As a music reviewer, 2025 started quickly. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny dropped a wide-reaching album in 2025’s first week. Canadian sophisti-pop act The Weather Station released Humanhood in mid-January. Meanwhile, I’m still catching up with 2024, hence the smooth soul of Sweden’s Dina Ögon. All three albums are highly recommended.
The Weather Station
Humanhood
2025, 9/10
Tamara Lindeman presented her previous batch of songs in a simple form. But on Humanhood, she returns to the lushness of Ignorance. It’s welcome, as Ignorance was a 2021 favourite. Lindeman is supported by a talented collective of Canadian musicians. Their improvisational skills frame Lindeman’s plaintive songs, and Humanhood is a sophisticated and magical record.
Lindeman often reminds me of the 1980s work of fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell. They share a social conscience, a world-weary voice, and jazzy arrangements. Lindeman’s vocal phrasing on songs like ‘Neon Signs’ and ‘Body Moves’ is especially reminiscent of Mitchell. While Mitchell’s brave 1980s records are dated in hindsight, Lindeman is poised and sophisticated. The textured arrangements and jazzy drumming recall landmark Talk Talk records like Spirit of Eden.
Lindeman pruned Humanhood to a 45-minute length that fits neatly onto an LP. With its spoken-word sections, ‘Irreversible Damage’ recalls Cassandra Jenkins’ work. The jazzy ‘Mirror’ is rhythmically sophisticated, while ‘Sewing’ is plaintive and minimal.
One of the first things that came to mind with the record was the title. The title was really important to me from the beginning because it was sort of a question mark, or a knot that I wanted to untangle.
Tamara Lindeman, Interview Magazine
Humanhood is a worthy sequel to Ignorance, another record of sophisticated pondering.
Dina Ögon
Orion
2024, 8.5/10
Swedish band Dina Ögon comprise lead vocalist Anna Ahnlund, drummer Christopher Cantillo, guitarist/keyboardist Daniel Ogren, and bassist Love Orsan. The band’s name translates to “your eyes” in English. They released their debut album in 2021, but the members are in their 30s and 40s.
Dina Ögon describe their music as “a love child between Fleetwood Mac, Khruangbin, and obscure Motown B-sides. Their smooth, melodic sound is reminiscent of late 1970s yacht rock or 1980s Japanese city pop. There are also traces of bossa nova and funk, with Cantillo’s drumming strong enough to hold disparate strands together. With the exuberant melodies and warm arrangements, their music is gorgeous.
The opening ‘Jag vill ha allt’ is a prime-pop confection with a squiggling bassline, classy piano and a floating chorus melody. ‘Firad’ is another beautiful melody, recalling 1990s trip-hop. Orion isn’t all sugar overload – the title track turns things down a notch, contemplative rather than excitable. The closing ‘Tomma lådor’ is closer to folk than pop, a dignified palate cleanser.
Dina Ögon write terrific pop tunes, synthesising something unique from the past.
Bad Bunny
Debí Tirar Más Fotos
2025, 8.5/10
Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny deserves credit for his artistic growth. He made his name with his charismatic Latin trap on records like X 100pre and YHLQMDLG. He has outside interests – he stars in Bullet Train and the upcoming Marvel film El Muerto. He’s dabbled in professional wrestling and runs the charitable Good Bunny Foundation.
Despite his successes and distractions, he’s grown as an artist. On Debí Tirar Más Fotos (Spanish for I Should Have Taken More Photos) he explores Puerto Rican musical styles and politics. Like 2022’s excellent Un Verano Sin Ti, it’s impressively diverse.
He’s confident enough to sing on ‘Turista’, accompanied by flamenco guitar. Bad Bunny also delves into traditional forms with the jíraba rhythm of ‘Pitorro de Coco’.
The record’s biggest issue is that the opening track ‘Nuevayol’ overshadows the remainder – it’s a perfect mix of tradition and aggressive modernity, authentic yet bombastic.
It’s not all steeped in tradition. The lead single ‘El Clúb’ has a modern sheen.
Bad Bunny has developed into an outstanding artist and Debí Tirar Más Fotos is another triumph.
Read More
5 Comments
Leave a Reply
Review Pages
Read about the discographies of musical acts from the 1960s to the present day. Browse this site's review archives or enjoy these random selections:
Blog Posts
I add new blog posts to this website every week. Browse the archives or enjoy these random selections:
I think Dina Ögon may have been the first time I ever heard music sung in Swedish – sounds pretty good! What intrigues me most is The Weather Station. Tamara Lindeman really does have a neat Joni Mitchell vibe, especially on “Neon Signs” and “Body Moves” – vocally, in particular!
I don’t know if I’ve heard a band sing in Swedish before either. All the ones I know like ABBA and The Cardigans are usually in English.
Weather Station was my favourite this week too. I think she’s lucky to have some great Canadian musicians at her disposal.
I can see why Lindeman reminds you of Joni Mitchell…it did to me as well… I like it…it’s grounded and sounds good. Ögon was ok…but Lindeman is closer to what I like.
It’s interesting because Dina Ogon could have been recorded in the late 1970s, while the Weather Station sound modern and synthy. But the Weather Station are sincere, while Dina Ogon are pretty escapist.
That is odd for me…but that one I could relate to more.