All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 25: Robyn, Rosalía, Nothing, Snocaps, more

November 18, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The final contenders episode of *All Songs Considered* for 2025 features late additions to the year's best songs list, including highly anticipated new music from Robyn and Rosalía. 
  • Robyn's new single "Dopamine" is seen as a return to her energetic *Body Talk* era, while Rosalía's album *LUX* is hailed by the guest as an epic, Baroque-influenced masterpiece. 
  • The episode highlights the return of the shoegaze band Nothing after a six-year hiatus with their new song "cannibal world" from the upcoming album *A Short History of Decay*. 

Segments

Email Overload Frustration
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The sheer volume of new music releases, heavily concentrated on Fridays, creates an overwhelming ‘mass of noise and chaos’ for music editors.
  • Summary: One host receives nearly 400 emails about new releases by (10:30) AM on a Friday, leading to missed music. The hosts prefer leaving emails unread rather than marking them as read, as the unread count does not cause stress. They suggest artists should release music randomly instead of focusing releases on Fridays.
Robyn’s Dopamine Return
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Robyn’s new song “Dopamine” signals a return to the ‘fembot pop powerhouse’ energy of her mid-2010s Body Talk era, contrasting with the more relaxed tone of her 2018 album Honey.
  • Summary: The song is immediately identified as a strong contender for the best songs of 2025 list. Robyn’s music is praised for using dance music as a vessel to explore insecurities and humanity, setting a standard for subsequent artists. This release coincides with the 30th anniversary of her debut album, Robyn Is Here (1995).
Rosalía’s Album LUX
Copied to clipboard!
(00:09:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Rosalía’s album LUX is described as an ‘unbelievably epic and expensive’ masterpiece, heavily charged with the intensity and energy of Baroque Catholic art and historical saints.
  • Summary: The song “Divinize” is highlighted, featuring lyrics where Rosalía calls upon people to pray upon her spine like a rosary, connecting her story to saints. The album’s complexity involves numerous polyrhythms and sudden twists, making it impossible to pick just one representative song. The guest compares the album’s intensity to Bernini’s sculpture of The Ecstasy of St. Teresa.
Snowcaps Indie Rock Surprise
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The Crutchfield sisters (Waxahatchee/Swearin’) released a surprise Halloween album under the band name Snowcaps, featuring a compact, DIY-spirited indie rock record.
  • Summary: The song “Over Our Heads” is interpreted as a conspiratorial anthem reflecting the sisters’ shared history and DIY ethos throughout their careers. The lyric, ‘Don’t bother chasing Us Boys, we’ll See Ourselves Out,’ encapsulates their independent spirit. The band Snowcaps is spelled S-N-O-C-A-P-S.
Bass Victim’s Chaotic Energy
Copied to clipboard!
(00:23:21)
  • Key Takeaway: London duo Bass Victim, who released three albums in the past year, creates music described as messy, chaotic, and raw, reminiscent of late 2000s maximalist indie rock.
  • Summary: The song “Mr. President” from their third album Forever features a build-up of chaos and wild energy, with vocal looping that evokes Animal Collective or Sleigh Bells. The sound is characterized as cathartic and catchy, despite its ragged texture. The duo consists of Mario Mano and Ike Clayton.
Lola Young’s Raw Performance
Copied to clipboard!
(00:30:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Lola Young’s song “SPIDERS” features one of the best vocal performances of the year, delivering a raw, candid exploration of codependency and necessity.
  • Summary: Young, nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammys, uses the simple act of asking someone to kill a spider as a metaphor for life-or-death necessity within a relationship. The recurring image of being in a car evokes a sense of private solitude often sought in youth. The song’s intensity gives the pop artist a ‘rock star’ quality.
Nothing’s Existential Return
Copied to clipboard!
(00:37:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Shoegaze band Nothing returns after six years with the song “cannibal world” from their new album A Short History of Decay, offering music that sounds like the inside of the host’s brain.
  • Summary: The band’s music, despite sounding bleak, is described as inspiring, alive, and kicking, conveying resilience even at life’s lowest points. Previous album titles mentioned include The Great Dismal and Tired of Tomorrow. The host finds the music to be a perfect representation of existential thoughts before sleep.