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In Review: Volume 6, 2025

El Estoque’s staff review recently released media, ranging from Netflix’s newest romcom to Lil Tecca’s latest album

Ananya Chaudhary, Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Vaishnavi Katukam, Samuel Teo, Varun Singh, Jillian Ju, Yixuan (Joyce) Li, Samika Bhatkar, and Isabelle Kok • April 11, 2025

Graphic | Jillian Ju

This is Volume 6 (2025) of El Estoque’s “Arts & Ent: In Review,” in which staff review recently released media, including albums, movies, EPs, TV shows, books and games. Click the infobox below to see the sixth volume of mini-reviews.

"The Life List" on Netflix

Taking viewers on a rollercoaster of laughter and tears, Netflix’s newest romcom “The Life List” introduces a novel plot to the genre. Released on March 28, actress Sofia Carson plays Alex, a relatable character coping with the recent passing of her mother. “The Life List” follows Alex as she tries to fulfill her mother’s last wish: for Alex to complete a bucket list she made at age 13. The list includes things like becoming a great teacher, a job Alex left for unknown reasons, making up with her dad and finding love. Throughout her journey, Alex makes friends with Brad, her mother’s lawyer, and the two’s constant banter and apparent chemistry makes viewers root for them from the start.

Although this rom-com has a great slow-burn storyline, “The Life List” doesn’t constrain itself tothe story of two love birds. Rather, it touches on topics such as burnout, family tension and self-love. These are things that Alex addresses when completing her bucket list, allowing her to strengthen her relationship with family and friends and better herself along the way. This depth makes “The Life List” different from other rom-coms and allow viewers to connect more deeply with the film. The only downfall of “The Life List” is the vagueness regarding why Alex left teaching. Throughout the film, Alex’s teaching career is a significant theme, but is consistently brushed over. For example, the only struggle Alex faces when going back to teaching, is a singular issue she has with a student being uninterested in her class. However, she quickly gets over that bump and becomes close with the student (what a cliche). Despite its small setbacks, “The Life List” makes for an emotional watch that will make rom-com lovers very happy.

RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed by Ananya Chaudhary)

"Dark Thoughts" by Lil Tecca

“Dark Thoughts” is rapper Lil Tecca’s newest single after his largely successful album “PLAN A,” released in Sept. 2024. Tecca’s newest track is a melodic song that showcases his growing maturity as an artist. Even with an upbeat melody and a catchy hook, he is still able to explore topics like anxiety, isolation and the darker side of fame. While the song is fairly simple lyrically, it is still very effective because he lets his true emotion and tone carry the weight, which feels more grounded than his typical material. Through lyrics such as “And my life changed so fast that I don’t even recognize myself from last year,” Tecca is able to reflect on where he is in life and how he feels about his own fame. With “Dark Thoughts,” Tecca doesn’t necessarily aim to reinvent himself or his catchy style of music, but rather chooses to experiment with depth and emotion in his lyricism, indicating a promising future of new styles of music. At the end of the day, with instrumental layers twinkling piano keys over bright loops, creating a smooth, ambient backdrop, the track is still a perfect late-night listen that leaves listeners wanting more.

RATING: 4.5/5 (Reviewed by Sagnik Nag Chowdhury)

"For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)" by Japanese Breakfast

“For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)” is Japanese Breakfast’s fourth studio album, a magical record that feels like a dream with how perfectly it captures angst. Japanese Breakfast is an American indie pop band with four members, with Michelle Zauner as the vocalist, primary songwriter and guitarist. The album’s name makes its intended audience clear, and “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)” encapsulates melancholy in all its forms through love, loss and self-discovery. The lead single “Orlando In Love,” released Jan. 7, inspired by the epic poem Orlando Innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo explores both love’s beauty and its destruction through its lyrcism. Zauner sings, “Singing his name with all the sweetness of a mother / Leaving him breathless and then drowned.” In multiple other songs, she connects mythological stories to human experiences and emotions like heartbeat, love and control. The lyrical depth and Zauner’s mellow voice in the album is hypnotizing — these songs transport the listener into another dimension with the stories they tell.

“Picture Window” is also unique in its subject, as it contemplates the idea of death and living alongside the anxiety Zauner has about dying. She questions, “Are you not afraid of every waking minute / That your life could pass you by?” The lyricism is strong and allows listeners to connect with Zauner’s anxiety, regret and hope. Another example of this is in “Little Girl,” told from the perspective of Zauner’s father, whom she no longer is in contact with. The chorus says, “All I need is understanding / Little girl never calls / Every day, annihilation / Pretty girl, all I own.” Her voice is quiet and reserved and reflects the perspective of a father who reconciles with his daughter, despite knowing he caused their estrangement.

“For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)” has a distinct sound marked by soft vocals and dreamlike instrumentals that make the album feel soothing. The sounds of the guitar, keys, violin and flute throughout the record are vital to maintaining a sense of despondence, by slowing down the tempo. Most outros also allow for the instruments to shine, serving as an echo to the last words sung, further extending the messages of the songs. Ultimately, each song is purposeful and unique in the stories it tells, yet the album still maintains cohesion with a similar sound. In 10 songs, Japanese Breakfast presents a beautiful depiction of melancholy through various lenses.

RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed by Vaishnavi Katukam)

"Hampstead" by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande’s “Hampstead,” one of five extended tracks from the album “eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead,” may be her most emotionally layered release to date. The music blends themes of heartbreak, self-reflection and growth, weaving together Grande’s present circumstance with lyrical references from her career.

The song opens with warm piano chords, establishing a nostalgic, almost filmic atmosphere. Grande’s voice enters softly — sweet, breathy and understated — as if letting listeners in on something private. Her vocal delivery is delicate but intentional, mirroring the metaphorical weight of the lyrics. As the song builds into the chorus, the addition of lush synthesizers brings a sweeping sense of release. The chords grow bolder, and Grande’s vocals expand in range and power, yet they remain controlled. There’s a quiet catharsis in how she shapes each note, allowing the sadness to linger without ever feeling heavy-handed. Musical techniques such as repetition and call-and-response give texture and depth to the melody, especially in the chorus, where instrumental layering supports her voice rather than overpowering it. These choices make the track feel rich, yet minimal, and refined rather than restrained.

Lyrically, “Hampstead” is deeply self-referential. Phrases like “rather feel everything” echo 2014’s “My Everything,” while “a little bit of sugar” and “danger” reference “Sweetener” and “Dangerous Woman.” The line “I would rather be seen alive than dying by your point of view” contrasts with 2020’s “pov,” revealing a shift from vulnerability to defiance. These callbacks aren’t just Easter eggs for fans — they show how Grande reclaims and recontextualizes her past, reflecting the personal transformations she’s undergone in recent years.

In the wake of Grande’s divorce from Dalton Gomez and her new relationship with Ethan Slater, the song also resists tabloid dramatization. The lyrics “You’re wrong about everything. So far off, your seat’s nowhere near the table…there’s no one home, you’re still outside. I wonder why,” reflects her poignant rebuke to the media and public who have speculated incessantly about her personal life. Wrapped in lush production and poetic subtlety, “Hampstead” doesn’t just reflect on Grande’s past — it turns heartbreak and public scrutiny into a silent triumph.

RATING: 5/5 (Reviewed by Samuel Teo)

"More" by Wallows

Despite the powerful impression of their first song “Pleaser” reaching the Spotify Global Viral 50 Chart, American alt-rock band Wallows fails to live up to the success of their previous albums. Their latest EP, “More,” consists of seven songs that are uniquely grating while all sounding the same. The primary aggressor is the instrumentals, which consist of repetitive trills and jarring changes in tone. The EP opens with a barrage of noise in “Not Alone” that hits the listener like a truck — instead of knocking them off their feet, it jumpscares them straight off the album. These sounds often overpower the few pleasant elements of the tracks, such as in “Deep Dive,” where the smooth opening guitar riffs are stalked by an obnoxious ringing that leaves an otherwise pleasant song feeling crowded and ominous.

While these production issues can be distracting, the actual lyrics of the songs are genuine and heartfelt. Take “Hide It Away,” which poetically describes feelings of doubt and emotional suppression as a coping mechanism, which are inevitably somewhat muddled by the track's aggressively upbeat synthesizer. “More” is ultimately a cluttered step in the wrong direction away from Wallows’ previously clean production, leaving an EP that, despite the impactful lyrics, has fans wanting more.

RATING: 2.5/5 (Reviewed by Varun Singh)

"Forever Is A Feeling" by Lucy Dacus

At this point, indie musician Lucy Dacus is one of the most well-known artists in her niche — soft, sapphic tunes that speak to humble romantic experiences. But after her relationship with fellow boygenius bandmate Julien Baker was confirmed in March, her music has taken on a richer dimension. At a 43-minute runtime, “Forever Is A Feeling” illustrates love with understated elegance, pulling Dacus’ musical strengths — her lyricism and empathy — front and center.

Rather than focusing on elaborate metaphors, Dacus makes the mundane meaningful — simple actions like doing the crossword together in the morning are transformed under her attentive touch. But she quickly moves beyond generic platitudes about love and loss. “Bullseye,” a collaboration with Hozier, charts the nuance between wanting the best for someone while recognizing that you may not be the right fit for them, while “For Keeps” perfectly embodies the tension between attraction and commitment-phobia. Despite the persistent themes of loss and inevitability, Dacus maintains a sense of humor, speculating about why her roommate is so good at Grand Theft Auto, while still paying attention to her portrayal of admiration: “How lucky are we / to have so much to lose?”

All of this emotion is magnified by Dacus’ tender voice and the unintrusive instrumentals. The production weaves around the lyrics — low strumming and glittering piano accompany her through losing and finding love again. By turns subtle and intense, the album never feels boring, even as the overall texture of the album doesn’t change. It’s gentle, it’s genuine, it’s (boy)genius — with her thoughtful clarity, Lucy Dacus could turn the most heartless cynic into a devout romantic.

RATING: 4.5/5 (Reviewed by Jillian Ju)

"Backflips in a Restaurant" by grentperez

In his debut studio album “Backflips in a Restaurant,” released on March 28, 2025, Filipino-Australian artist grentperez floats effortlessly between indie pop, soft rock and bossa nova. With a name as whimsically intimate yet haphazardly chaotic as the genre-agnostic tracklist itself, the album paints vignettes of love, longing and liminality through sepia-toned lenses.

While “12065” — the kilometric separation between Sydney and Los Angeles — wraps ripe long-distance yearning in softly pulsing beats and subdued melancholy, tracks like “Girl at the Station” and “Everest” play like coming-of-age film scenes, with delicate guitar lines and gentle harmonies hinting at emotions just out of reach. On “Fuzzy Feeling,” featuring Benny Sings, Perez leans into a breezy groove with easy charisma, turning sentimentality into a singalong. Perhaps the oddest one of all, the backflip in this restaurant, “2DK” veers into skeezy hip-hop territory with crisp production and a quiet confidence, hinting at his range beyond indie boy ballads.

Despite the album's cohesion, it occasionally stumbles into predictability — lyrics like “Wish I could show you / Just how much I adore you” in “Reason Why” and melodies circle the same well-worn ground of wistful romance, heartbreaks and first loves. However, that doesn’t detract much from its charm; although “Backflips in a Restaurant” might not turn the world upside down, its beauty lies not in groundbreaking innovation, but in the unique, versatile delivery of fleeting feelings into full tracks. Like a love letter written on a napkin mid-meal, the album makes the mundane cinematic, stitching together soft chaos and soft chords to capture the messy magic of feeling too much.

RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed by Joyce Li)

"Back in Bidness" by Shoreline Mafia

Marking their first release of 2025, California rap group Shoreline Mafia dropped the title track, “Back in Bidness,” of their upcoming album with the same name. The project will be the first the group has released since 2020 after previously disbanding. The thundering production of “Back in Bidness” blends smoothly with rappers OHGHEESY’s clear-cut diction and Fenix Flexin’s syncopated flow. As the song transitions from the chorus to each rapper’s verse, the addition of the snares and kick drum creates a fulfilling vibration, perfect for a car ride with a booming auxiliary system. The back-and-forth one-liners, such as “Chain look ridiculous, God as my witness/Playin' with the Mafia, Sleep with the fishes” between the duo’s verses, demonstrate that the group hasn’t lost any chemistry since their hiatus. While the song’s limited 2-minute, 16-second runtime leaves listeners craving more, Shoreline Mafia prove their comeback has been long worth the wait.

RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed by Samika Bhatkar)

"Jellywish" by Florist

Cradled gently in soft acoustics and earthy tones, indie folk band Florist’s newest album “Jellywish” is a composition of nostalgia and grace. The album, released on Friday, April 4, stays true to the drifting hydrozoa that inspired it, floating prettily through rolling percussion and strumming guitar. However, “Jellywish” doesn’t try to shock or sting, leaning instead on a collage of wistful lyricism and delicate, rippling synths. The album’s tracklist is beautiful in its summery subtlety, like a pastel sketch of sparkling tidal pools, salt air and dripping gelato — a tide that pulls listeners in quietly but surely.

“I could read your eyes for the rest of my life,” lead vocalist Emily Sprague sings in the opening track, “Levitate.” The lyrics of “Jellywish” are saturated with these intimate chronicles of the depth of daily life, like earnest but fallible devotion and resigned existentialism. The 10-song tracklist is not eclectic or alternative or singular, but there’s delight in the comfort of humility. Sprague’s soft lull is an invitation to listeners — to feel quiet for a moment, to step into the cool water and to learn to love where the current takes you.

RATING: 4/5 (Reviewed by Isabelle Kok)

About the Contributors

Ananya Chaudhary, Editor-in-Chief

Ananya is currently a senior and Editor-in-Chief for El Estoque. When she isn’t reporting for El Estoque, you can find her binging her favorite shows: “Gilmore Girls” (only the first four seasons), “Grey’s Anatomy” (the first six seasons) and “How I Met Your Mother” (all nine seasons). Ananya likes to spend most of her time within the bounds of her room, where she likes to jam to music, call her friends or — and most probably — sleep.

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Sagnik Nag Chowdhury is currently a senior and an Arts and Entertainment editor for El Estoque. In his free time, he likes updating his Letterboxd, driving his friends around and trying new food places in the Bay.

Vaishnavi Katukam, Staff Writer

Vaishnavi is currently a junior and a staff writer for El Estoque. She enjoys reading and binge-watching sitcoms in her free time.

Samuel Teo, Staff Writer

Samuel is a senior and staff writer for El Estoque. He enjoys playing the violin, listening to a wide variety of music, classical to pop, and exercising.

Varun Singh, Staff Writer

Varun is a junior and staff writer at El Estoque. In his free time he enjoys biking and listening to music.

Jillian Ju, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Jillian Ju is a junior and Arts & Entertainment editor for El Estoque. They enjoy taking long naps and eating complicated fruit, like a bear might.

Yixuan (Joyce) Li, Opinion Editor

Joyce is currently a junior and an opinion editor for El Estoque. In her free time, she likes to rewatch Studio Ghibli movies, binge video essays on YouTube and listen to music.

Samika Bhatkar, Editor-in-Chief

Samika is currently a senior and Editor in Chief for El Estoque. She loves listening to hip-hop and rap music and playing with her dog. In her free time, Samika watches NBA games or cooks with her family.

Isabelle Kok, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Isabelle Kok is currently a junior and an arts and entertainment editor for El Estoque. In her free time she loves to eat BLTA bagels without the A, take naps and make matcha mug cakes.