Best Albums of 2025: KRUI Staff Picks

December 30, 2025

The rumors are true, KRUI likes music! 2025 was a crazy year all around, and even crazier, we here at KRUI actually listened to lots of albums this year. We’ve picked out eleven of our favorite albums from this year to share, and explore together.

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Festival Preview: Chicago’s New Year Transitions, Dec. 26–Jan. 1st

December 23, 2025

By Logan Melia

Spanning 7 venues across 7 days, Transitions, the New Years Eve celebration by AURIS PRESENTS, in downtown Chicago has cultivated a lineup of the biggest names spinning records and electronica today. From December 26 – January 1st, Chicagoland will be ablaze as it welcomes the likes of 70 artists and a 21-hour marathon to ring in the new year at Outset. Here are the highlights coming this week to Chicago.

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Concert Review: Nuovo Testamento sparks infectious dancing at The James

December 8, 2025

By Ria Das

On November 12, Nuovo Testamento graced Iowa City with their music live at The James Theater as a part of The Englert Theatre’s Track Zero concert series. I attended the concert that night, fully ready to boost a move myself.

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Album Review: An exploration of nature, music, and technology with Björk’s “Cornucopia: Live”

November 18, 2025

By Clara Carrion

Bjork’s latest “Cornucopia: Live” album is a near spiritual experience with her haunting vocals and eclectic melodies capturing the essence of the original songs, magnifying their impact.

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October 4th: White Reaper, World’s Worst & Lip Critic at Gabe’s. Lip Critic’s Hex Dealer Album & Show Review.

October 15, 2025

By Tarik Krob

Reviewing White Reaper, World’s Worst and Lip Critic at Gabe’s on Oct. 4th. The Englert’s Track Zero series continues to expose exciting up-and-coming artists in the electronic and alternative rock scene.

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Playboi Carti May Not Be the “MUSIC”

March 26, 2025

By Maurice Crawford

With his long anticipated new album “MUSIC” Playboi Carti disappoints many by lazily revisiting sounds that have already been dried up and over used. There are still some glimmers of hope on the album.

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Magdalena Bay at an Artistic Peak, Live in the Flesh

November 9, 2024

By Maurice Crawford

On their sophomore album, indie pop duo Magdalena Bay manages to deliver an instant classic that showcases a progressive and genre-blending interpolation of pop music. This release cycle also featured a special performance at the University of Iowa.

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Rediscovery in “swanlike” by They Are Gutting a Body of Water

October 17, 2024

By John Glab

“swanlike” from They Are Gutting a Body of Water rediscovers old demo tracks put up on their SoundCloud over the last few years. All of them perfect for reflecting on the state of things in the endless drift.

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Kim Gordon Shows that You Can Still be Cool at 71

May 9, 2024

By Anika Maculangan

All time Kim Gordon fan, Anika Maculangan, reviews “The Collection” album freshly released under a light of revolution.

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Mission Creek: Hatis Noit’s Heavenly Aura

April 27, 2024

By Lauren McGovern

Hatis Noit conjured intense, powerful emotions with even more powerful vocals in her performance at Mission Creek. Her entire performance visually and audibly was a mystifying experience.

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Music →

Evicshen & Sharp Pins at Stop/Time Festival, April 4th

Continuing to find inspiration in Iowa City’s arts community. KRUI’s Tarik took a little day trip to Hancher’s new Stop/Time Festival, losing himself in two incredible performances from Evicshen and Sharp Pins.

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Feeling the BPM with underscores’ third studio album “U”

On a regular Thursday in March, I discovered underscores while scrolling on Tiktok. I worked my way through her discography and eventually fell down a rabbit hole of hyperpop. Her take on electronic and pop music is deeply refreshing and her captivating sound is definitely one to pay attention to.

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News →

Iowa City Starbucks Keeps Fighting Back with Open Doors

A series of strikes against the coffee conglomerate’s treatment of workers are currently underway. The current strikes follow Starbucks’s refusal to honor the years-long demands of workers.

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First Person POV of NASW “Legislative Day on the Hill,” February 24, 2026

Take a look inside the National Association of Social Worker’s 2026 “Legislative Day on the Hill” at the Iowa Capitol building through Carson’s eyes and ears.

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Playful Poetry, Danez Smith Reading from Stop/Time Festival

Evicshen & Sharp Pins at Stop/Time Festival, April 4th

Interview: Eve 6 at Innings Festival

Luke Combs: Live in Iowa

A Conversation Between Artists: Ambrose Akinmusire and PUBLIQuartet, Friday of Stop/Time Festival

Six Foot Blonde at Tomorrow Never Knows Festival

electronic

KRUI Staff Picks: Best Releases of March 2026

It’s Laundry Day at Gabe’s. Concert Review. 2/13/2026.

Show Preview: Lip Critic with Recess and Ascended Master at Gabe’s, February 19th

Festival Preview: Chicago’s New Year Transitions, Dec. 26–Jan. 1st

Concert Review: Nuovo Testamento sparks infectious dancing at The James

Album Review: An exploration of nature, music, and technology with Björk’s “Cornucopia: Live”

October 4th: White Reaper, World’s Worst & Lip Critic at Gabe’s. Lip Critic’s Hex Dealer Album & Show Review.

Playboi Carti May Not Be the “MUSIC”

Magdalena Bay at an Artistic Peak, Live in the Flesh

Rediscovery in “swanlike” by They Are Gutting a Body of Water

Kim Gordon Shows that You Can Still be Cool at 71

Mission Creek: Hatis Noit’s Heavenly Aura

Evicshen & Sharp Pins at Stop/Time Festival, April 4th

Feeling the BPM with underscores’ third studio album “U”

Iowa City Starbucks Keeps Fighting Back with Open Doors

A Team of Dreamers

The Price of a Miracle, Women’s Basketball Iowa v. Virginia

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