing from fans trying to find out their identities. The song Caramel was written about the toxic fans and yet some people do not get the message and continue to invade their privacy. What I love about Sleep Token is the blending of genres, you get elements of pop, R&B, and more, but they remain a metal band (even if people want to argue that fact). They have forged their own style which other bands try to replicate. Sleep Token has so much lore behind them, but Even in Arcadia feels like a more personal album, maybe a good entry point if you have not heard a full album from them. The cheat code is adding saxophone solos into metal songs, that seems to always make me love a song more.

Standouts: Look To Windward, Emergence, Caramel, Even in Arcadia, Provider, Damocles, Gethsemane, Infinite Baths

9. Lotus by Little Simz

I saw a lot of lot of hype around this album and when I checked out this album, I was fully onboard. First off, can we all appreciate a hip hop artist using the word little instead of lil? This album was in response so a mess lawsuit between the artist and a former collaborator. This led to an album of rage, anger and even disappointment. This was such an emotional album. I do not think I can explain Conscious Hip Hop as a genre; I believe it is more focused on social commentary or personal growth, this is what I would call Lotus by Little Simz.

Standouts: Thief, Only, Free, Peace, Lotus, Lonely, Blue

8. Tsunami Sea by Spiritbox

Here it is, my most played album, and I love Spiritbox and I was really looking forward to this album after being obsessed with Eternal Blue and their EP, The Fear of Fear. This was heavier and darker than their previous work, but this might just be a reflection of world events. Courtney LaPlante is one of my favourite vocalists at the moment and while I am always impressed by her harsh vocals, I prefer her clean singing, but it is always impressive how easily she switches between the two. The production here is so wonderful and one of the things I love about this band is that they are not afraid to blend genres and try new things to make their sound unique. The music composition here feels so mature and unlike what you would expect from Djent or Metalcore, there are highs and lows and we are taken on a sonic journey through this Tsunami Sea.

Standouts: Perfect Soul, Keep Sweet, Soft Spine, Tsunami Sea, A Haven With Two Faces, Crystal Roses, Ride The Wave, Deep End

7. Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse

It has been fourteen years since the last Clipse album, I believe Pusha T and Malice were focusing on personal projects, but this break might have been the best thing for the two brothers. They came back with something personal and with the maturity needed for a project like this. Produced by Pharrell, this Clipse album is something special and this is coming from someone that is not well-versed in Hip Hop. I did put in more of an effort and found some great 2025 albums, including: From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D. by Saba and No I.D., God Does Like Ugly by JID and Balloonerism by Mac Miller (if that counts). Let God Sort Em Out seems to be the one that just stuck in my head the most. I think I was just surprised how emotional the album was, and the production seemed to work so well for this album.

Standouts: The Birds Don’t Sing, Chains & Whips, P.O.V., So Be It, All Things Considered, M.T.B.T.T.F., Let God Sort Em Out/Chandeliers

6. Lonely People with Power by Deafheaven

While I like metal, there are some genres that I tend not to listen to; for example, Black Metal, then comes a band like Deafheaven that becomes an exception to the rule. However, technically Deafheaven is a Blackgaze artist, which is a blend of Black Metal and Shoegaze. I have also heard this band labelled as Post-Black Metal and even Dream Pop, so many genres blending into something unique and special. The band is best known for their album Sunbather from 2013, an album I haven’t listened to yet but had such a bright and colourful cover which felt unusual for a Black Metal cover. While I did like the harsh vocals on this album, I think when they add some clean vocals into the songs it adds a more interesting dynamic. Amethyst is the real highlight for me; that guitars in it was so mesmerising, I think that’s when I decided this was a new favourite.

Standouts: Incidental I, The Garden Route, Heathen, Amethyst, Body Behavior, Winona, The Marvelous Orange Tree

5. EUSEXUA by FKA twigs

Before EUSEXUA I knew I liked FKA twigs (Two Weeks might be a perfect song) but I never listened to a full album. It’s hard to explain what I love about this album, there is something sexy, something experimental, something dreamlike and something addictive about it…is this what all of FKA twigs albums are like? There was a little of a Bjork vibe happening at one point (particularly with Room of Fools). I think the glitch/dream pop style has never sounded better, I found myself vibed out so much, I was getting lost in the music. Twigs released a companion album to this called EUSEXUA Afterglow which is also amazing, but it is a different album, a different vibe and style. I recommend both but EUSEXUA is a highlight for me and I find myself listening to it more than Afterglow.

Standouts: EUSEXUA, Girl Feels Good, Perfect Stranger, Sticky, Striptease, 24hr Dog, Wanderlust

4. Hit It! by vianova

This might be the most exciting Metalcore album I have heard in a very long time. I find that too many artists in this genre seem to have the same formula or copy the style of some of the biggest artists in Metalcore (like Architects). This new German band are doing things their own way and offering a unique take on the genre; the album starts with auto-tuned vocals, I remember being confused that I picked the wrong album. I had heard a few songs from the band (Whatever Alright and Melanchronic), so I expected something different. When a band plays with expectations or the genre feels so refreshing is why I keep going back to this debut album from vianova.

Standouts: Squier Talk, Más Rápido, Wheel of Fortune, Oh No (Believer), Marimba, Melanchronic, Whatever Alright, Uh Yaya, Obsolete

3. Vanisher, Horizon Scraper by Quadeca

I liked Quadeca’s mixtape SCRAPYARD, but did not love; it was enough to make me curious enough to see what an actual album would sound like.I did not expect to enjoy this album as much as I did and it saw Quadeca move more towards an art pop album. Maybe I tend to auto associate Quadeca with Experimental Hip Hop; those elements were still there, but it seems like there is so much more going on. I remember wondering what the difference between a mixtape and a LP was, I don’t have an answer, but I love just how much this felt like a concept album and there was so many interesting production choices happening here. Honestly, I spent too much time focusing on the music, there were times I did not paying attention to the lyrics. There are so many interesting layers, and I find myself in a trance-like experience. I really need to go back and listen to I Didn’t Mean to Haunt You, just because this album was so special. Quadeca is an amazing producer, and I can’t wait to spin this over and over again; this might be Quadeca’s Pet Sounds, or since I am more of a literature nerd, it could be his Moby Dick/Old Man and the Sea.

Standout: NO QUESTIONS ASKED, WAGING WAR, GODSTAINED, MONDAY, DANCING WITHOUT MOVING, I DREAM ABOUT SINKING, NATURAL CAUSES, THE GREAT BAKUNAWA, FORGONE, CASPER

2. Lux by Rosalia

Like everyone else in the world, I was obsessed with Lux, even to the point I will watch video analysis of the songs or learn about the saints that might be referenced in these songs. Rosalia has creating something that is unlike anything else in pop. It is part classical music with the help of the London Symphony Orchestra, it is part avant-garde, there is some Electronic, Pop and Hip-Hop elements in here as well. This is the type of album you have to listen to from start to finish and there was a month there it was on constant repeat. Rosalia does not make the same album twice so this feels like a once in a lifetime experience. I have heard this was an anti-AI album, using 13 different languages and checking with translators to see if the works makes sense; then you have an orchestra and the theological elements, this is an artist showing the world why we need artists, there is no way AI could produce something so elegant and detailed.

I have standouts, but I think just listen to the whole album as a single piece of music.

Standouts: Sexo, Violencia y Llantas, Reliquia, Divinize, Berghain, Dios Es Un Stalker, La Yugular, La Rumba Del Perdón, Magnolias

1. Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You by Ethel Cain

I love Ethel Cain and I still play Preacher’s Daughter often, I remember how impatient I was waiting for this release. I was obsessed with Fuck Me Eyes, it is such a great track, and while I liked Nettles, I was curious to see how this whole album worked together and it really fits the concept. As much as I love this album, it is not as good as Preacher’s Daughter. I do think Ethel Cain did execute her vision; the storytelling, the atmosphere, this was just a fantastic listen. She is a masterful storyteller, and this is a prequel to Preacher’s Daughter, so I do recommend listening to both albums together. The album starts in 1986, which is 5 years before Preacher’s Daughter and is centred around the character Willoughby from A House in Nebraska. Also released this year was the EP: Perverts, I enjoyed it because it was different and allowed Ethel Cain to explore her drone style, but Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is the stuff I adore from this artist, and her storytelling both vocally and musically is what keeps me obsessed with these albums.

Standouts: Janie, Fuck Me Eyes, Nettles, Dust Bowl, A Knock At The Door, Tempest, Waco, Texas

I checked my spreadsheet and this year I listened to over 200 albums, and I did find it very difficult to narrow down to just ten albums. The Last Dinner Party, Lorde, Lady Gaga and Lily Allen, all were all in the list at one point but I eventually settled on these picks. If I wanted to go with a more Metal focused list, the weirdness of The Callous Douboys should have been an interesting topic to explore…trying to explain Mathcore would be a challenge. I feel like some honourable mentions are needed. Black Country, New Road has an amazing transformation for the departure of their lead singer and Forever Howlong was an amazing album. Sudan Archives gave us a more danceable offering with BPM, Hayley Williams teased us by releasing all the songs as singles before giving us the album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party and finally there was the debut album from post rock band Maruja. Pain to Power. 2025 also was the year I finally understood why people like Twenty One Pilots with their album, Model/Actriz with Pirouette and I think the EP ♡ helped me get into Jane Remover.