Skip-Through Reviews 9/18/26
Ayooo! Last weekend of September! Time is FLYING for realll.
This month was exciting, because it really wasn’t what I was expecting. I saw a real heavy shift away from the high energy party vibes of August.
This week, I relied on the bottom of the “New Music” section just like I did last week. I am finding that those lower albums that my music streaming service may not think I would be interested in, are actually turning out to be filled with some BANGERS. I am super excited to continue using this approach as the weeks come and go.
I have a few little rules that I follow when I am looking through the music and trying to decide which albums to listen to. One of the big ones is that I try not to review any re-released albums or “deluxe” versions. I just feel like these releases are just cash grabs to try and milk every dollar they can out of the fans. BUTTTT, sometimes, there are some bangers released on these albums. Like take Beyonce’s 20th anniversary RE-re-release of B-Day. It has a few dope songs, but I don’t think that makes it deserving of a spot on the list of albums that I am reviewing. Idk. Just thinking haha.
This week, we’ll be getting Episode 2 of our Skip-Though Reviews Recap Mix. I am HYPED. If there are any specific song’s that y’all wanna see on the mix that came out this month, don’t hesitate to tap in. I am excited to see what a September 2026 mix sounds like.
Hope y’all enjoy this week of reviews. Lots of fun projects released!
AZ Chike — No Rest for the Wicked
I’m hyped for this. Chike been working hella hard for a while now. Great to see where he is now. Classic old photo cover here. Let’s get it.
Super LA with the instrumental on “Lamb Truck Keys”, coo lil ting. Classic Chike sound on “God’s Favorite”, dope word play, aggressive delivery, gotta love it. The beat can be a little repetitive tho. We already know that “Look Like My Mama” feat. Tyler, The Creator is a banger. You can almost hear some Kendrick Lamar influence on the song “Wonder”.
Solid album. First time I heard a Chike project that sounded like it was a full on ALBUM fr. Got some amazing minds and moolah behind this one.
7.5/10
Miley Cyrus — Bass Persuades
Beautiful cover. It’s black and white, idk what y’all want from me, you know how I feel about this shit. It’s heat.
This album starts off sounding veryyy aggressive. Definatly super bassy, but then shifts back into something a little more familiar to that Miley sound we’ve all grown to love. I really enjoy the track “REDLIGHTS”. It has a nice modern western sound to it.
Album was okay, not really my favorite sound. I can see some moments of dope bassy instruments and a cool fast pace, but it wasn’t really consistent enough for me to fully get behind it.
6/10
Yeah — COCOON
I like this cover, it’s like a thin fabric hung up and you can see him and his hands pressing against it. Idk how to describe it haha. All I know is that there was effort put into it, so I fuck with it.
Yeat went and pulled his Drake card and got a hook on “MISS MY DAWG”. First couple of songs sound super quiet for some reason. Rest of the album just isn’t super exciting. I sorta like “HOLY WATER”, but other than that, I wasn’t really with it.
6/10
beabadoobee — Pylon
Super interesting cover, it seems like a collage of things. Maybe memories or something. It’s nice.
Never listened to beabadoobee before, but I feel like I’ve seen her name tho. I am really liking the sound of the first few songs here. “Estranged” is dope. “Switchblade” has this super scratchy guitar sound that I really fuck with. Whole album is this almost nostalgic angsty rock vibe that I really enjoy.
7.5/10
Duke Deuce — AMERICA IS OURS
Very dope cover. I am hyped for this album. Duke Deuce has always been dope. Great energy.
Welp, as I was listening to this album, I was really trying to find something. It just didn’t feel right. Idk what it was. Whether it was the instrumentals being quiet or the delivery of Duke.
6/10
YS — Here 2 Stay
Cover is coo. Idk, some art with a collage or something on the guys sweater.
The first track “Intro” feat. Rio Da Yung Og is lowkey crazy. See, this album has comparable energy from the vocals to the beats. Idk why it’s so hard for some artists to listen for that sorta stuff. “Dirty Lifestyle” is a dope song. Great pacing.
Ultimately, there was a few good songs here, but nothing legendary.
6.5/10
Tigerskin — Image
Maybe an image of some moving cars? Outside of a window? Not sure.
Ooo, some electronic dance musicccc. Haven’t checked one of these in a min. I’m down. I really like the sound of the first song “Be Laughing”. I really love a song that uses a sound clip like on “Image”. I also really enjoy the beat of “Home for a Friend”, I just wish there was more, the song got super repetitive.
Cool lil album. I wasn’t mad at it.
6.5/10
Riff Wood — Butterfly In Black And White
Rorshack test? White splot on a black page? I like it.
First song, “PUNK”, gives me big Green Day vibes, and you know what, I’m here for it. Makes me hyped to hear this album.
Yeah, I fuck with this vibe. Heavily. “Shy Guy” is a banger. So is “Tapeworm”.
Super fun Pop Punk album really. I love to hear this coming from such a young band.
8/10
Alistair Alvin — Trouble Won’t Last
Very dope image of him standing in front of his studio set up or something and it’s on fire. Looks dope.
A lot of these song’s sound coo, just nothing crazy. He’s speaking a different language half of the album, so I am just going off of vibes here. It’s very boom bap type shit. Almost some J Cole vibes here. I do like “Sleep Paralysis” feat. Arif Jahangir & Lil J, but I hate the way they transition out of the song.
This is a fine album. Nothing crazy.
6/10
Actress — Radical Frame
Now this is a SICK COVERRR. Like an inverted scanned photo with some blue paint. Idk, super simple, but it looks sick.
Veryyyyy funky electronic album. Lots of super interesting sounds here. I really enjoy the sound of “Withending”.
Cool album. Super interesting sounds.
6.5/10
Saint Blonde — …with little ease
Really dope painting of what looks like the 3 hyenas from The Lion King. Very bright and fun looking image.
I am really loving the prominent and funky bass on a lot of these songs. But in all actuality, most of these songs just give me boring radio hit vibes. Not really my jam.
5.5/10
Aron! — Too Close For Running
I really love this cover. It’s lovely and soft. Very nice look.
This album starts with the song “Love Is How You Lose”, which is this super cute little love song. I really love the little beat switch on “Rainy Miami” for the chorus. I really enjoy the sound of this softer sung sort of Alt Pop type music. “Macrame” feat. Mei Semones is a super cute song as well. Love all these cute lil love joints.
8/10
Kareen Lomax — NAJI
Very lovely cover. Portrait of the singer. Lovely green backdrop. Cool tones.
The first few songs don’t really hit for me. I just think they sound a little too Pop for me. This album is labeled R&B/Soul, so I was expecting that vibe really. I really like the sound of “OFFLINE” a lot. Super funky instrumental.
Overall a fine album. Nothing super dope tho. Idk. Just not my vibe. Maybe it’s the genre thing haha.
6/10
ChaiBenjii4 — Bloodiest B
Very classic digital collage cover for this one here. I can guess how the album is gonna sound just based on the artwork here haha.
Okay okay… So yeah.. Tape aint really it. It’s got wild beats. Super distorted bass n shit. But the guy is just sayin stuff. Could be over anything really. Just doesn’t feel super cohesive.
4/10
Games We Play — I Wish I Never Quit
At least it looks like a lot of effort was put into the photo. I could see this cover being something people look back on as something that’s dope.
The album has that Warped Tour/Pop Punk sound to it. Always going to be a dope vibe. Fun album.
7/10
Jourden — A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Very simple fly fit pic for the cover. Nothing insane. Big love for NY tho.
Jourden has an amazing delivery and a fly flow over these songs. I really enjoy “Hard” feat. Queen Naija and the lil sample that I can’t quite remember. SHE IS SPITTIN ON “King Kong”!!! Heat. Easy.
Jourden is dope. I’m hyped to hear more from her in the future.
7.5/10
