Rick Larson: So much for Brat Summer. I’m ready for Cunty Winter. Lambrini Girls released their preposterously named debut album, Who Let the Dogs Out, on January 10 and it’s 29 minutes of zapping my brain’s musical pleasure centers. Shouty, snotty vocals, a bass sound heavier than a sack of concrete, old school socio-political punk lyrics, and the judicious use of a wood block that completely sends me. What’s going on down in Brighton, first Dream Wife and now this duo? Is this the U.K.’s Portland or Oakland? I already have my tickets for the Lambrini Girls’ show at a small club in San Francisco in May. I’m very excited for them and for me.
Speaking of duos, Sleigh Bells released a single at the end of the month, ‘Wanna Start A Band?,’ an example of their oft- imitated disorienting pop that they debuted nearly 15 years ago, the sound of skree tumbling into a sweetwater lake. I like it; you might, too.
Katie Burke: Having spent the last few months trying to tunnel my way out of my current “Made for You” Spotify playlist algorithm (same 100 songs regardless of the genre, anyone?) and actively listening to recommendations and new releases, I admit with much trepidation that a lot of my musical pleasure this month has been derived form from A Whole New Sound – an album of pop-punk covers of Disney Songs.
If I say ‘Part of Your World’ by New Found Glory, ‘Remember Me’ by Mayday Parade and ‘Surface Pressure’ by Plain White T’s, you should get the gist, had you not already. January has been a very depressing month and this ridiculous release was like a fizzy-make-feel-good tonic.
In an attempt to redeem myself, this album did lead me to Canadian singer-songwriter LØLØ – who released her own debut album in 2024, Falling for Robots and Wishing I was One. Think Olivia Rodrigo x Chappell Roan x Avril Lavigne (xoxo), catchy pop songs with self-deprecating, humorous lyrics. “I wish I fell for an axe murderer instead of you, he’d kill me too… but at least he’d make it quick” – ‘u turn me on (but u give me depression)’. ‘Hot Girls in Hell’ is delivered so impeccably as a break-up song there is even a sad version to get you started, before graduating to the explicit original. She’s recently been billed as a Star of 2025 by Rock Sound, so I’m excited to see what’s next for her.
When this month finally ends, hopefully I will have the mental and emotional capacity to graduate to more sophisticated sounds. But for now, an aural diet of bubblegum, candyfloss and nostalgia is just what the doctor ordered.
Tom Burrows: Urgh, January. Don’t make me relive it. I’ve tried to get into Bob Dylan and played the new FKA twigs record a few times, but I mostly turned to existing favourites for comfort during this cold and bleak month.
Firstly, Promises, the fusion of jazz, electronic and classical fusion by the almighty combo of Floating Points, Pharaoh Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra. I liked this when it was released in early 2021, but I’ve found a new appreciation for it nearly four years after its release. I turned it on for background music to read to, but was captivated by Sanders’ saxophone playing in the early portion of the album. And ‘Movement 6’ is still one of the most stirring pieces of music I’ve heard in recent memory.
And secondly, And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow, by Weyes Blood. I’ve picked this for this segment before, but my relationship with this record really has transformed since I met its release with indifference in November 2022. Maybe it’s because Natalie Mering often sounds like a mother comforting a child on these lushly orchestrated tracks. Maybe that’s all I needed this month. January will be over soon, Thomas. Soon it’ll be light and warm again.
Fran Slater: A January that includes albums from Anna B Savage and The Weather Station is a good January. And they’re both great.
But, with a bit of a spoiler for the Picky Bastards Podcast we just recorded, the first 2025 album that has really led to obsessive listening is by Lambrini Girls.
Who Let The Dogs Out? Is a very British take on modern punk, with acerbic lyrics, cutting sarcasm, and social commentary. But it also boasts impressive sounds as the band are raw and powerful but also unpredictable.
I’ve seen Rick has chosen the same album for this article but also has tickets to see them. Not fair. If anyone has a spare for Manchester, give me a shout.
James Spearing: If you’ve got this far and thought ‘phew at least James won’t also be picking Lambrini Girls too – it’s not his cup of tea’, then I have a surprise for you.
First though, two other exciting things to share. First is Erotic Probiotic 2 from Nourished by Time. Despite being an album that seemed to escape our attention entirely back in 2023, it was very much welcome with me in the early days of 2025. I heard it described as ‘wonky 80s freestyle Baltimore bangers’, and while I’m still not sure exactly what that means, it was enough to intrigue me and it was well worth it. I suggest you become intrigued too.
Second, thanks to Fran in our Albums to look forward to in 2025, I was instantly captivated by the the music of Honesty. Listening to them for the first time was one on of those rare moments, less frequent with age, where I was reminded I still had the capacity to be surprised. And their mysterious trip-hopesque sounds certainly did that. Fortunately there’s a debut album on the way very soon so we won’t have long to wait for even more great new music.
Speaking of surprise again – yes I’m fully riding the Lambrini Girls bandwagon. I even shocked myself. They are very much the band of the moment, and while I’m sure the hype will die down soon enough, the simple pleasure of blasting out ‘Cuntology 101’ has helped me through the most depressing moments of a bleak month. C-U-N-T, Brat is dead to me.
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