Arts & Entertainment

Editor’s picks: Albums our staff is listening to this fall

Antonio Peeples, Justin Kapsas, Anthoney Baptista, Lena Hofstrom, Yuna Fujita, Sebastian Anguiano, Itzel Quirarte, Mary Keile, Adam Rodriguez, and Peter Bettencourt • October 5, 2025

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Justin Kapsas – Motley Crue, “Girls, Girls, Girls”

“Girls, Girls, Girls” is one of my favorite Motley Crue albums. This album was created to be a representation of what the band was all about: partying, girls, and living wild. The top two tracks from the album are “Wild Side,” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.” My favorite of the two being “Girls, Girls, Girls,” as it takes the cake for having the most raw lyrics. In the song “Wild Side,” the band is singing about living in East Los Angeles, and the gritty street scene that they know all too well. “Girls, Girls, Girls,” is about the band’s habit to visit different strip clubs as they toured the country. Motley Crue’s album “Girls, Girls, Girls” is definitely one of their most powerful albums, and a great album to play when you want to get the party going.

Anthoney Baptista – Os Mutantes, “A divina comédia ou ando meio desligado”

Os Mutantes is a Brazilian psych band that emerged from Brazil’s countercultural pop movement known as “Tropicalia” in the 60s. Led by Arnaldo Baptista, Sérgio Dias and Rita Lee, they crafted some of the most far-out, whacky and unpredictable pop tunes of their era. “A divina…” is a record I return to often for the absolute psychedelic blast that it is, the band sound like they had an absolute ball putting it together. The bass on the album opener “Ando meio desligado” sounds like it’s melting as Rita’s vocals ascend into the high heavens, like some divine ritual. Rita’s singing is a real highlight of this record, especially on the spellbinding “Meu refrigerador não funciona” , an emotional, explosive organ-led blues duet about a refrigerator malfunctioning. “A divina…” fluctuates between absolute chaos (“Oh! Mulher infiel”) and moments of sanity (“Ave, Lucifer”), but you will never find a single moment of boredom here.

Lena Hofstrom – Brakence, “Hypochondriac”

Brakence’s hyper-pop sound mixed with unique vocals and poetic lyrics has this album on constant repeat for me. 13 songs that all have great smooth transitions from one to the next creates an amazing listening experience. It feels like one 52 minute long song ranging in emotions and energy. This album talks about Brakence’s ego, how gaining fans has affected the way he creates music and what it means for him. With ranging in tone from a god complexity to self deprecation and loneliness, about getting things you wanted and it still not being enough, this is an album I think anyone can find pieces of themselves in and relate to in some way. All together this creates an engaging album that I still notice new things about while listening.

Itzel Quirarte, – Pixies, “Doolittle”

The Pixies’ “Doolittle” album has been a top favorite of mine since middle school. Released in 1989, this landmark of alternative rock got my attention with its cool guitar riffs and how uniquely curated each track is. Each song has its individual sound that makes it stand out on its own while still being able to blend with the other tracks. My favorites from the album have to be “Hey” and “Mr.Grieves” because of how satisfying they are to sing along with, and their instrumentals show off the sharp edge and playful energy that “Doolittle” carries. There is some tension between the dark lyrics and the bright, hooky melodies, but that gives the album a restless, electric feel. For me, “Doolittle” is the album I go to when I want to just hit some air guitar riffs and kill some karaoke.

Adam Rodriguez – Leon Thomas, “MUTT”

“MUTT” has been one of my favorite and most replayed R&B albums that I can remember. Leon Thomas, formerly of, “Victorious,” fame, really caught my ear with this album. The album starts off with a fast-paced, in-your-face song in, “HOW FAST,” but soon mellows out with tracks like, “VIBES DON’T LIE,” and “ANSWER YOUR PHONE.” Thomas’ vocals remain a highlight of the album, supported by the soulful instrumentals. The collaboration of producers and features on the album serve to compliment the hip-hop undertones of Thomas’ modern R&B focused tone. I personally love this album because of the sheer vibe that it creates. Thomas’ vocals and the instrumentals blend together like they’re dancing in a ballroom on a rainy night. Songs that stood out to me are, “MUTT,” and, “NOT FAIR.” All in all, the album has been a staple in my playlists and a staple in my car-ride karaoke sessions, and that’s the marking of a great album.

Mary Keile – Jenna Davis, “Where Did That Girl Go?”

It is one of my favorite albums because of its pop-country sounds, which make you want to keep singing with the lyrics because they are so good. The album came out on June 27, 2025, but I cannot stop listening to it because it is one of my favorites. It caught my attention because I listened to Jenna Davis’s music for a long time and was excited that this was her first studio album, alongside her EP that came out in 2024. The songs and Davis’s vocals are so pretty and work very well together. The songs in the album are mainly about Davis’s life, relationships, and other topics. But I love listening to it because they are so good and the singer is very talented with her ability to sing and do songwriting. Some of my favorite songs from the album are “Messy,” ”Where Did That Girl Go?,” and “Miss Wannabe.” While I love all the songs on the album, these three are my favorite because they are catchy, and fun. Overall, in my opinion, one of the best albums out there, making it one of my favorite albums to listen to today.

Peter Bettencourt – Anathema, “Judgement”

I found Anathema’s “Judgement” this summer, and It’s quickly become one of my favorite albums with its balance of typical metal instrumentals and a tone I can only describe as sad and contemplative — featuring somber vocals with the addition of acoustic guitars and even some piano. If I had to choose a favorite track, I’d say it’s “Pitiless” as I find its melody most memorable, and it does a great job of building to its crescendo and smoothly transitioning to “Forgotten Hopes” then “Destiny is Dead” as softer tracks to unwind. Other standouts for me are “Deep” as a strong opening track that sets the album’s tone well; the title track “Judgement” for the energetic second half it builds to; and “Anyone, Anywhere” for its uplifting tone and use of piano — although I enjoy most of the tracks, and think they’re all worth a listen. “Judgement” is a great album for chilling on a cold night or rainy day, and it’s made me excited to check out more music from Anathema and bands like them.

The Skyline View

The Skyline View

The Skyline View

Editor’s picks: Albums our staff is listening to this fall

The Skyline View