The Passionate Ones
2025 studio album by Nourished by Time
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The Passionate Ones is the second studio album by American musician Nourished by Time. It was released on August 22, 2025, by XL Recordings.[3][4] The album follows his 2023 debut album Erotic Probiotic 2 and his 2024 EP Catching Chickens.
| The Passionate Ones | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 22, 2025 | |||
| Recorded | 2024–2025 | |||
| Genres | Pop,[1] R&B[2] | |||
| Length | 44:58 | |||
| Label | XL | |||
| Producer | Nourished by Time | |||
| Nourished by Time chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Passionate Ones | ||||
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Background and recording
XL describes the record as a "twelve-track catharsis" and Nourished by Time's first full-length release for the label.[3] The project was crafted between Baltimore, London and New York.[5][6] Early coverage that frames the album's themes around love, labor and everyday existential pressure, "howled from the underbelly of late-stage capitalism."[5][7]
Release and promotion
The Passionate Ones was announced alongside the lead single "Max Potential" on May 7, 2025, with an accompanying music video.[8][9] The second single, "9 2 5," followed on June 17, 2025.[6] The album's third single, "Baby Baby", was released on July 29, 2025 with a video.[10] The album was released on August 22, 2025, via XL Recordings in multiple formats.[4][11]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.4/10[12] |
| Metacritic | 89/100[13] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| The A.V. Club | A[15] |
| Beats Per Minute | 86%[16] |
| The Guardian |  [17] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10[18] |
| Mojo | [19] |
| NME | [20] |
| Pitchfork | 8.4/10[1] |
| The Skinny | [21] |
| Slant Magazine | [2] |
According to Metacritic, The Passionate Ones has a weighted average score of 89 out of 100, based on fifteen reviews.[13] Pitchfork gave the album a score of 8.4/10, highlighting it as Best New Music.[1] Writing for The Guardian, Katie Hawthorne described the album as "committed" and "full-hearted," highlighting "9 2 5" as a "song of the summer" contender.[17] NME also reviewed the record under the headline "welcoming and deservedly self-assured."[20] In December 2025, Paste Magazine named The Passionate Ones the best album of 2025.[22]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Nourished by Time.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Automatic Love" | 4:02 |
| 2. | "Idiot in the Park" | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Max Potential" | 3:52 |
| 4. | "It's Time" | 3:52 |
| 5. | "Cult Interlude" | 2:00 |
| 6. | "9 2 5" | 4:29 |
| 7. | "Crazy People" | 3:46 |
| 8. | "Jojo" (featuring Tony Bontana) | 3:36 |
| 9. | "Baby Baby" | 3:17 |
| 10. | "Tossed Away" | 4:50 |
| 11. | "When the War Is Over" | 3:29 |
| 12. | "The Passionate Ones" | 4:26 |
| Total length: | 44:58 | |
Sample credits
- "Max Potential" contains a sample of "Saved", written and performed by Labi Siffre.[23]
- "Crazy People" contains a sample of the Dear Mr. President collection, courtesy of the Library of Congress.[23]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes and Tidal.[23][24]
- Nourished by Time – vocals, piano, programming, production, mixing, engineering
- Frank the Carvery – mastering
- Caroline Waxse – images
- Jake Simmonds – design
- Tony Bontana – additional vocals on "Jojo"
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums Breakers (OCC)[25] | 17 |
| UK R&B Albums (Official Charts)[26] | 9 |